Penn Relays Day 3 Recap: Thompson Takes PV Title; State College 4th in CoA 4x800

State College's Griffin Thompson tied the PA#1 in the pole vault and won the Penn Relays HSB title (Photo by Kathy Leister)

The third and final day of Penn Relays action came to a close on Saturday, and one more Penn Relays champion hailing from Pennsylvania was crowned.

State College's Griffin Thompson cleared 15-7 in the pole vault to claim the high school boys' championship. That's a one-inch PR for Thompson who ties the current PA#1. Thompson dominated the field, winning by over a foot.

Red Lion's Greg Potter was second, clearing 14-5.25. Hatboro-Horsham's Nick Marino was sixth with a 13-11.25 clearance. Watch Thompson's interview below:

The State College boys' 4x800 ran a US#2 to take fourth overall in the High School Boys' Championship of America. They came in as the top seed, but St. Jago and St. Elizabeth Trch (both from Jamaica) were too strong in the final on Saturday.  State College splits: Owen Wing (1:59.75), Nick Feffer (1:54.18), Tony Degleris (1:57.07), Alex Milligan (1:53.74)

Central Bucks West finished 11th in the race. West's splits: Carter Zerweck (1:58.45), Jake Claricurzio (1:59.03), Teagan Fortna (2:04.37), Rock Fortna (1:56.71). Watch the interview with the State College boys below:


Greg Lauray didn't know much about the Penn Relays a month ago, but on Saturday he took fifth (Photo by Patty Morgan)

Notre Dame-Green Pond's Greg Lauray hasn't been high jumping for long, but the basketball player hung well in the high jump championship at Penn. Lauray cleared 6-7.75 to finish in a tie for fifth overall. Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland was ninth, clearing 6-5. Interview with Lauray:
Photo by Don Rich

In the 400-meter hurdles, there was some heartbreak for Downingtown West's Joshua McLemore. McLemore was in front in the third heat, but he clipped the final hurdle and went down. But McLemore remained upbeat after the race and is looking to the future for redemption. In the first heat, St. Joe's Prep's Miles Green took third and wound up ninth overall, running a time of 54.21. Watch interview below with McLemore and Green:


There was a pair of thrilling battles in the Philadelphia Area 4x400s. After it was said and done, Penn Wood proved to be Philly's best, capturing both the girls and boys titles!

In the boys' race Penn Wood's Ndiaga Seck held off a hard-charging McLemore from Downingtown West. McLemore's bid for another kick-and-win fell short, but he still split an incredible 46.90. Penn Wood finished in 3:17.66 and West was 3:18.67. Penn Wood splits: Sekou Kanneh (50.39), Dennis Manyeah (48.82), Jahi Smith (50.47), Ndiaga Seck (48.00).

Penn Wood's Terri Turner edged out Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby in one of the day's best PA races (Photo by Don Rich)

The girls' race produced one of the weekend's most excited final 100 meters. Penn Wood's Terri Turner held off Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby to grab the win for her team in 3:46.73. Cheltenham was at 3:46.81. Springside Chestnut Hill took third in 3:48.56 and got a 53.96 anchor leg from Brookylnn Broadwater. Penn Wood splits: Janae Pitt (58.00), Agnes Mansaray (55.50), Elicia Moore (58.64), Terri Turner (54.61)

Cheltenham girls bettered their own PA#1 in the Tri-State 4x100 Championship. The team of Bria Barnes, Brielle Lewis, Alexis Crosby, and Chanel Brissett clocked a 46.36, which breaks the meet record in the Tri-State division. Norristown was second, bettering their PA#2 time from the previous day with a 47.08.

The LaSalle boys took home second in the large schools' section of the 4x100. The team of Chris Della Donna, Winston Eubanks, Kyle Johnson, and Charles Headen clocked a PA#1 of 42.41.

In the boy's triple jump, Downingtown West's Darian Alston finished 15th overall with a best jump of 45-10.