4/13 WKND: Schwartz/Martin distance doubles - Cumberland Valley owns Pan-Ram

 

Hatboro Horsham

 

Simon Gratz

 

Daquan Freeman of Simon Gratz ran 10.8 to win the 100 meter dash, 22.7 to win the 200 meter dash and 44.4 to win the 300 meter hurdles. Walter Pegues of Central won the long jump (20-8.50) and the triple jump (41-5.50). For the girls, Miah Collins of Simon Gratz won the 100 (13.1) and 200 meter dashes (26.6).

 

 

Pottstown

 

Butler

 

Photos and Meet Feature by Phil Grove

 

The weather was textbook early-season invitational – gusty winds, cloudy skies and temperatures worthy of knit caps and gloves.

The performances were anything but typical April fare, however, as Shaler Area’s Brianna Schwartz registered a pair of the five PA#1s turned in Friday at the annual Butler Invitational.

Displaying the gritty determination that has marked her young career, Schwartz cleared out a couple places in the meet record book by dominating quality competition in both distance races. The sophomore was a barrier breaker, cracking 5 minutes in the 1,600-meter run and 11:00 over eight laps in taking more than 17 seconds off two invitational records.

“It was pretty tough, but I didn’t really notice it on the last lap,” Schwartz said of battling a strong headwind on the home stretch after closing out a PR 4:54.15 in the 1,600. “I was trying to finish. Overall, it didn’t really affect me that much.

“I was really happy. I wanted to break 5 minutes, and indoor 4:57 (mile) was my best so I was trying to beat that.”

The decisive moment in Schwartz’s wire-to-wire effort came at the beginning of the third lap as she began to pull away from Hampton’s Gina Alm, who was only a step or two back at the midway point.

Alm held on for a PA#5 5:04.00, and North Hills’ Mary Malone ran 5:08.00 in third.

In the 3,200, Schwartz put together a huge negative split performance that left her coaches smiling and trying to figure out how she did it. With Malone in tow early, Schwartz covered the opening 800 in 2:46 and 1,600 in 5:31, with the North Hills star now four seconds back. The pace didn’t change a bit for the winner as she covered the next two laps in 2:45 before shifting gears as the wind gusts took a breather.

A 79-second trip around the seven-lane oval was followed by a 75 for Schwartz in wrapping up another PA#1 in 10:50.51. Malone covered the distance in a PA#9 11:13.68.

“Yeah, it did surprise me,” Schwartz said of her performance. “I wanted to break 11, so I would be happy with anything 10.

“I knew I wanted to save something for the end because I (hit the mile) in 5:31, (and) I knew I would have to push the second mile to be able to break 11. I definitely saved something.”

Unlike Schwartz, Cathedral Prep’s Malik Moffett had the benefit of waiting for any lulls in Friday’s breezes in moving the state lead upward in the boys’ high jump. The last into the competition at 6 feet, Moffett needed at least a pair of jumps at each height except one in topping a quality field (and the yearly PA list) at 6-8.

“I just slowed down, made sure the wind didn’t hit me, waited until the wind was perfect and just went for it,” the winner said of his key to having the upper hand against the conditions and his competition. “I’m really pleased right now.”

Although he shared the state indoor lead this year at 6-9, Moffett was not alone as the bar moved up to 6-4, with Hampton’s Jake Adams pacing the competition at that point with five consecutive clearances. Moffett needed two tries at the height, while Jeremy Jancso of West Middlesex cleared on his third attempt.

Both Moffett and Jancso topped 6-6 on their third jumps. The victory and state No. 1 was Moffett’s with his third-round over at 6-8 before three tries at 6-10 left him wanting more.

“I’m going to get it next time, I’m going to get it next time,” he proclaimed.

Another who performed as if she were in the high jump was Corry Area’s Jaynee Corbett. A Youngstown State signee, Corbett had arguably the top six-throw series of the young season, improving on each of her efforts after an opening foul in dominating the shot put and moving to No. 2 on the 2013 list.

“When I got into those finals, I just knew that I had to let it go,” said Corbett, who set up Friday’s shot performance with a school record discus toss of 126-3.5 in a meet Tuesday at Franklin. “I knew I had to do my best, and once I started getting warmed up and then go farther and farther, I just got mad and just let it rip.”

Corbett’s second-round toss of 39-2.5 was good enough for an easy win, and she led by almost 4 feet after a 39-7.5 in the next round. A 40-9.75 effort came before she reached out to 41-4 and then broke the meet record by a half-inch with a 42-0 finale.

“I was (shocked),” Corbett said of her reaction to her status as PA#2. “What you hope for is everybody knows your name.

“It’s great, that’s a pretty cool feeling. I’ll sleep well tonight knowing I’m second in the state.”

A decisive move with just over 400 meters left in the boys’ 1,600 pushed Ethan Martin of Fox Chapel Area to the No. 2 spot on the 2013 list. An up-and-down opening half – 62-second first lap followed by a 70 – had almost all of the top runners in a tight pack before Martin moved to the lead as the gun was about to signal the final lap.

“The wind was very strong and … I was a little worried because I thought someone’s just going to draft off me and then kick it in,” the winner said. “I thought if I needed to make my move I was going to make it now.

“(Grove City’s Dan) Jaskowak is a 400 closer. I have no chance if that was 100 meters left with him so I had to make my move then.”

The acceleration worked for Martin, with the final result being a PA#2 4:22.34. Jaskowak, the early pacesetter, closed the best for runner-up honors in 4:24.68.

“Considering the conditions, I was happy with the time,” Martin said. “I know Jeff Groh (of Lower Dauphin) ran a 4:21. I was shooting for that, but I’m happy where I am now.”

Content to be part of the pack for most of the 1,600, Martin wanted nothing to do with the group in the 3,200. Right from the gun, Martin put real estate between himself and his two dozen challengers.

“People immediately started to settle down, and it wasn’t a pace I was too happy with because I knew Brent (Kennedy of Kiski Area) was going to definitely want to be a kicker at the end,” Martin said. “I had to make it hurt as much as I could in the beginning, and that just required setting a pretty fast pace.”

Martin was alone at the front through a 2:22 opening 800 and a 4:44 1,600, with Kennedy leading the chase pack two seconds back.

Kennedy soon found his way to the front, and the duo exchanged the lead several times over the final laps, with Martin’s 65-second last lap getting him to the finish in a PA#7 9:28.49. Kennedy was credited with a PA#8 9:29.38.

“At WPIALs last year in cross country, (Brent) outkicked me at the end so I was very worried about the last lap,” Martin said. “I just hung on as long as I could and just tried to stay with him, and I guess I’ve been working on my kick enough to outkick him.”

The other No. 1s came from West Mifflin’s Derrick Fulmore and Cathedral Prep’s 4x100 relay.

Fulmore is 2013’s longest triple jumper in PA after his 45-7.5 topped a field that featured three of the 5 longest marks thus far this season, and the Ramblers sliced a tenth of a second off their season best in passing their way to a 42.91 and the victory over West Middlesex and its PA#2 43.02.

In the 110 hurdles, Gateway's Montae Nicholson ran a PA#7 14.92, edging Fox Chapel's Brandon Mitchell, who went a PA#10 15.01.

 

 

Flash Meet Summary by Phil Grove

State-leading performances by Brianna Schwartz of Shaler Area grabbed the spotlight but were not the only highlights during an oftentimes blustery Butler Invitational. Just a sophomore, Schwartz led wire to wire in opening her day with a PA#1 4:54.15 victory in the 1,600-meter run, powering away from Hampton’s Gina Alm (PA#5 5:04.00) and North Hills’ Mary Malone (5:08.00). Hours later under the lights, Schwartz again went to the top of the yearly list with a 10:50.51 triumph at 3,200, while Malone covered the distance in a PA#9 11:13.68.

Malik Moffett of Cathedral Prep beat the wind and a quality high jump field, flopping over the bar at a state-best 6 feet, 8 inches. Jeremy Jancso of West Middlesex is now T-PA#2 with his 6-6 jump for second, while Jake Adams of Hampton cleared a T-PA#7 6-4. Also shining in the field events, Jaynee Corbett of Corry Area soared to PA#2 with a final round 42-0 in dominating the girls’ shot put, while Derrick Fulmore of West Mifflin is 2013’s longest triple jumper in PA after his 45-7.5 topped a field that featured three of the 5 longest marks thus far this season.

The other long-distance doubler was Ethan Martin of Fox Chapel Area. Martin won the 1,600 in a PA#2 4:22.34 and doubled back later for a hard-fought victory in the 3,200 in 9:28.49 (PA#7) to the 9:29.38 (PA#8) by Kiski Area’s Brent Kennedy. The final chart topper came in the boys’ 400 relay as Cathedral Prep stayed Pennsylvania’s fastest with a 42.91 clocking to West Middlesex’s PA#2 43.02. In the 110 hurdles, Gateway's Montae Nicholson ran a PA#7 14.92, edging Fox Chapel's Brandon Mitchell, who went a PA#10 15.01.

 

 

 

Spring Valley

 

Union Area

 

Lizzie Manickas of Neshannock set two meet records in winning the 1600 (5:25.5) and 3200 meter runs (11:39.2). Rachel DeMaria of West Middlesex threw 38-7.75 to win the shot put.

 

 

Greater Latrobe

 

Kelsey Potts of Mount Lebanon led a 1-2-3 finish for her team in the 1600 meter run with a winning time of 5:10.03. Hanna Green of Greater Latrobe ran a PA#3 time of 57.21 to win the 400 meter dash. Hempfield (7) ran 48.50 to win the 4x100 meter relay. Greater Latrobe ran 4:01.13 to win the 4x400 meter relay. Brooke Mancuso of North Allegheny and Kelsey Plecenik of Norwin both cleared 11 feet in the pole vault. Maddie Holmberg of Hempfield (7) cleared 18-1.50 to win the long jump ahead of teammate Bridget Guy (18-0.50). Abby Wagner of Altoona jumped 36-7.75 to win the triple jump. Rachel Fyalkowski of Hempfield (7) threw 38-1.50 to win the shot put.

 

For the boys, Chandler Crusan of Hempfield (7) ran 49.77 to win the 400 meter dash. Matt Mcgoey of North Allegheny ran 9:33.49 to win the 3200 meter run. Kolby Koeck of Altoona cleared 14-6 to win the pole vault. De'Lorian Day of Hempfield (7) won the long jump (22-1) and the triple jump (44-3). Teammate Max Adams threw 168-8 to win the discus and 52 feet even to win the shot put.

 

 

Brookville Area

 

Lanae Newsome of Brookville won the 100 (12.39), the 200 (25.40) and the triple jump (36-3.50). Her sister Aisha won the high hurdles (16.10) and the intermediate hurdles (46.58). Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic won the 400 (1:01.70) and 800 meter runs (2:19.17). Morgan Nicholson of Kane Area threw 130-7 to win the javelin. For the boys, Aziz Yousif of Bradford won the 1600 (4:36.63) and 3200 meter runs (10:13.07). Nick Conway of Port Allegheny won the high hurdles (14.64) and the intermediate hurdles (40.04). Brandon Teribery of Bradford cleared 14-9 to win the pole vault. Teammate Matthew Yurkewicz jumped 44-1 to win the triple jump. Mitch Obenrader of North Clarion threw 172-1 to win the javelin.

 

 

Shamokin Area

 

Perkiomen Valley

 

Photo by Ted Hodgins

Holly Sullivan of Owen J Roberts ran 25.58 to win the 200 meter dash and 2:17.90 to win the 800 meter run. Kara Steinke of Methacton ran 5:05.02 to win the 1600 meter run. Natalie Thomas of Spring Ford cleared 5-3 to win the high jump.

 

Ramonia Benitez of Pocono Mountain West won the 100 meter hurdles (15.35), the long jump (17-4.50) and the triple jump (36-11.50). Steph Sievers of Daniel Boone threw 132-9 to win the javelin.

 

For the boys, Malik Jones of Ridley ran 11.20 in the 100 and 22.10 in the 200 meter dash prelim rounds. Chris Stone of Springfield cleared 6-4 to win the high jump. Saybrim Medina of Phoeniville ran 40.33 to win the 300 meter hurdles.

 

 

Northern

 

Xavier Sauvageau of Littlestown ran 9:47.33 to win the 3200 meter run. Alvin Fullwood of South Western cleared 6-4 to win the high jump. Cooper Kutz of Berks Catholic jumped 21-5.50 to win the long jump. Teammate Matt Rainhart threw 173-8 to win the javelin. For the girls, Lynne Mooradian of South Western won the 100 (12.64) and 200 meter dashes (26.35). Arianna Camel of Gettysburg Area cleared 5-4 to win the high jump. Kennedy Shank of Northern cleared 11-1 to win the pole vault.

 

 

Eastern Lebanon County

 

Harbor Creek

 

Anne Lewis of North East won the 1600 (5:34.95) and 800 meter runs (2:32.46). Sophie Mazza of Harbor Creek won the high hurdles (15.43) and the intermediate hurdles (49.57). Abby Jones of Franklin Area cleared 5-4 to win the high jump. For the boys, Ryan Smathers of North East won the 1600 (4:22.22) and 800 meter runs (1:59.76). Greg Miaczynski of Central Tech won
the high hurdles (15.26) and intermediate hurdles (40.93). Johnathon Jacoway of Sharon won the long jump (21-7.50) and the triple jump (45-7.75).

 

 

Lenape Reg. HS

 

California University of PA

 

Elmita Free Academy

 

Johns Hopkins University

 

Bucknell University

 

Coppin State College

 

Easton Area

Parkland

Christopher Dock

Freedom Area (7)

Lehighton

Friends' Central

Holy Ghost Preparatory School

Christopher Dock

Palisades

Tussey Mountain

Fort Leboeuf

West Chester East

Marion Center Area

Northern Lehigh

 

William Allen

Saucon Valley

 

Salisbury Township

Western Beaver