PA relay teams catch fire
Relays took a big step forward on a state and national setting over the weekend. In one Saturday afternoon, the relay landscape changed dramatically, and now the cream of the crop has been set.
In New York, Cheltenham boys put on a special display, claiming the state leading spot in the 4x2 and then setting a new US#1 in the sprint medley in PA All Time Best fashion. Upper Darby got close to them and put themselves into the national top ten in the same meet. Penn Wood’s boys 4x400 meter relay moved up to US#2, putting PA at US#1 and 2 for the winter season. Pennsbury and St Joe’s Prep finished off a special day for boys relays with a state leading 4x8 and DMR respectively, both reaching the national top 10.
The girls sprint relays were just as hot, as Cheltenham gave Springside Chestnut Hill and Susquehanna Township a fresh reminder of what they have to offer in the 4x200 meter relay, nearly breaking their own state record. Springside got their revenge in the 4x4, but not without Chelteham joining them in the national top ten by finishing less than a second behind them. Pennsbury girls made a PA#2 splash in the 4x2, while Central Bucks West ran a US#4 time in the Sprint Medley Relay.
The two big stats to pull from these relays are as follows:
1. The top five PA girls 4x200 meter relays are all under 1:43.07 and in the national top 20!
2. Each girls relay event has the top two in the state ranked in the national top ten. The boys have their top two in the top ten in the 4x2 and 4x4, with Cheltenham and Penn Wood US#1 and US#2 in the 4x4!
The cream of the crop has risen to the top, and gave the state a huge boost in the eyes of the track nation across the US!
Banked track opportunities all but gone for majority of teams
The relay performances from over the weekend suggest that most teams wanted to make the most of this past weekend. With the exception of the upcoming Poreda Invite, the Armory Invite (invitational only), and the NJ Varsity Classic, banked track opportunities are virtually gone.
So as we approach the final few weeks before states, most teams will have to make it work on traditional 200 meter flat ovals. Meanwhile, Western PA teams will be competing on 300 meter oversized tracks at Edinboro and in Ohio. For the teams who don’t have those opportunities, this can be a trying time for them as they try to earn a spot in the state meet.
Combine that with the fact that most meets here limit the amount of participants per school, and you now have a sticky situation for a lot of teams under the new state qualifying format. We will be curious to see how teams approach the next few weeks as the clock ticks away towards the state entry deadline.
All we know for sure is that for the athletes who do get another crack at an event, they will need to make the most of it if they want to go to states on March 1.
Special performances by Clahane and Leonard at Kevin Dare
Despite the decrease in numbers at the Kevin Dare Invitational due to the snow storm overnight, two PA stars shined bright and took a huge step towards postseason glory.
Ciara Leonard of Cheltenham became the first girl in the country to break 8.50 in the 60 meter hurdles, winning the event in 8.47 for US#1 honors. While watching the race, one coach said that the performance “looked easy” completely aware of the fact that 12 months ago, she had never broken 8.50 until the state finals. Leonard is making big improvements and has been unstoppable in the event. She doesn’t hold the state meet record yet, but that may just be a matter of time (8.44). She does have the state record of 8.40, and based on her performance on Saturday, that may be shattered come March 16.
Mady Clahane of Cumberland Valley finished off a strong 10 day period with a US#1 time in the 3000 meter run, becoming the country’s first sub 10 minute performer (9:59.40). The result on paper would appear that she won easily. But on this day, she had to fight off Marissa Sheva of Pennridge, who led from the front in her first race since December 20. Clahane described the past ten days as the period where she got her confidence back after a tough end to cross country. Now that her confidence is back, she is now in the mix for her first ever state gold medal. Breaking 10 minutes this early in the season has only been done by Tessa Barrett last year and Julia Pudlin in 2001. We all know how Barrett’s season finished.
These two electrified the weekend at Penn State. Should their momentum hold, they will do the same thing on March 1 on the biggest stage in the state.
