(Photo by Don Rich)
Knoch's Jordan Geist broke his own state record, and Downingtown West's Josh Hoey kicked his way to the mile win as Pennsylvania added two more Penn Relays champions on Friday.
Geist threw 73-0.75 to win the shot put handily. That throw gives him the #7 all-time spot and the national junior class record. That tops Geist previous PR that came indoors (72-9.5).
(Photo by Bill Shearn)
Josh Hoey came away with a huge win in the high school boys' mile. Hoey found another gear on the backstretch and brought it home for the win in 4:11.90, edging out Cathage (NY)'s Noah Affolder, who ran a 4:12.19 for second. That's a PR for the sophomore, whose previous best was 4:17.47.
Mike Kolor of Seneca Valley was seventh overall in a 4:16.30, and Germantown Friends' Nick Dahl was eighth in 4:16.72. Josh's brother Jaxson was 17th in the race.
Cheltenham was the last team to qualify for the Championship of America, but they moved up four spots to finish fourth from lane one. After some trouble with handoffs in the prelims, Cheltenham still managed to get into the CoA and made the most of it, clocking a 46.48, which betters their own PA#1. The team consisted of Bria Barnes, Brielle Lewis, Alexis Crosby, Chanel Brissett. Interview:
Norristown took home gold in the large schools' 4x100 race right before that. The team of Jonae Cook , Siani Sanders , Shelia Day , Jayana Webb ran a PA#2 47.31.Watch an interview with Norristown below:
Two Pennsylvania teams will return for tomorrow's
Championship of America in the boys' 4x800. State College surged to the front late to claim the win in the
first heat of the large schools' 4x800 in a 7:47.78., a big PA#1. Central Bucks West was also in that
heat, running a 7:49.00 for third and the Bucks earned a trip to the
Championship of America along with State College. State College splits: Owen
Wing (1:59.95), Nick Feffer (1:55.61), Tony Degleris (1:58.10), Alex Milligan
(1:54.15)
CB West splits: Carter Zerweck (1:58.15), Jake Claricurzio (1:56.66), Teagan Fortna (1:58.70), Rock Fortna (1:55.49)
Germantown Friends' missed out on a spot in the finals, but still clocked a season best of 7:55.65. The splits: Jonnie Plass (2:01.47), Grayson Hepp (1:57.58), Colin Riley (2:00.82), Nick Dahl (1:55.79)
Bishop Shanahan dipped under eight minutes, running a 7:59.37 to take third in their small schools heat. The splits: Chris Kolimago (1:59.59), Seamus Breslin (2:01.97), Seamus Fromhartz (1:57.48), Logan Yoquinto (2:00.35).
North Penn's Uche Nwogwugwu helped her team to a fourth place finish in the Penn Relays CoA (Photo by Bill Shearn)
The North Penn girls held onto their baton after a prelim drop and finished fourth in a loaded girls' 4x800 Championship of America. North Penn ran a massive PA#1 of 9:02.06. There was a group of about five teams together with 200 meters to go. Here are the splits: Ariana Gardizy (2:19.60), Phoebe Clowser (2:15.34), Uche Nwogwugwu (2:15.33), Mikaela Vlasic (2:11.79). Interview:
Cardinal O'Hara
was ninth overall in the race, leading at the first exchange thanks to a big
opening leg from Olivia Arizin. 9:15.68 was the finishing time. There splits: Arizin
(2:12.33), Christine Mancini (2:19.96), Elizabeth Mancini (2:21.44), Grace
Mancini (2:21.94).
Penn Wood was 12th in a 9:26.33. Splits: Terri Turner (2:15.44), Elicia Moore (2:26.51), Agnes Mansaray (2:15.61), Janae Pitt (2:28.78).
The Cardinal O'Hara boys DMR went under 10:20, finishing in ninth place with a time of 10:19.69. The finish was as dramatic as they come with Loudoun Valley (VA)'s Drew Hunter kicking down LaSalle Academy (RI)'s Jack Salisbury. The Cardinal O'Hara splits: Rob Morro (3:08.07), Tamir Jones (50.52), Justin Jones (1:59.76), Ryan James (4:21.37).
In the 3000 meters, JP McCaskey's Nathan Henderson took third place in a competitive race. Henderson clocked a 8:24.08, beating out Lake Lehman's Dominic Hockenbury and Central Bucks East's Jake Brophy. Hockenbury was eighth in 8:27.36 and Brophy came across 12th in 8:30.11. McMahon (CT)'s Eric van der Els was the winner in 8:20.11. Henderson now sets his sights on the state meet. Watch his interview below:
The boys javelin was chock full of Pennsylvania talent and
they didn't disappoint on Friday. The winner came from South Carolina, though.
Academic Magnet's Liam Christensen
won the event with a US#2 throw of 219-2. Stroudsburg's Michael Marsack threw 213-7 to finish second overall in the
competition and the top PA thrower. That's a new PA#1 and a US#3! Bedford's August Cook improved from earlier in
the season. He threw 206-8 to take fourth overall. Ethan Dabbs of Richland, the former PA#1 was fifth with a throw of
205-11. Boyertown's Elijah Shalaway
also threw over 200, taking sixth place with a throw of 201-8.
Eric Kasperowicz of Holy Ghost Prep was the top PA finisher in the boys' discus, throwing 162-4 for ninth place. Saint Marys Area's Tom Bojalad was 11th with a throw of 154-5.