Photo by Steven Pisano
PHOTO ALBUM (By Steven Pisano)
The Marine Corps Holiday Classic typically serves as a big meet for many Pennsylvania squads to clock some fast indoor times just before the end of the calendar year. The 2016 edition was no different.
Norristown put down some great performances all over the track, shooting up the PA rankings in a number of events.
The Eagles 4x200-meter relay set a school record and joined elite sub-1:40 company, taking second in the relay in a time of 1:39.77 for a very strong early season performance. Western Branch of Virginia took the win in that relay, blazing a time of 1:37.50. That strong race wasn't all Norristown brought to the table on Thursday.
In the 55-meter dash, the Norristown duo of Jayana Webb and Jonae Cook went PA#1 and PA#2, with solid sprints. Webb took second overall in the finals in a time of 7.18 and Cook was third in 7.22. Also qualifying for the 55 final was Central Bucks East's Meaghan Shewbrooks, who took sixth in the final ran a best of 7.37 in the prelims.
In the 55-meter hurdles, Norristown's Sheila Day ran a PA#3 8.37 for fourth in the finals. Saint Basil's Sophia Barnett was seventh in the finals in a time of 8.71, which matched her preliminary time. Barnett was second in the long jump, as well, with a best jump of 16-8.
Photo by Patty Morgan
In an 800 meters, that saw Sammy Watson of New York drop a US#1 and NY#5 all-time 2:06.92 for the win, we also saw a PA#1 from Penn Wood's Terri Turner. Turner ran a time of 2:14.64 to take over the state-leading spot by nearly nine seconds!
Turner also provided the anchor leg on Penn Wood's 4x400 (a 56.88 FAT split) that placed third overall. Their time was 3:54.96. That, too, is a huge PA#1. Norristown was fourth in a PA#4 4:05.70.
Cheltenham's Bria Barnes took third in the 300 meters (also won by Watson) in a time of 40.22, a PA#1. Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby ran 24.94, a PA#1, in the 200 meters. Crosby, however, finished just outside the top eight, which would have qualified her for the finals in the event.
Springside Chestnut Hill's Elizabeth Jefferson claimed the win the pole vault, clearing 11-0 to win the competition. She was also at the Armory earlier in the week for the Youth Classic, where she took second in the pole vault with a PR of 11-6.
In the mile, Downingtown West's Emma Planck placed sixth overall and ran 5:14.20 that puts her at PA#2 on the season. Friends' Central's Emily Burd was ninth in a PA#4 time of 5:17.22. Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler was tenth in 5:18.32, a PA#5.
Photo by Steven Pisano
Penn Trafford's Nick Wagner, who has done plenty of traveling so far this indoor season, shot to the top of the PA rankings in the 800. Wagner blasted a 1:56.91 for second place in the half mile. That makes Wagner the first boy under two minutes for the 800 this winter and he did so by over three seconds. That's also a US#3
Southern Lehigh's Andrew Rochon placed second in the boys' shot put with a throw of 56-2.5, to better his own PA#2. This is the first of a two day competition trip to New York for Rochon, who is slated to appear at Ocean Breeze tomorrow.
Holy Ghost Prep ran a big PA#1 in the DMR for the win. The Firebirds team, comprised of Kevin Dineen, John Gasiewski, Samuel Huslin, and Callahan Lennon ran a time of 10:47.28 to dominate the invitational field for the win.
If you want an impressive freshman to keep an eye on, look no further than Norristown's Austin Montgomery. The ninth grader clocked a time of 22.82 to make the finals in the 200 meters. He then ran 22.90 in the finals to place seventh overall. It's been a great start to the high school career of Montgomery, who is also PA#3 in the 60 meter dash.
North Pocono's Matt Slagus broke his own meet record in the weight throw, with a toss of 66-4.75 for the win. That's over five feet better than his record-setting throw from last year. That also a US#3 and a PA#2 (behind Knoch's Jordan Geist).
The Abington boys ran a PA#1 8:07.79 to win the 4x800-meter relay by a convincing margin over the field. Check out splits below for Armory Timing:
The Ghosts also went PA#1 in the 4x400. They clocked a 3:25.97, also a US#3 for second place to VA's Western Branch. Check out the splits below: