State and National Champs to battle in Penn Relays DMR

Teams battle in today's 4x800m Relay - Photo by Derrick Dingle
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A Clash in the Girls Race

Olivia Cieslak (Haverford Township) is coming off a 2:09 800m effort, ranking her 19th All-Time in state history. She'll anchor the reigning PTFCA Championship team this week in the girls' DMR. 

Haverford Township ran the second-fastest Indoor Distance Medley Relay time of All-Time (PA) just over one month ago at New Balance Nationals Indoor. The relay of Camryn McGeehan, Aubrey Leneweaver, Morgan Elliott, and Olivia Cieslak will be the same one we see this week as they seek history yet again. 

In March, they ran 11:53.19, but they'll need to shave two seconds to set the new state record on this occasion.

The stage is set perfectly. Alongside top Pennsylvania contenders - Owen J. Roberts, Hatboro Horsham, William Penn Charter, and Perkiomen Valley, the field features Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs won this Championship last year, running 11:43.26. They also won back in 2018 with a time of 11:59.31.

Another Rematch for the Ages 

The Haverford Township boys and Episcopal Academy boys will rematch after going 1-2 in the PTFCA Indoor State Championship. At the PTFCA Championship, Patrick Lawson (Haverford Township) outkicked Dakin Ebmeyer (Episcopal Academy) to win by a mere second in 10:22.01

Watch Haverford Township and EA battle at the PTFCA Championship

EA got a last laugh of their own. EA went on to win the Distance Medley National Championship at Nike Indoor Nationals with a time of 10:08.93.

Is the state record within reach? Butler ran 9:56.84 last year at New Balance Nationals Outdoor - setting the new mark. 

LaSalle College HS and Twin Valley are also entered in the event. Both teams are sneaky contenders. Twin Valley finished sixth at the PTFCA Indoor Championship in February.

From New Jersey, perennial contenders Union Catholic and Christian Brothers Academy will be dangerous. Union Catholic's Jimmy Wischusen has run as fast as 4:09 over 1600m - which will be crucial down the stretch for UC.

Monroe-Woodbury (NY) finished runner-up to Episcopal Academy at Nike Indoor Nationals and will be right in the race with the front runners again.