2023 Penn Relays, PA Day 2 Recap

The Penn Relays Carnival
Zandrew Bowe

Above: Veronica Vacca vaults to the win - Photo by TSP Images

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Philadelphia, PA - The second day of the 2023 Penn Relays Presented by Toyota is off to a HOT start. Here is a recap of all of the action from day 2.

WATCH LIVE: THE PENN RELAYS PRESENTED BY TOYOTA

BEGINS AIRING APRIL 27-29

Friday Events

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Girls 4x800m Heats: 

The girls of Central Bucks West rewrote the state rankings with a new PA #1 of 9:24.98. Abigail Kolbe, Mimi Duffy, Claire Dalsass and Maile Mcfadden claimed the top time of the day for PA. J.P. McCaskey finds themselves at PA #2 with 9:26.59, just edging out Pennridge who ran 9:26.93 a new PA #3. 

Qualifying for Finals: Central Bucks West


Girls Long Jump:

Avery Lewis (Friends' Central) is your 2023 Penn Relays Champion in the long jump. Her winning jump of 20-4.5 is good to tie the current US #7 and improves on her state lead. She inches closer to her state record with every jump. 


Girls Triple Jump:

Ava Alexander (West Chester Rustin) jumped herself into sixth place with her best jump of the day of 39-1.25. Seventh was claimed by Taylor Forbes (North Penn) with 38-6.75.


Girls Pole Vault:

PA Pole Vaulters dominate the podium and Veronica Vacca (Mount St. Joseph) adds 2023 Penn Relays Champion to her list of accomplishments. She claims sole possession of PA #1 with her winning vault of 12-11. Kirstin Hoffman (Kennett) gets second with 12-7.25 a new PA #2. Third place goes to Annika Flanigan (Liberty) with her vault of 12-3.25. Sophia Hill (Radnor) would tie for -furth with 12-3.25 after attempts. Kylie Eismann (Lower Dauphin) gets seventh with 11-9 and Maddy Kelley (Villa Maria) gets eighth with 11-9.

Girls 4x100m Heats:

Downingtown East, Chester and North Penn advanced out to the finals of the HS Girls Northeast 4x100m. Chester ran an impressive 48.82, while Downingtown East ran 48.96 and North Penn finished in 49.01.

Each team will retain their rank inside the PA Top 10 after all is said and done.

Boys 4x100m Northeast Championship

The Roman Catholic boys stormed to a runner-up finish in the High School Boys' 4x100m Northeast Championship. They ran 42.79. The next Pennsylvania team was Spring-Ford, who finished in fifth with a 43.14. Downingtown West finished in sixth and Pennridge landed in seventh.


Girls Javelin:
Belle Bosch (Chestnut Ridge) was PA's top finisher today in the javelin throw. She claimed a second place finish with 150-7, a new PA #1 and will rank inside the US top 12 after the weekend. Evie Bliss (Union) finished in fourth after throwing 146-7 and Eliana Schneider (Cedar Crest) finished sixth with a throw of 133-1.

Girls Discus:
Ella Lucas (Warwick) had the top finish for any American in the discus. She placed fourth after bettering her PA #2 throw with 154-8. 


Boys 4x400m Philadelphia Area:
Abington is still pacing the state of PA in the 4x400m in dominant fashion. They controlled the race the whole way and go to victory by running 3:19.45. Central Bucks West take third place after running 3:23.78. 
Girls Championship of America DMR:
Haverford climbs the all time rankings after a third place finish in the DMR. Their time of 12:08.53 #10 in PA history. Penn Charter finished in fifth place with 12:18 and Hatboro-Horsham in seventh with 12:19.97.
Girls' Mile Run Championship:
Logan St. John Kletter (Mount Lebanon) finishes the girls' mile run in second place. Her time of 4:50.77 is a new PA #1 by over 10 seconds. 
Boys' Mile Run Championship:
Brian DiCola (Hatboro-Horsham) is the 2023 Penn Relays champion in the mile. DiCola took the pack at 800m and never looked back claiming victory in 4:11.23. Ryan Pajak (Ringgold) would take third after finishing in 4:15.08.
Boys' 3000m Championship:
Rory Lieberman (Danville) runs a fantastic race and brings home victory as the Penn Relays Champion in 8:34.16. He adds another stellar finish to his resume and leads a loaded field. Andrew McGonigle (Owen J. Roberts) finished in 11th with a 8:41.59.
Womens' 5000m Open:
Sophia Rodriguez was the lone middle schooler in a large field of women. Rodriguez ran 16:51.39 to finish in fourth. Her time would be the eighth fastest in PA History amongst the High School Ranks.