Let\'s face it, teams and individuals are taking the indoor season more seriously than ever. As evidence, there were an astounding eight STATE records set this season in Pennsylvania. A few were even set and re-set by the individuals and teams several times.
One was set in January, when Octorara\'s Ryan Fritz soared over the High Jump bar set at 7-00-25 to set the record he had tied a few days earlier at Lebanon Valley College at 7-00.00. Three were set for the season at the PTFCA State Championships at Penn State University on February 26th. And an incredible four were established at the Nationals Scholastic Indoor Championship (NSIC) on its final day, March 13th.
Others were set earlier in the season as well, including the barrage of marks by Central Dauphin\'s Ryan Whiting, who obliterated the state and national competition with eight throws between 65-01 and 68-11.50. Seven of the throws beat the existing record of 65-2. He would up his own mark on the way to that final record three times during the season - coming up with the biggest throw at the PTFCA State Championships.
The Simon Gratz boys also did some record-bumping during the season. They actually were the national leaders in the 1600 Spring Medley Relay, the 4x200 and the 4x400 for much of the campaign. But their final 4x200 of the year proved to be their best race. Glen Mills had set the record in 2002 at 1:28.49. Gratz first broke it in late December, going 1;28.25. Two weeks later, they dropped that mark to 1:27.96. Showing they were improving even more, they ran a 1:28.00 in the trials of the event at National Scholastic, before nailing what is now the top mark of 1:27.13 in the finals. Amazingly, that time - the 4th best prep time ever - took 2nd in the race to the new US Record of 1:26.09 set by Long Beach Poly CA. Gratz Coach Robert Massie says that while the kids were a little disappointed with the result, the coaches were quite happy. \"Poly ran the perfect race. Once they beat us to the cut-off on the 2nd leg, we knew it was going to be difficult.\" But Massie says that while the state record and all-time list in the 4x200 are great, they\'re really aiming for the Penn Relays and the Championship of America (COA) 4x400. \"We\'re waiting for the Jamaicans to come up here, and hopefully, Poly and more of those teams from out west will come up here.\" He says they have done no speedwork, and just spent the season trying to stay healthy. As clearly the best 4x400 relay in the Public League (District 12), Simon Gratz may have to qualify for the COA from the Public League race. \" It\'s going to be very difficult, but that\'s our goal.\"
But the real barrage of records came at the PTFCA indoor Champs at Penn State, and the National Scholastic meet in New York. In addition to Whiting\'s top throw of the season, two more individuals broke state all-time standards. Ellwood City junior Jacob Walker was determined to show PA that he is one of a few ready to fill the elite shoes of last year\'s graduated distance class. He\'s well on his way, breaking the six-year-old record of multiple state champ and Foot Locker finalist Danny Coval of Council Rock (pre split). His 8:36.83 3000 was less than a second better than Coval\'s 8:37.61. And Easton junior Llindsay Regan set the Pole Vault record in rare air, clearing 13-00.00 to eclipse her 2004 record of 12-09.50.
In addition to the great 4x200 run by Simon Gratz, three other state records bit the dust in New York on March 13th. West Catholic had come close to a national record in the Sprint Medley Relay on Friday (there is no state record kept in that event). With Nicole Leach in as anchor, and Kneshia Sheard setting PRs and building additional confidence, William Penn\'s 1997 record would surely be in jeopardy. It was not only in jeopardy, it was blasted by nearly a second per leg. Kneshia led off with a 56.7, followed by a 54.8 by Latavia Thomas, a 57.8 by Christiana Taylor, and a blazing 52.7 by Leach. The new record was set at 3:41.96. Earlier in the day, Leach had run the 3rd fastest 400 of all time, going 53.04 to win that event. Relieved that that event was behind her, she\'ll now focus on the 400 hurdles. \"I\'ve done less speed work this year, so I\'m happy with my performance.\"
The other star on the team, Latavia Thomas, faced pressure from a great field in the open 800. Not only was the nation\'s top performer in the race with her gaudy 2:07.00, but another competitor had split under 2:07 in Friday\'s Sprint Medley Relay. And Thomas was nervous. \"I really didn\'t know what my capability was. I never really do until after the race.\" Thomas settled in early, but after the half-way point, she moved up into third. \"I knew I just couldn\'t be in the back, so I just went. And whatever happens, happens.\" She didn\'t slow down, and pulled away over the final 75 meters to set a new state record of 2:07.10. It was over a second under her own record she had set at States in 2004.
The final day of NSIC had started on a good note for PA, and should have been the sign of good things to come. The 2002 North Penn 4x800 relay team had set the indoor state record of 7:52.05. North Penn believes they own the 800 and any relay associated with that distance. They medal or win virtually every year outdoor. So even though the indoor record belongs to their school, there is competition from year to year to beat the mark. One of the two seniors on the four-man squad, Sean Doyle, said they knew the teams at NSIC might not be looking for them at the front. \"We ran aggressive. We surprised people. I don\'t think they knew our potential. We can come into big meets and just knock off ten seconds at a time. It\'s what we\'re known for.\"
And knock off time is what they did. From a winning 7:57.20 at the PTFCA Indoor Champs, they dropped to a 7:49.16, 3rd overall, but more importantly, putting the state record in their names. Doyle hadn\'t lost a lead-off leg all year, \"but the Shaker guys was hard to stay with.\" So he and his teammates followed their race strategy to stay in the top five and just race at the end. After all, Shaker had run the 3rd best time all-time, and racing with them could have blown up their times. Doyle was thrilled for the way the three guys ran after him, reserving special kudos for Mike Pflueger, who is in his first season of the 800. After Doyle\'s lead-off of 1:57.4, Pflueger ran 1:58.8, followed by Philip Wright with a 1:57.1, and the anchor, Cody Edling, a 1:55.4 for their 7:49.16. But Doyle says they\'re far from satisfied with the indoor record. They want the school record of 7:42.76 which was set in 1997 at PIAA Outdoor States. Doyle isn\'t shy about his team\'s ambitions, or abilities. \"Just a warning. We\'re dangerous. We\'re not going to slow down. By the end of outdoor, we\'ll be low 7:40\'s.\"
Editor\'s note: From the looks of the records set this past indoor season, PA is dangerous. Keep it up, and congratulations on a great season. And for those wondering what the US Outdoor Record is for the 4x800, it\'s WIssahickon\'s 7:36.24 run in 1982.