The times speak for themselves.
By Phil Grove
1:29.69 – 4x200-meter relay.
3:17.06 – 4x400 relay.
3:40.99 – sprint medley relay.
They really scream for your attention when you consider all were put in the books indoors before Valentine’s Day. And don’t forget a sub-8 clocking in the 60 hurdles, a 22.27-second run in the 200 dash and a sub-50 in the 400 just for kicks this season.
Penn Wood’s sprint corps is red hot under cover and looking to make noise throughout 2012 – inside and out.
“I think our motivation is to try to make a statement,” coach Lenny Jordan said. “They don’t get a lot of press, that’s their motivation. We share Delaware County with Strath Haven and are overlooked.
“I think the kids are not complaining, we are just going to go out and prove we are a successful program. Anybody that wants to hear it, talk to them. If not, read the times and make their own decision.”
The Patriots have broken their school record in the 4x200 twice this season and the 4x400 standard three times. Throw in meet records at Glen Mills, Burdett and the Meet of Champions, and the season has been a success … thus far.
The workhorse of the group is senior Eric Futch, who last May brought down one of the longest-standing marks in Pennsylvania. His 36.43 effort in winning the 300 hurdles in Shippensburg eclipsed the 36.94 by Jason Kremus of Northampton in 1989.
“He ran cross country and will do anything you ask him to do,” Jordan said of Futch, who also competes in the 800 in addition to being US#1 in the long hurdle races. “He does not complain. He might give me the look, but if it will make him better, he does it.”
In December, Futch hit US#1 – and 10th all time – in the 300 dash at 33.56 and followed up with a 50.30 PR in the 400. A 22.37 time in the 200 preceded an 8.31 in the 60 hurdles as Penn Wood participated in many of the major indoor meets on the East coast.
On Saturday, he scooted over the 60 high barriers in 7.95 seconds to move to PA#2 and US#3. Later in the same meet, he was clocked in 22.27 seconds for a lap around Lehigh University’s 200-meter oval, good for PA#2.
Classmate Johnathon Stiles is equally talented, running 49.92 in the 400 dash and being on each of the blazing relay teams.
“He’s grown up a lot,” Jordan said of Stiles. “He’s shown a lot more leadership than he had in the past.
“Eric and Johnathan are like bookends, they pretty much get things done when you split the two up (in a relay). They realize that this is their special season.”
Fast times continue when Futch teams up with Stiles in each of Penn Wood’s sprint relay squads. The same quartet of Futch, junior Christian Hunter, senior Nigel Waugh and Stiles carries the baton in the 4x200 and sprint medley relays, while the 4x400 group consists of Hunter, Futch, senior Boye Freeman and Stiles.
As part of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, Penn Wood blazed a 3:17.06 in the 4x400 relay, good enough for the state lead and second-best time in the country. Their time also would have won the AAA relay race last May at Shippensburg by more than half a second.
Analyzing the 4x400 times from 2011 and so far this year, Jordan said his group had a best of 3:25 last winter. Opening with a 3:23 clocking this season “let us know something special was going on,” he said.
“We ran the 3:17, and I think there’s more in there,” Jordan said. “We did not run our best there. We have not run a complete race, all four legs. If we get everybody on the same page on the same day, we can really do something special.”
Jordan said being able to compete against the nation’s best is a plus for his 2012 team. In his fifth year as head coach, the Patriots will hit the road often “to put them in the best competition to try to be prepared.”
Penn Wood’s indoor schedule has been an aggressive one, participating in the Hispanic Games, Bishop Loughlin, Marine Corps and both New Balance meets before Saturday’s state indoor meet and the New Balance Indoor Nationals in March.
“We have some pretty good individuals, really phenomenal,” he said. “The exposure to difficult opposition helps us be successful.”
The outdoor schedule is even more challenging, with Arcadia (Calif.), Penn Relays and the high school nationals and Junior Nationals among the highlights.
“It’s working out,” Jordan said. “They see success, and they want to be a part of it. Practices are a lot more competitive. Guys are trying to step up and get a spot on the relays or get in position for next year.”