DVGTCA Meet of Champions
Just a little 'ol meet at Lehigh University by the Delaware Valley Girls' Track & Field Coaches Association. And look what happened! 50 nationally elite performances, highlighted by eight teams in the 4x800, seven in the 4x200, six in the 4x400, and five individuals in the 60 Hurdles and 60 Dash. Juanita Broaddus, William Penn, followed up her US#5 24.15 @ the Simplot Games with a top ten time of 24.78 to win the MOC. Jakki Bailey, Kennent, was second in 25.25. Takia Brooks, Abington, was third in 25.45. Broaddus was second to Bailey in the 60 Meter Hurdles, as Bailey went 7.47 US#5. In the 4x200, West Catholic ran the second fastest PA time of this season of 1:43.88. Penn was less than .5 back, not quite at full strength. Precious George, Academy Park, took the 60 Meter Hurdles in 9.10. Villa Maria Academy won the DMR in a US#8 12:25.98. West Catholic's Nicole Leach took the 400 in 57.60. Danielle Rodgers, Penn Wood, continued her dominance in the 800, winning in 2:18.12. Julia Pudlin is rapidle rounding into form, taking the Mile over stiff competition in 5:13.83. Kourtney Marquis took the Pole Vault with a leap of 10-6. Jen Williams, Great Valley, had her best jump of the year, 5-6. West Catholic also took the 4x400 with their 3:57.46, the second fastest time in PA this season. Vanessa McGee took the Triple Jump with a leap of 36-03.50.
Boys
The Shot Put will be one of the best events at the State meet next week, and tonight, a new state leader emerged with a 2.5 foot PR. It's Steve Meyers of Conestoga, who came within a whisker of hitting that magic 60 foot mark with his spectacular 59-10.50. The throw puts him US#5 and more importantly, gives him a lot of confidence heading into States and the Nike Indoor Classic a week later. Glen Mills' Quentin Watts threw 52-10.25 for 2nd. Upper Dublin's Nehemiah Leary improved his US#3 Long Jump by a half-inch, going 23-07.75. Pennsbury's Al Gregory was 2nd at 23-01, while Sun Valley's Brandon Bush was 3rd with his 21-10.50. North Penn used splits of 3:15; 50-point; 1:57.8; and 4:26 to win the DMR in 10:30.34, which is US#2 Great Valley ran a US#7 in 10:33.66. Henderson was 3rd with a 10:41.34, while Upper Moreland, behind a 4;22 split by Mark Mullelly, was 4th in 10:41.47.
Westown School's Ray Bobrewricki won the High Jump, clearing 6-8. Glen Mills' Taj Johnson improved his season best, going 6-6. Two guys cleared 14-0 in the Pole Vault. Adam Bingham of Boyertown won on misses, while Alex Vencius of Central, set a PR with his mark. On the track, Glen Mills' 4x200 had a slight trip early in the race, but still pulled off a 1:30.60, to comfortably beat Abington, 2nd in 1:32.55. Jesse Patterson, Cheltenham, took the 60 Meter Hurdles in 8.09, a US#6. The other four competitors in the event medalists were all under 8.44, Dyestat Elite, including Eric Alexander, Glen Mills (8.26), Steve Nichols, Penncrest (8.32), Jordan Rajan, Downingtown (8.36), and Mavis Polk, Glen Mills (8.39). In the 60 Dash, Tennent's Troy Roberson went 6.97, a top 10 US time. Richard Britt of Simon Gratz, was 2nd in 7.07, while Cheltenham's Lamont Grant was 3rd in 7.08. Quakertown's Adam Breisch took the mile in 4:25.62. O'Hara's Steve Hallinan was 2nd in 4:26.27. Abington's Lester Caesar came from behind to win the 49.83. And the same strategy worked for North Penn's Steve Craig, who had a busy night, running what he had to run to win the 800 in 1:58.04. Tennent's John Sarge was 2nd in 1:58.34. Almost stealing the show from the first of two heats was Upper Merion's Ryan Turner, clocking 1:58.50 for 3rd. Penn Wood's Mike Brown went 1:59.47 for 4th, and Norristown's Kenrick Marsh was 5th in 1:59.87. Tennent star Troy Roberson took the 200 in 22.76.
In the 3000, Upper Moreland's Mark Mullelly showed he is one of the favorites for the state championship, running away from stiff competition with an 8:51.84. Rob Robertson, Coatesville, bounced back from a tough Carnival double, getting 2nd in 8:54.11. Council Rock's Rob Hampson was 3rd in 8:56.81. (Missing 4x400, 4x800, Triple Jump.) In the Triple Jump, Mike Whitehead Norristown, wen 46’5", Blake Taylor, Methacton was 2nd in 45’ 2+", John Hammond, Girard College 44’11", and Galin Rivers, Great Valley 44’ 6+". In the 4x400, Abington won in 3:24.08, 2nd was William Tennent, 3:26.55, and 3rd was Lower Merion 3:29.84. Strath Haven ran an 8:02.50 to take the 4x800, a US#8. North Penn (minus Steve Craig) was 2nd in 8:02.72; LaSalle in 3rd in 8:05.79.