Coverage

HS ENTRY DEADLINE FOR PENN RELAYS IS TUE 3/30 4pm - DISTANCE CLASSIC DUE 4/12 Mar 25, 2004

The deadline for high school entries for the Penn Relays Carnival is Tuesday, March 30th by 4pm. Get info from the Penn Relays web site.High School Deadline set for March 30th And the deadline for the Penn Relays Distance Classic, with a 20K, 5K and 1-mile Fun Run for Kids, is April 12th. PDF on the Penn Relays Distance Classic

4/8-Former Merion Mercy star Evelyn Dwyer and Texas to pass up Penn Relays Apr 08, 2004

Former Merion Mercy star Evelyn Dwyer and Texas to pass up Penn RelaysFrom Walt Murphy\'s News Service When the NCAA went to Regional qualifying for its Div.I Championships last year, the directors of the major spring relay carnivals expressed concern over the effect that the ensuing schedule changes would have on their meets.

4/11-OHara Boys DMR, 4x8, Gwynedd-Mercy, Hatboro Girls 4x800 headline HS relay acceptances for Penn Apr 11, 2004

The Penn Relays Carnival released the list of accepted high school relays teams. Headlining a deep group of PA teams are the Cardinal O\'Hara boys DMR, the #3 seed; and the Gwynedd-Mercy girls 4x800 with one of the top seeds in the two Small Schools divisions, and Hatboro-Horsham, also with a top seed in the Large Schools division. Cumberland Valley, Cardinal O\'Hara and LaSalle are in both the DMR and 4x800; while the Radnor girls will race in both events. Noticeably absent is the 4x800 squad from Central Dauphin, who will be competing at the McDowell Invitational in Erie that weekend. CD has brokedn 8 twice this season, once without their top 800 guy.

4/22-Leach sets Penn Relays 400 Hurdles record of 57.84 Apr 22, 2004

West Catholic junior Nicole Leach came from behind over the final 100 meters to set the Penn Relays record for the high school girls 400 Hurdles, breaking the previous mark held by Melanie Walker of St. Jago Jamaica, who ran 57.85 in 2001. Including quotes from Leach and one of her coaches.

4/23-North Penn makes COA 4x800-Lewisburg misses by 2 seconds despite 1:52.6 by Spooner Apr 23, 2004

The North Penn 4x800 is the only PA team that moved into Championship of America 4x800, going 7:50.53 to get 3rd in their heat. And Lewisburg, which ran 7:56.57 missed by two seconds after, despite a heroic anchor by Chris Spooner in 1:52.6. There were baton drops at the start of one race by both Wissahickon and Carroll, while in another race, Upper Dublin lost the baton.

4/23-Auston Papay wins Shot Put with 63-11/Gwynedd Mercy top American 4x800 COA Apr 23, 2004

In the Shot Put, PA won another individual championship, as Auston Papay, the Sharon senior, threw 63-11 in the first round. Gwynedd-Mercy held off a final lap charge from Boys & Girls of New York City, and took top American honors, garnering 3rd in the 4x800 Championship of America by just .01, going 9:04.57. The quartet of Kelly McGrath, Kahki Mealy, Kate Vernon and Maura Ryan split 2:19.0, 2:16.5, 2:15.3 and 2:13.8 for the best PA time in years, and is just over six seconds off the state record set by Upper Dublin in 1982. The race was won by Edwin Allen of Jamaica in 8:50.20, and Holmwood Technical, Jamaica, was 2nd in 9:00.56. West Catholic won the girls Small School 4x100 in 47.68, and in the Large School race, Simon Gratz was 8th in 48.16. Juan Cave, St. Joseph\'s Prep was 2nd in the High Jump, clearing 6-09.75. LaSalle\'s Kevin Moore was the top PA finisher in the Javelin, getting 2nd with a throw of 186-10. Favorite Mike Holsberger of Penn Cambria had a foul, one throw, and apperently retired because of injury. Coatesville\'s Tayvon Gray was 3rd in the Discus with a throw of 139-00.

4/23-The Distance Double by Chris Spooner (4:09.91) and Ian Fitzgerald (8:22.42) Apr 23, 2004

Everybody had Lewisburg\'s Chris Spooner on their lists. After all, he was the number one seed. But Victor Gras is better known. And he has been talking about going sub-4 by the end of the year. North Hills\' Ian Fitzgerald was seeded 24th. But that was because he hasn\'t run the distance in some time. Those who knew, were sure his recent 4:14 mile/1:57 double and his 2nd place at Penn a year before were no flukes.

4/24-Nicole Leach named Female HS Athlete of the Meet @ Penn Relays Apr 24, 2004

Adding to her honors this year, West Catholic junior Nicole Leach has been name the Female High School Athlete of the Meet @ the Penn Relays Carnival. She won the 400 Hurdles Thursday in a record 57.84, and contributed to relay wins in the Philadelphia Catholic League 4x400 (3:45.56) on Thursday, the Girls\' Small Schools 4x100 Championship on Friday (47.68), and Tri-State Girls\' 4x100 on Saturday (47.60); while placing 4th in the Championship of America 4x400 in 3:47.96 on Friday.

4/24-Pennsbury holds off Bensalem charge to win Philly-area 4x400 after Bensalem misses 4x1 COA Apr 24, 2004

Pennsbury\'s Tom Stevenson held off Bensalem\'s LaMonte Louis over the anchor leg to win the Philadelphia-area 4x400 championship in 3:20.56. Bensalem, which had qualified for the 4x100 Championship of America which was run earlier in the afternoon Saturday, missed the start. In the Philadelphia -area Girls\' championship, Wissahickon was 2nd in 3:50.74 to New Jersey\'s WInslow Township. Winslow also won the boys 4x400 COA.

South Carolina Collegiate Recap Apr 27, 2004

Lander University honored athletes from nine varsity sports and the cheerleading team Monday (4/26/04) night at the institution\'s 36th Annual Athletics Banquet in Horne Arena.

4/28-NOW ON, 77 PA Girls Action Pix @ the Penn Relays Apr 28, 2004

We still have eight meets to process from the past two weeks, but we\'re switching gears to get 150+ action pix of PA athletes in the invitiatonal relays and track and field events at the Penn Relays. PA Girls are now on. That means to catch up, we\'ll be unable to cover a meet in person this weekend. But we\'ll be on the way to Baldwin next Friday for the Baldwin Invitational. You probably recognize Bill Cosby. Here he\'s urging an event champ to show her new watch to 25,000 people. What a guy!