CALN >> Making an exclamation point to its first-place finish in the boys team competition at the PIAA District 1 3A Track and Field Championship Saturday at Coatesville High School, the host Red Raiders won the final event of the day, the boys 4×400 meter relay, with a time of three minutes, 17.69 seconds.
It was Coatesville’s second victory in the boys’ relays Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Red Raider quartet of Damon Watson, Robert Turner, Donte London and Amir Haskett won the boys’ 4×100 with a meet record clocking of 41.26, which is also currently the No. 1 ranked time for that event in Pennsylvania.
At the end of the day, Coatesville won the 3A boys team competition handily, with 65 points, well ahead of second-place North Penn (46.5). The Red Raider boys also finished first in the high jump, as on Friday, the first day of this two-day meet, Coatesville senior Maximus Stukes won the event with a leap of six feet, seven inches.
This was the third consecutive district team title for the Coatesville boys, and fifth in the last six years. Coatesville boys track head coach Damien Henry said, “This was a special victory in the 100th year of the meet. We join only four other teams that were able to win it three years in a row – Lower Merion, Norristown, Glen Mills and North Penn – and it’s a tribute to our program, the assistant coaches, the student athletes and administration, and I’m just proud of everyone, the way our kids competed today.”
Turner, who finished second in both the boys 100 meter dash (10.82) and 200 meter run (21.70) Saturday, said, “Our main focus on the (4×100) relay today was getting perfect handoffs and leaving our marks on time.”
Coatesville’s winning boys 4×400 included Elijah Morris, Jabarri Stocker, Tommy Silvester and Turner.
“The biggest credit (for our two wins) we should give credit to is God; we couldn’t (accomplish) anything out here without him,” said Turner.
On an individual level, Oxford senior Macaela Walker won both the girls 100 hurdles (13.88) and the 300 hurdles (42.13).
“I’m just really grateful to get back in the sub-14s in the 100 hurdles,” said a smiling Walker. “The highlight for me today was just putting forth my best effort and using the ability that God gave me to run the best that I can and I’m happy with the results.”
Right behind Walker was Kennett freshman Aydriane Bowden, who finished second in the 300 hurdles (44.12) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (14.75), and she will be going to states in both events.
“The key for me was to stay relaxed, racing as hard as I could and pray,” said Bowden. “I’m very excited to go to states and I can’t wait to see what talent is out there.”
Also in the girls 100 hurdles, Great Valley junior Katelyn Grimes finished sixth (15.37) and will be headed to states.
Downingtown East senior Faith Fuqua finished first in the girls 200 meter run (24.28). Fuqua, who finished seventh in the 100 meter run (12.29) earlier on Saturday, will be competing in several events at states this coming week – the 200, the 100 meter dash, the 4×100 relay and the 4×400.
Fuqua said, “This (24.28) was a big PR for me. I think (the key) was my mentality, I really wanted to win and I just went out there are gave it my all.”
Downingtown East senior Nia Massey finished fourth in the 100 meter run (12.26) Saturday and qualified for states in this event.
The Downingtown East quartet of Massey, Fuqua, Julie Zajac and Olivia Dever finished second in the girls 4×100 relay (48.02) and is headed to states. Also in the girls 4×100, the Conestoga quartet of Victoria Gauthier, Ofure Abhuliman, Angelina Pierce and Lila Ziegler placed fifth (49.05) and is headed to states.
The Cougars finished fourth in the final girls event of the day, the 4×400 relay (3:55.85) with a quartet of Fuqua, Dever, Massey and Katrina Daversa and are headed to states.
Conestoga junior Patrick Barausky finished first in the boys’ pole vault (14-0), and Avon Grove senior Zane Frantz placed fourth (13-0). Both are going to states.
“It’s not a PR, but I’m very happy with how I did, especially with the rain and the conditions today,” said Barausky, who finished second last year at districts. “One of our best vaulters here slipped and it was anyone’s race today in this (weather). I’m happy I got experience today in the rain.
“Today, I wasn’t trying to go for a massive PR, to make Nationals, but just to make it to States and be comfortable in the elements out here.”
Avon Grove senior Elias Chase won the boys javelin throw with a mark of 181-7. Chase, who will be throwing the javelin for the University of Pennsylvania next year, finished second at districts and sixth at states last spring in the javelin throw. West Chester Rustin junior Andrew Black finished fourth (PR 167-8) and like Chase is headed to states in this event.
West Chester Rustin senior Lucas Band won the boys 110 meter hurdles (14.13) and is headed to states.
In the hotly-contested final event of the day, the Downingtown West quartet of Ryan Witherspoon, Josiah Wade, Olo Kolade and Andrew Ernst finished sixth in the boys 4×400 relay (3:21.39) and qualified for states.
Conestoga sophomore Alexia Tubbs finished fourth in the girls 3200 meter run (10:57.29) and qualified for states. In the boys 3200 meter run, Bishop Shanahan junior Steven Todd placed fifth (9:13.63), Downingtown East senior Nick Steinfeldt finished seventh (9:15.95) and Downingtown West senior Richard Planck placed eighth (9:17.31) and all three runners have qualified for states in this event.
In the girls shot put, West Chester East’s Leticia White was third (36-7.25) and West Chester Rustin’s Ana Dakes was fourth (35-8). Both qualified for states.
In the boys 800 meter run, Silvester placed seventh (1:54.59) and is headed to states. In the girls 800 meter run, West Chester Rustin senior Maddie Miller finished sixth (2:12.59) and qualified for states.
In the girls 400 meter run, Downingtown West sophomore Molly Weitzman (fourth, 57.41) and Avon Grove junior Lily Schindler (sixth, 58.60) will be heading to states. In the boys 400 meter run, Stocker placed eighth (49.60) and qualified for states.
In the triple jump, Conestoga junior Rehoboth Teshome finished fifth (43-11) and qualified for states.
NOTES: The District 1 2A Track and Field Championships, also held at Coatesville High School, the Church Farm boys finished second in the team competition with 87 points, behind Calvary Christian (155). For Church Farm on Saturday, Shalva Bent finished third in the 200 meter run and fourth in the 100 meter run, Dylan Lumumba placed fourth in both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, the 4×100 relay team finished first (44.02) and the 4×400 relay placed second (3:39.89).
Boys’ AAA event winners:
4×800 relay – Central Bucks West (7:41.79); 1600 meter run – Ian Johnson, Perkiomen Valley (4:12.79); High jump – Maximus Stukes, Coatesville (6-7); Shot put – Luke Ellor, Spring-Ford (58-9); 3200 meter run – Ian Johnson, Perkiomen Valley (9:09.43); 110 meter hurdles – Lucas Band, West Chester Rustin (14.13); 100 meter run – Joshua Dean, Academy Park (10.77); Pole vault – Patrick Barausky, Conestoga (14-0); 4×100 relay – Coatesville (41.26); 400 meter run – Ade Lloyd, Harriton (47.73); Dominic Harvey-Sheppard, Wissahickon (38.56); Discus – Brian Seals, Strath Haven (163-2); Joseph Garzio, Radnor (1:53.22); 200 meter run – Ade Lloyd, Harriton (21.67); Triple jump – Kivaleon Clarke, Penn Wood (47-6.5); Javelin – Elias Chase, Avon Grove (181-7); 4×400 relay – Coatesville (3:17.69).
Girls’ AAA event winners:
4×800 relay – Upper Dublin (9:03.16); 1600 meter run – Olivia Cieslak, Haverford (4:48.28); Long jump – Amirah Nesmith, Cheltemham (18-5.75); High jump – Lexi Boiardi, Avon Grove (5-7); Pole vault – Maddy Kelley, Villa Maria Academy (13-0); Discus – Zianna Dobson, North Penn (135-1); Javelin – Angela Manila, Upper Moreland (139-2); 3200 meter run – Lillian DiCola, Hatboro Horsham (10:51.38); 100 meter hurdles – Macaela Walker, Oxford (13.88); 100 meter dash – Amirah Nesmith, Cheltenham (11.84); Triple jump – Destini Smith, Souderton (41-10.5); Shot put – Victoria James, Methacton (37.00.25); 4×100 relay – Cheltenham (47.45); 400 meter run – Mimi Duffy, Central Bucks West (55.25); 300 meter hurdles – Macaela Walker, Oxford (42.13); 800 meter run – Olivia Cieslak, Haverford (2:08.23); 200 meter run – Faith Fuqua, Downingtown East (24.28); 4×400 relay – Chester (3:50.70).
AAA boys’ team points leaders
Coatesville 65, North Penn 46.5, Perkiomen Valley 36, Spring-Ford 34.5, Strath Haven 34, Souderton 32.5, Council Rock North 32, Harriton 27, Central Bucks East 24, Penncrest 24.
AAA girls’ team points leaders
Cheltenham 44, Haverford 39, Methacton 38, Cheater 36, Souderton 33, Downingtown East 30, North Penn 29, Mount Saint Joseph 26, Avon Grove 25, Central Bucks East 22, Owen J. Roberts 22, Upper Dublin 22.
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