Christopher Dock, Gwynedd Mercy shine at BAL Invitational
TOWAMENCIN — In his first 200-meter dash of the season, Christopher Dock’s Austin Kratz broke the Bicentennial Athletic League Invitational meet record and also broke the Dock school record, which had stood for 21 years.
Safe to say the versatile freshman is back at full strength.
“I felt really good,’ he said following his impressive win in the 200, on a sunny, windy afternoon at his home track. “I came out and I saw that the wind was pushing the last 100, so I figured this would be time to get a good run in.’
Kratz raced to a first-place time of 22 seconds, replacing the previous school record of 22.94, set by Jason Moore back in 1994. This record-setting run came after Kratz had already placed first in the long jump, helping to power the Pioneers to a strong showing at the BAL Invite.
“He’s a beast,’ Dock coach Tim Eger said of Kratz. “We had some good times across the board today — really good stuff.’
The meet served as a coming-out party for Kratz, who had given his body time to recover following basketball season.
“I went from basketball to track, and I think just being on my feet so much, it really hurt my shins,’ he said. “But I stayed off them a week, came back at the beginning of the week and was able to run (Saturday).
“I think most of the kids are feeling good and the coaches are working us good — we’re dropping our times so that’s always a good sign.’
The Pioneers also excelled in the distance events, keyed by Lindsey Bernd’s victory in the 1,600. The freshman raced to a first-place time of 5:40.34, with teammate Camryn McCloskey crossing in 5:53.59 for third.
Lower Moreland’s Mary Kate Barton was closest to Bernd, in 5:51.85.
“I was told to stick with the top girl for the first two laps and then when I felt comfortable — just go when I needed to,’ Bernd said. “And I thought it worked out pretty well.
“It’s been a really great season so far. (Winning districts again) is the goal — hopefully, as long as we keep up the hard work.’
Gwynedd Mercy was also well-represented at the meet, looking particularly strong in the sprints. The Monarchs’ foursome of Rachel Koller, Mary Casey, Madi Grimaldi and Bridget Casey took the 4×1 relay, going 50.31, and Koller would also take first in the 100 dash.
The Dock boys battled to a pair of wins out in the field, as Cole Rupert cleared 10 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault to take top honors, and Kratz got out 21 feet, 1 and a quarter inch to win the long jump.
“I was very happy with my long jump,’ Kratz said. “I hadn’t been able to jump too much lately because of my shins and wasn’t really sure how I was gonna do.
“Yesterday, I got some jumps in and had a 20-5, and thought ‘ wow that would be pretty good,’ and somehow came out (Saturday) and jumped a 21. So I was pretty happy with that.’
Now healthy, rested and ready to go for the stretch run, Kratz may have a big postseason ahead in a few weeks.
“I didn’t really have any postseason goals yet because I wasn’t really sure how I was going to do,’ he said. “I’ll probably make some after this meet.’
It was a scary moment for Dock — and for everyone else in attendance — when the Pioneers’ standout hurdler Josh Wolfe suffered a broken wrist after crashing to the ground on the final hurdle of the 110’s. Amazingly, he still managed to finish the race, crossing fourth.
All signs were good for the Dock junior, who was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and was already in surgery before meet’s end.
“We’ll be praying for him,’ Kratz said.
Bicentennial Athletic League Invitational
At Christopher Dock
Boys
110 hurdles: Morgan Ellis (Delco Christian) 15.7; 4×800 relay: Delco Christian, 9:00.66; 100: Nkosi Pile (Church Farm) 10.92; 1,600: Westley Wedell (Academy of the New Church) 4:46.46; 4×100 relay: Delco Christian, 46.31; 200: Austin Kratz (Dock) 22.0
Shot Put: Michael Malkowicz (Delco Christian) 41-4; Pole Vault: Cole Rupert (Christopher Dock) 10-6; Discus: Alex Pagano (Lower Moreland) 121-7; Javelin: Bobby Quinby (New Hope-Solebury) 165-5; Long Jump: Kratz (Dock) 21-1.25.
Girls
4×800 relay: Lower Moreland, 9:57.13; 100 hurdles: Cora Castor (Lower Moreland) 17.66; 1,600: Lindsey Bernd (Dock) 5:40.34; 4×100 relay: GMA, 50.31
Pole Vault: Hannah Singer (New Hope-Solebury) 8-0; Long Jump: Cassidy Foxhaven-Gamb (Delco Christian) 15-11.5; Discus: Olivia Onal (Bristol) 91-6; Javelin: Kailie Kephart (Phil-Mont) 93-0; High Jump: Olivia Seavy (Dock) 4-6; Triple Jump: Catherine Peel (GMA) 32-6.
