Hitting Strides: Chapman sparks Spring-Ford past Boyertown, Upper Perk
ROYERSFORD >> He can’t help but to remind himself every single day.
“Twenty-seven years,” said Spring-Ford sophomore Stephen Chapman, “that’s how long that record has been standing. That’s an awful long time. But I want my name next to that record by the end of the season.”
So when the sophomore opened up the Rams’ tri-meet against Upper Perkiomen and Boyertown with a top finish in the 300-meter hurdles, he knew it was just another step in the right direction. Chapman posted a 40.13, bettering the rest of the field by over four seconds for the top time.
“I’m happy with the time I put up to start out the meet,” he said afterward. “I’ve just got to keep getting better as the season goes on. That’s all I can do if I want to keep working toward that record time.”
That record time of 39.47 — set in 1989 by Scott Helverson in the 300-meter hurdles — currently sits as the background on Chapman’s phone. To him, it’s a daily reminder to constantly strive to get better.
“I look at that every single day,” he said, “and I know what I need to shoot for. I’ve got a long way to go still, but by the end of the season, I want to be able to say that I accomplished that goal.”
Sparked by Chapman’s quick start in the 300 hurdles, Spring-Ford’s boys and girls teams corralled two wins apiece by the time the sun began to set over Coach McNelly Stadium on Wednesday.
Spring-Ford’s boys team downed Boyertown, 79-74, and posted a 116-34 win over Upper Perkiomen while Boyertown defeated the Tribe 124-25.
It was just another step in the right direction for a Spring-Ford team that has captured the PAC-10 title in each of the past five seasons.
Chapman also posted a top time in the 100 high-hurdles (16.4) and also took second in the 400 with a 52.53 behind teammate Colin Crosbie (51.43).
Boyertown’s Dan Heller and Adam Gehret tied for first in the 100 with a time of 11.55. Heller also captured first in the 200 (22.80) while Gehret was second with a 23.22. Both were also part of the Bears’ 400-meter relay, which crossed at 44.26.
Bears’ senior Dashon Deming jumped a personal best 5-10 to capture the high jump. Entering the meet with a previous best mark of 5-6, Diming had plenty to smile about afterward.
“I’m definitely pumped about that,” he said of setting a new mark. “I’ve been working on getting my steps down and getting that arch in my back to get over the bar. Hopefully, I can keep making progress as the season goes on.”
In throws, Boyertown’s Elijah Shalaway took first in the shot put (50-7) and the discus (157-1).
Upper Perkiomen’s Elijah Soto took first in the javelin with a 159-4.
A senior, who missed the state cut by just one place last year, Soto enters the 2016 season with plenty of motivation.
“I’m aiming to get there (states) this year,” he said. “Last year, it was hard to miss it by just one place. I almost had the qualifying distance — so I’m there. I know I have it in me.”
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On the girls side, Spring-Ford earned a 93-57 win over Boyertown and a 132-18 win over Upper Perkiomen. The Bears took down Upper Perk, 118-32.
A few days after breaking a school record in the long jump, Boyertown junior Rebecca Hemingway broke her own record with a 18-6 leap en route to four first place finishes on Wednesday.
“It was exciting to break my own record,” she said afterward. “For some reason that was even more exciting than when I broke the record last week. I think that will give me a lot of motivation to keep getting better.”
In addition to the long jump, Hemingway took first in the 100-meter dash with a 13.67 and the 200 (27.86). She also placed first in the high jump, posting a 5-2.
Boyertown’s Sarafina Valenti captured first in the shot put (33-7) and the discus (95-6). Teammate Haven Kelly took first in the javelin (88-8).
Competing in her first individual event as a high schooler, Spring-Ford’s Nandini Patel left her mark in grand fashion. The freshman finished first in the 800 with a time of 2:29.50, edging Boyertown’s junior Gillian Kasitz by just 0.2.
“It’s really exciting,” she said afterward. “She (Kasitz) had a lead close to the finish, so I tried to push through the pain and pass her right at the finish. I’d say it was a pretty good start for me.”
Junior teammate Bella Marchini captured first in the 1,600-meter run (5:28.3) and also finished atop the 3,200 (11:50.1).
“I didn’t PR (post a personal record),” she said, “but I went under 12 minutes. That’s what I always aim for. I’m definitely happy with that.
“We’re excited about this season. I think our team has a lot of good things coming, we’ve just got to stay focused and keep getting better.”
