North Penn, Cheltenham girls have Penn Relays to remember
PHILADELPHIA >> They raced around Franklin Field, together, one last time.
As a foursome, they were the best the state had to offer.
“It was huge, not only for the two juniors and our little baby sophomore,” senior Phoebe Clowser said, giving teammate Ariana Gardizy a celebratory hug. “It’s just so awesome to be able to race here, that we get the opportunity, and I’m so excited for them.
“They’re gonna do amazing things, even without me,” said Clowser, headed to Illinois State University in the fall, “so I’m really excited for them.”
North Penn’s 4×800 relay was the top PA team in Friday’s Championship of America, racing to a fourth-place finish overall in a time of 9 minutes, 2.06 seconds, the top time in the state this spring.
The 122nd Running of the Penn Relays on Friday also saw the Cheltenham girls race to the top PA spot and a fourth-place finish overall in the 4×1 Championship of America, and the Central Bucks West boys 4×8 qualified for Saturday’s COA, set for 4 p.m.
North Penn’s day would begin with Gardizy. Focused on her leadoff leg, she jogged her way to the starting line, the surroundings thick with intimidation.
“I was so scared. Looking at the people next to me…,” she said with a smile afterwards. “Yesterday (the qualifier) was so scary because there was so many people — there was like 18 teams. And then (Friday) I thought it would be a little bit better with 12 (teams), but it was still the same feeling because we got put on the outside.
“When that gun went off, it was surreal,” the sophomore said. “It was so quick.”
Gardizy’s gutsy start had the Lady Knights in contention.
“I couldn’t see the clock, but I heard the first girl went off at 60,” she said of her first lap. “My PR’s like a 1:02. I’ve never gone that fast.”
Hanging tough, Gardizy put NP in position to make a run, and with Clowser’s 2:15.34 pushing the Lady Knights further up, Nwogwugwu was set to go after the front of the pack.
“I like chasing,” she said. “I just got out hard and tried to maintain the best I could the second lap.”
The junior cranked out a 2:15.33, pushing North Penn all the way into third.
Vlasic’s anchor leg of 2:11.79 was the fourth-fastest split of the entire race — a total of 48 runners — and it propelled the Lady Knights to fourth, all the way through a mad scramble at the finish line.
“It’s just awesome to know that you gave everything you had,” the junior said, “and it was worth it. We did really well, we got a really good time.
“It was fun,” said Vlasic, who was with Clowser on last year’s team that placed eighth in the COA, “competing with the best of the best.”
Shenendehowa of Clifton Park, N.Y. took top honors, going 9:00.79 on this chilly afternoon, Mamaroneck, N.Y. raced to second with a 9:01.69, and Holmwood Tech, Jamaica was third with a 9:01.76.
North Penn surpassed a field that included fifth-place Edwin Allen of Jamaica (9:03.20), followed by Western Branch (Va., 9:03.53), Glass (Va, 9:11.33), Bronxville (N.Y., 9:12.72), Cardinal O’Hara (9:15.68), Long Beach Poly (Calif., 9:16.38), West Springfield (Va., 9:24.54) and Penn Wood (9:26.33).
North Penn’s 4×8 looks forward to a promising postseason, savoring one last run together at the Penn Relays.
“Amazing but sad,” Clowser said. “I’ve been here for four years, the best four years of my life.”
Cheltenham’s fantastic 4×1 team of Bria Barnes, Brielle Lewis, Alexis Crosby and Chanel Brissett raced to fourth in the Championship of America, tops among PA schools with a 46.48 as the postseason draws near.
“There’s a lot to come in the future,” Crosby said.
The Panthers, already owning the best time in the state this spring with a 46.70, surpassed that with their time of 46.48.
They overcame strong races by Holmwood Tech of Jamaica (46.68), Green Island of Jamaica (47.67) and St. Augustine’s of The Bahamas (47.85) to earn fourth.
Edwin Allen of Jamaica took the top spot with a 45.73, followed by St. Catherine of Jamaica in second with a 46.11 and Nansemond River (Va.) with a 46.26.
The Central Bucks West boys 4×8 earned the fifth-fastest time on Friday to qualify for the COA, a team of Carter Zerweck (1:58.15), Jake Claricurzio (1:56.66), Teagan Fortna (1:58.70) and Rock Fortna (1:55.49) going 7:49.
Out in the field, Hatboro-Horsham’s Thomas Haas finished 17th in the Javelin Championship, with a throw of 164 feet, 2 inches.
