Spring-Ford boys knock off Methacton to finish unbeaten
ROYERSFORD >> The script could not have been written any better for the final meet of the Pioneer Athletic Conference boys track and field season. Both Spring-Ford and Methacton entered the day with unblemished 8-0 records in league competition.
That set the stage for Wednesday afternoon’s showdown between the two schools at Spring-Ford’s Coach McNelly Stadium. The host Rams wound up taking the boys portion of the PAC-10 meet with an 83-67 victory over the Warriors.
On the girls’ side, Methacton posted an 83-67 victory over Spring-Ford.
But a lot more track and field news should come out of these two schools since both teams feature some of the best talent in the league. The postseason competition begins May 13-14 with the PAC-10 Track & Field Championships at Phoenixville’s Washington Field. The top finishers there advance to the District 1 Championships at Coatesville High School the following weekend. And the season culminates with the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University on Memorial Day Weekend.
Methacton and Spring-Ford have been two of the top track & field schools in the PAC-10 for a number of years, and this season is no different. There have been some coaching changes along the way, but a friendly rivalry and competitive edge still surrounds the Rams and Warriors. Veteran coach Danielle Stauffer is the Spring-Ford coach for both boys and girls.
Methacton, on the other hand, has Chris Shaffer in charge for the boys and Ruth Akintoye is in her first season at the helm of the Warriors. She also happens to be a former star at Spring-Ford. One of Akintoye’s teammates with the Rams was Heather Giovagnoli, who has returned as an assistant coach with the Rams.
As expected, the outcomes of both meets were close, particularly with what was at stake on the boys’ side.
“It was definitely a close meet,” said Stauffer. “We knew it was going to be a close one. We had it coming down to a three-point swing in either direction. That was due to the momentum going. I think we scored more points in the field than we thought we would. It was back and forth on the track.”
While Spring-Ford’s boys flexed their muscle in the distance events, Methacton had the upper hand in the sprints. That left the meet to be decided by the points scored in the field events.
The even match ultimately came down to the triple jump and pole vault, where Spring-Ford showed its power with a 1-2-3 sweep to earn the Rams nine team points, the 3,200-meter run and the closing event on the track, the 4×400-meter relay.
“With those events left, Methacton was winning by nine points,” said Stauffer. “We swept the pole vault for nine points to even those back. The boys ran great in the 2-mile. In the triple jump, Zak Musetti had a best of 33 feet. But today he went over 38 feet and got us five points. Those are things that we didn’t expect. That’s momentum, and the kids get excited about it. It came down to the field events because the track was so close.”
In the pole vault, the Rams feature three of the league’s best in junior Chad Smiley and seniors Josh Darlington and Matt Breish. They have top competition among themselves besides against the rest of the top pole vaulters in the league and the rest of this area. At times the order of finish changes, but Spring-Ford consistently scores big in the pole vault, which has been a major factor in the team’s success throughout the season. On Wednesday, Smiley finished first at 11-0 while Darlington came in second, also at 11-0. Breish was third at 10-6.
“They are really coming along,” said Stauffer. “They have been working since October and November one day a week with pole vault practice indoors, and every other day they are with us here at the track. They have worked with private coaching and with us for a half year. They are very emotional and very competitive.”
Stauffer also pointed out that senior Tyler Smith came through with a PR on this Senior Recognition Day at Spring-Ford to close out the regular season. Smith, a baseball player last year, has made a solid transition to track & field during 2016 in the pole vault.
Warriors coach Shaffer was impressed by Spring-Ford’s pole vaulters, too.
“In the pole vault, they (Rams) have three of the best in the league,” said Shaffer. “They’re very good. We battled with them in the throws. It was back and forth. I am still proud of our guys. Next week we have to get ready for the PAC-10s.”
Spring-Ford’s 4×800 boys won their event in 8:12.90 with a team of Chris Fennimore, Colin Crosbie, Milan Sharma and John Conner for a district-qualifying time.
The Rams won the 4×400 in 3:37.61 with Crosbie, Chapman, Uba and Scarcelle on the anchor.
Chris Shaffer raved more about his Warriors.
“I thought my guys performed very, very well,” said Shaffer. “It is always tough coming here to Spring-Ford. Hats off to them. They put together some good races, some good throws and some good jumps.”
Methacton’s Nick Shaffer had his usual big day with victories in the 100-meter dash (11.13), 400 (51.15) and 200 (22.44). He also ran a leg on the 4×400 relay.
“My times were pretty good today,” said Nick Shaffer. “I was hoping for a little better, but the weather wasn’t there. It was cold. But I really wanted to push myself to get points for the team.”
Spring-Ford’s Justin Smith won the 1,600 (4:30.74) with John Conner taking the 800 (2:01.93), Steve Chapman the 110 high hurdles (15.96) and Jacob McKenna the 3,200 (10:02.10).
Spring-Ford’s Stone Scarcelle (51.57) finished second in the 400, and Ram teammate Tyler Uba was third (51.88).
In the boys 4×100 relay, Methacton edged S-F with a time of 50.88 to the Rams’ 51.8. The Warriors used a contingent of Jim Keenan, Griffin Bilicic, Joe McKeon and Jorge Carmona. The Rams went with a group of Fennimore, Chris Carbone, Crosbie and Tyler Smith.
Methacton’s Chris McGinley won the 300 hurdles (42.80) and finished second in the 110s (16.06). TheWarriors’ Milan Harris finished second in the 300 hurdles (43.40) and ccame in third in the 110s (16.61). Pat Maloney won the discus (129-3), Karan Singh the shot put (40-8) and Alex Nicoletti the javelin (141-5).
For the girls, Methacton star Caroline Duffy had another monster day with victories in the 300 hurdles (49.33), 200 (25.52) and ran the anchor the 4×100 relay, which the Warriors won in 50.88. Prusacki, Alyssa Wadsworth and Maggie Bordonaro ran the first three legs of the relay.
“I am really happy with my times for the weather,” said Duffy. “They were pretty good. We’re pulling through.”
At the Penn Relays, Methacton used Duffy in the 4×100 relay with Amy Domenick, Lauren Prusacki and Rainah Dunham.
Akintoye was very happy with the way her Warriors performed.
“They (Warriors) did very well in the last meet of the season,” said Akintoye. “They just came out hard and weren’t playing games. I am happy for them to take a win. We prepared that mindset at game time. That is how we came into the season, and it has stayed that way. Spring-Ford is always good. It is good competition and friendly competition, which I am happy to see.”
She cited the showings of Duffy, Prusacki, who ran the 100, 400 and 200 besides the relay; and Fallon Brown. Brown won the triple jump (35-11½) and pole vault (10-6) and also placed second in the high jump (4-8).
The Warriors’ Gianna Fazio won the 400 (1:00.73), Lauren Eubank took the javelin (95-2) and Dunham won the long jump (17-8¾).
For Spring-Ford Jenna Vledder placed first in the 1,600 (5:46.40) with Jordan Sigler first in the 100 hurdles (16.79), Bamford first in the 800 (2:28.24) and Bella Marchini first in the 3,200 (12:1.36).
The Spring-Ford girls ran as a group of four in the 1,600 with Marchini finishing second at 5:46.43 and Emily Smith taking third at 5:46.45.
Brigitte Smith, a sophomore from South Africa, swept the discus (91-1) and shot put (30-10½). Lily Nowakowski finished second in the 200 at 26.77 for a district-qualifying time and her best time of the season. Aleigha Johnson captured the high jump at 4-10.
Spring-Ford’s 4×800 relay finished first in 10:24.87 with a group of Jenna Darlington, Nandini Patel, Rachel Murphy and Emily Smith.
Methacton’s winning 4×400 relay had a time of 4:07.99. The Warriors’ unit consisted of Prusacki, Dunham, Angela Ramsden and Kelly Groth.
Spring-Ford’s Rachel Moyer placed second in the 3,200 (12:13.79) while Methacton’s Abby Konkoly took third (12:49.80).
