PAC-10 Track & Field Championships set for Friday

PHOENIXVILLE >> There figures to be a lot of heated action across the board as the Pioneer Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships at Phoenixville Area High School’s Washington Field begin Friday with the Spring-Ford boys and Methacton girls looking to repeat as conference champions.

On the boys’ side:

Owen J. Roberts sophomore Liam Conway has run the third-fastest 1,600-meter time in the state this year at 4:15.37. Conway is also ranked seventh in the state in the 800 at 1:54.27. Phoenixville’s Sean McGinnis figures to be right there with Conway in the 800, having run a 1:54.03 for fourth-best in the state back at the Nike/Henderson Invitational.

Methacton’s Nick Shaffer, the reigning PAC-10 champion in the 100-meter, has run a conference-best of 22.04 in the 200-meter dash (at the Jim Kelly Invitational), which is tied for ninth in the state. The Warriors are also counting on Chris McGinley in the 110 hurdles, Griffin Bilicic in the 100 and 200, sophomore Pat Maloney in the discus and the 4X100 and 4X400 relays.

Boyertown’s Dan Heller has the PAC-10’s top time this year in the 400 (50.54) while Pottsgrove’s Ky’lif Underwood will be looking to medal in the 300 hurdles (40.59) and 400 for the boys.

In the boys’ relays, Methacton has been best at the 4×100 (43.56), Spring-Ford the 4×400 (3:24.32) and Methacton the 4×800 (8:15.35).

Pottstown’s boys will look to be successful in the jumping events with the help of seniors Eugene Nelson and Brandon Tinson (who also does sprints) and sophomore Jacob Howard. Senior distance runner Justin Beasley-Turner should finish high in distance running, and junior hurdler Brian Perez has been productive, too. Sophomore Alex Caballero is the Trojans’ top pole vaulter.

Spring-Ford’s Chad Smiley and Josh Darlington should battle for the top spot in the boys’ pole vault. The two Rams have cleared 12-6 and 12-0 as bests to date and have beaten each other in different dual meets during this season. The Rams have a third top scorer in the boys’ pole vault in Matt Breish.

Boyertown’s Elijah Shalaway enters the meet with a best throw of 201-8 in the javelin, which is rated fourth in the state. Shalaway garnered sixth place in the javelin at the prestigious Penn Relays at Franklin Field.

In the boys high jump, Perkiomen Valley’s Darnell Randall has cleared 6-6, which is tied for third-best in the state. Randall is one of five high jumpers to clear that height in the state to date.

Spring-Ford’s boys completed the dual meet season with a perfect 9-0 record while Methacton finished 8-1. Boyertown finished third at 7-2, and Pottstown took fourth at 6-3.

“Spring-Ford boys are the team to beat,” said veteran Pottsgrove coach Larry Rechtin. “They have won five titles in a row. Methacton and Boyertown could give them a run for the team championship. But overall, the most balanced team is Spring-Ford, and that is why they should win again.”

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On the girls side:

The girls’ contingent will feature Methacton senior Caroline Duffy in the sprints and hurdles. Duffy has run a 12.52 in the 100-meter dash, 25.51 in the 200 and 46.27 in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Owen J. Roberts junior Ali Brunton has run the 10th-fastest time in the 1,600-meter at 5:04.86. Brunton also has the PAC-10’s top time in the 800 at 2:15.76. Spring-Ford senior Jenna Vledder posted a time of 5:38.61 in the 1,600.

Other girls’ distance runners to watch for in the 1,600 include PV’s Annie Glodek (5:05.85, and is also the leading contender in the 3,200), PV’s Michele Daniels (5:15.47), Spring-Ford’s Emily Smith (5:19.08) and Spring-Ford’s Bella Marchini (5:20.59).

“The distance girls are looking for a district time this weekend,” said Boyertown girls track & field coach Dave Hartman. “Haven Kelley is also looking for a district qualifier, even though she is top seed this weekend.”

Owen J. Roberts’ Teneisha Myers has run a best of 12.43 in the 100 with Perkiomen Valley’s Cheyenne Churchville right behind 12.57. Methacton’s Kelly Groth has posted a time of 12.87, Methacton’s Amy Domenick a time of 12.91 and Pottsgrove’s Diana Randleman a time of 12.99.

In the 200, Churchville has posted a top time of 25.77 and will be challenged by Methacton’s Lauren Pruascki (25.94), Domenick (26.72), Spring-Ford’s Lily Nowakowski (26.76) and Methacton’s Gianna Fazio (26.84).

Owen J. Roberts’ Morgan Shronk has the top area time in the 400 at 58.22, followed by Perkiomen Valley’s Rachel Pendrak (59.92).

Methacton has the top team in the 4×100 (48.61) and the 4×400 (4:00.05) with Owen J. Roberts looking to remain tops in the 4X800.

Boyertown’s Rebecca Hemingway returns as defending PAC-10 champion in the long jump, and she will also be competing in the high jump and sprints. Hemingway has jumped 5-2 this year. The Bears are also counting on standout thrower Sarafina Valenti, who will be looking to qualify for districts in those events.

Perkiomen Valley’s Christina Warren is highly rated in the 100-meter high hurdles (14.66), long jump (18-5 1/2) and triple jump (38-2). Spring-Ford’s Aleigha Johnson is also outstanding in the triple jump with a best of 37-0 so far. Phoenixville’s Keri Marini has been timed at 16.12 in the 100 hurdles.

In the 300 hurdles, Pope John Paul II’s Bridgit Plate has run 47.28 while Domenick has reached 47.37.

The loop’s best in the girls’ javelin and discus this season have been two juniors. Owen J. Roberts’ Maddie Alvaro has thrown 112-3 in the javelin, and Pottsgrove’s G’Ivonah Mitchell has reached 117-2 in the discus.

In the throws, Perkiomen Valley’s KT Armstrong is difficult to beat in the shot put (34-1) and discus (103-4). Spring-Ford’s Lily Baker has cleared 10-7 in the girls’ pole vault and Owen J. Roberts’ Savanah Sachar has hit 10-3.

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The meet starts with implement inspection for throwing events Friday at noon. The triple jump preliminaries and finals — with girls followed by boys — starts at noon. The discus, boys followed by girls with preliminaries and finals, starts at 1 p.m.

The girls’ pole vault preliminaries and finals will start at 2 p.m. Friday. There will be preliminaries in the girls’ 100-meter high hurdles and boys’ 110-meter high hurdles as well as preliminaries in the 100-meter dash for girls and then boys.

The only other finals to be staged Friday will be in the girls and boys 3,200-meter run, which are slated to be run at 3:15 p.m. and 3:40 p.m., respectively. The opening day will close out with preliminaries in the girls and boys 200-meter dash.

Action will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with preliminaries and finals in the boys pole vault, girls long jump and boys and girls high jump. The remainder of the jumping, throwing and running events will continue throughout the day, with the final event — the boys’ 1,600-meter relay — scheduled to start at 3:55 p.m.