PAC pole vaulters on the podium at District One Championship

CALN >> Owen J. Roberts’ Savanna Sachar and Spring-Ford’s Melissa Israel have been exchanging places in the girls pole vault event finishes throughout the 2017 season.

But regardless of how the two standouts finished previously, they both made sure to extend their seasons during the District 1-AAA Track and Field Championships Friday at Coatesville Area High School.

Sachar, the Wildcats’ school record-holder, placed third, and Israel came in fourth on the first day of the two-day championship meet. Both girls cleared 10 feet, 6 inches, and most importantly, both girls will move on to compete in the PIAA Championships next weekend at Shippensburg University.

Along with those two showings, Perkiomen Valley sophomore Christina Warren took third place in the long jump, one of her array of events, to also advance to states.

Also, Owen J. Roberts senior Rae Rae Taylor came in fifth place in the javelin to grab a medal. She qualified for states for the first time as part of a record-breaking day for District 1 girls in the AAA javelin.

Numerous other area athletes advanced in the running events following solid showings during the preliminaries trials that were held throughout the morning and afternoon.

“Savanna was seeded at 11-3,” said Owen J. Roberts coach Tim Marcoe. “She hit that at one of our dual meets. Here, she had one over 10 feet. Her and the Spring-Ford girl have been going back and forth. They have pretty good competition. They elevate each other.

“I thought Savanna had a good day. She has been pretty consistent,” said Marcoe. “Her and the (Israel) have been going back and forth. They have pretty good competition. They elevate each other.

“(Sachar) has improved as she gained experience. he has just improved now upon what she did this year.”

The OJR senior will be continuing her pole vaulting career while studying at Monmouth University starting in the fall.

Sachar won the PAC league championship during her sophomore year before slipping back several places during her junior campaign. But she has come back strong as a senior during her final season of scholastic competition.

Israel is a Spring-Ford sophomore who just took up the event within the past year. Yet, she has used an extensive gymnastics background to produce big points in the pole vault for coach Danielle Stauffer’s Rams. And she has many more big meets to look forward to in the future.

The winning height in the girls AAA pole vault was 11-0 by Wissahickon’s Cala Lejman.

In the long jump, Warren reached a state-qualifying standard with her leap of 18-0¼, and Methacton senior Rainah Dunham followed up in fourth place at 17-10½, also meeting the state-qualifying distance. The top five medalists in the long jump reached the state-qualify standard.

The PAC had several other finishers in the event. Perkiomen Valley senior Rebekah Bondi finished eighth at 17-6.75. Boyertown senior Becca Hemingway came in 10th at 17-5¾. Spring-Ford sophomore Devin Rawley placed 17th at 16-3¼. OJR’s Taylor was 19th at 16-2¼.

In the girls AAA javelin, Taylor wound up being a part of an incredible field that District 1 will send to Shippensburg.

Erin Zimmerman of Villa Maria Academy won the javelin with a heave of 154 feet, 11 inches. With that throw, Zimmerman established a new District 1 record.

It also gives Zimmerman a third-place ranking in Pennsylvania as well as an eighth-place ranking throughout the entire United States.

As for Taylor, she set a PR with a throw of 124-11 in the javelin, taking advantage of competition against other top throwers form Strath Haven, Penncrest, Neshaminy, another Villa Maria contestant, Haverford and North Penn.

“I’m excited,” said Taylor. “It’s my first time (to states). It was amazing. I was sitting there watching her (Zimmerman). I surprised myself when I hit (my PR).”

Taylor will also compete in the triple jump Saturday morning when action resumes at 9 a.m.

In the shot put, PV sophomore Dorian Philpot finished 10th with a distance of 34-7¾. Pope John Paul II senior Jordan Shemonski was 14th at 34-3.

In the high jump, Pottsgrove’s Miazziah Rose placed ninth (5-1) with Spring-Ford senior Aleigha Johnson 12th (5-1) and Boyertown’s Rebecca Hemingway 19th (4-11).

Also in the pole vault, Spring-Ford junior Madison Turosinski and Methacton junior Fallon Brown tied for ninth place at 10-0.

In the girls 4×800 relay, Perkiomen Valley had the fourth-fastest qualifying tie of 9:39.61 while Spring-Ford was seventh at 9:31.99 with both times advancing the Vikings and the Rams. OJR was 17th at 10:02.97.

In the 1,600, Boyertown senior Gillian Kasitz had the fastest qualifying time at 5:10.97. OJR senior Ally Brunton had the third-best time at 5:11.13, while OJR teammates Mary Bernotas qualified seventh (5:12.79) and Alex Glasier was 10th (5:14.51). All four qualified for the second day of action.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Warren had the third-fastest qualifying time of 14.85, a state-qualifying time. Warren is part of an excellent field in the event with Cheltenham senior Chanel Brissett (13.63) and Upper Dublin junior Madison Langley-Walker (14.69) at the top of the listings.

Norristown junior Jonae Cook had the second-best time in qualifying for the 100-meter dash with a 12.46. PV’s Bondi had the fourth-fastest at 12.75. Pottsgrove junior Miazziah Rose was 16th at 13.06. All three runners continue on. Methacton junior Lauren Prusacki was 18th at 13.11.

As expected, Owen J. Roberts did very well in the 400-meter dash with senior Teneisha Myers, junior Morgan Shronk and senior Angela Feiser leading the way for the Wildcats. Myers had a time of 57.43 (4th), Shronk 58.64 (6th) and Feiser 1:01.51 (15th). The three Wildcats finished 1-2-3 in the 400 during the PAC Championships at Phoenixville last weekend as Owen J. Roberts captured its second consecutive league title.

In the 4×100 relay, Methacton ran a 48.55 for fourth-best and a state-qualifying standard. Spring-Ford, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, OJR and PV had teams finish further down the line.

In the 200, Myers advanced with a 25.52, Norristown’s Cook with a 26.19, Methacton’s Prusacki with a 26.24, Norristown’s Siani Sanders at 26.30 and Methacton’s Gianna Fazio at 26.39. Warrior freshman Juliana Keenan had a time of 27.07. The first four finishers from the PAC advanced.

In the 800, Kasitz (2:18.80) and Pottsgrove freshman Becca Delp (2:20.88) advanced. PV sophomore Jocelyn Rotay ran a 2:22.96.

In the 300 intermediate hurdles, Methacton’s Amy Domenick ran a 45.60 and Morristown’s Sheila Day had a 45.71 to both qualify for the next round. OJR’s Katelyn Bernotas checked in with a 49.64.

In the 4×400, Norristown had the best showing from the PAC.