Once again, Strath Haven’s Forbes sets Delco meet mark in mile

HAVERFORD – Strath Haven senior Grace Forbes was the only runner to break a meet record at the Delaware County Girls Indoor Track and Field Championships at Haverford College.

Her time of 4:54.76 in the mile run was more than seven seconds faster than the mark set in 2018 – by Strath Haven junior Grace Forbes.

Forbes staged an exciting duel with Academy of Notre Dame senior Jessica Schneider, a University of Notre Dame recruit who finished in 4:56.40.

“We took it to that last 400 and then it was down to who could kick,” Forbes, who is headed to Rice University, said. “It’s been so cold lately, and I would prefer if I could be running outside to train. But I’m where I want to be now, and we have some very important meets coming up. We’re going up to Millrose Games and defend our (4 x 800 relay) championship, and states and meet of champions will be coming up.”

Strath Haven senior Dana Hubbell finished first in the 60-meter hurdles for the second consecutive year, getting to the line in 9.45 seconds, Ridley’s Meghan Lynch was second (9.62).

“I’ve really been working on my starts,” Hubbell, who will study biology and computer science at Northwestern University, said. “I could see everyone in my peripheral vision going past me and I knew I had to work to catch up.

“Our school record is 9.14, and I’m starting to think I can get it this year. I’m trying to improve every week.”

Hubbell is hoping that Northwestern, which dropped track several years ago, will bring the program back.

She also competed in the triple jump and 4 x 200-meter relay Wednesday.

“I like the 4 x 200,” she said. “There’s nothing in my way like those hurdles.”

Haven senior Abby Loiselle took first place in the 3,000-meter run by more than 20 seconds,

Ridley’s Lynch was the winner of the triple jump by more than 3½ feet at 35-10 1/2.

“I hope to be up in the high 36s or at 37 by the end of the indoor season,” she said. “I know I have to be more consistent with my steps. Right now, my second phase is coming up short.”

Junior Lindsey Smith anchored Notre Dame (Hanna Bodner, Kyleigh Calvert, Sydney Worrell) to victory in the 4 x 800 relay.

“This is the first time this team has run together,” Smith, who finished third in the mile run, said. “We have a lot of good 800 runners, and we’re trying to find the perfect fit.

“We were ahead when I got the baton, and I was able to extend the lead.”

Penn Wood’s Breanna Lee, Elicia Moore, Lowe Sonny, and Kayla McFadden took first place in the 4 x 200-meter relay in 1:49.26, more than two seconds ahead of runner-up Ridley. The same group survived a spill in the 4 x 400 to claim third place.

“We knew it would be tough doing the 4 x 400 right after 4 x 200,” Moore said. “We just all gave it all we had.”

Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast senior Hannah Bierling took first place in the shot put with a throw of 32 feet, 10¾ inches, almost a foot farther than Lindsey Hunt of Garnet Valley.

“Right now I’m in the middle of my preparations (for the balance of the season),” Bierling, who also competes for the Pandas’ swim team, said. “I’m working a lot on my footwork and where I’m landing in the circle.”

Caitlin Jorgensen anchored the Episcopal Academy team that included Jill McEntee, Lauren Gage, and Devon Whitaker to first place in the distance

medley relay and took second place in the 3,000-meter run.

“Our main focus tonight was the DMR,” Jorgensen, who will attend the University of Chicago as a pre-med major, said. “And we’re happy with what we did tonight. The (3,000) was more of a tempo thing for me.”

Garnet Valley senior Isabella Ha cleared five feet, three inches to earn the gold medal in the high jump.

“This is the second time I wasn’t supposed to be at a meet but I went and set a (personal record),” Ha, who cleared 5-4 at an outdoor meet she wasn’t supposed to attend last spring, said.

“I have work I have to turn in tomorrow and a big project for micro-economics Friday. I really wasn’t thinking that much about high jumping until we got here tonight.”

Cardinal O’Hara’s Christine Mancini took first place in the 800-meter run in an exciting stretch battle with Notre Dame’s Jessica Schneider.

“I think I ran negative splits, but I’m all right with that,” Mancini said. “I felt good, and I’m looking forward to the meets we have coming up.”

Jiya Clayton of Chester earned the gold medal in the 60-meter dash and placed third in the long jump, which was won by Ridley’s Rylie Butler (15-5).