Local athletes make mark at 13th annual Rustin Invitational

Westtown >> Local high school track and field athletes found the 13th annual West Chester Rustin Invitational Wednesday a good opportunity to start rounding into mid-season form.
Coatesville junior Rick Ortega, whose prolific passing put the Raiders into the PIAA 6A football state semifinals last fall, tossed the javelin 176 feet, one inch Wednesday for a first-place finish.
“I tossed it 185 feet in a meet three weeks ago, but I can’t be upset with 176-1,” said Ortega, who finished seventh in the javelin at States last spring with a throw of 182 feet. “I’m building up my throws for Ches-Monts three weeks from now [May 8].”
Ridley senior Tony Graham, who won the boys’ 110 meter hurdles (15.22) and the 300 meter hurdles (38.96) Wednesday, had already qualified for Districts for both events before this meet but still had goals for the Rustin Invitational.
“I wanted to work on my stride in the 300, get my time down to 38,” said Graham. “This was my best 300 of the season. I was moving my arms faster, opening my stride down the stretch. In our next home meet Monday [April 22] I’ll be looking to get it down to 37.”
Another double winner Wednesday, Downingtown East’s Zach DeLone, who won the boys’ 100-meter run (10.92) and 400-meter run (50.90), said, “My best race today was probably the 100 – it tied my best time this season. This was my first time running the 400 this season, so the 400 was sort of a trial run for me today.”
Speaking of trial runs, Unionville senior Madison McGovern won the 3200 meter run (11:20.74) in only her second 3200 race of the spring.
“I just wanted to qualify for Districts today (she did), and work on my pacing, said McGovern, who will continue her track career at the United States Military Academy in the fall. “Today was a confidence-builder for the Henderson Invitational coming up in May.”
Rustin senior Zhayria Washington, who won both the shot put (36-6) and discus (112-9) Wednesday, had already qualified for Districts in both events. That didn’t stop her from breaking her prior shot put PR of 39-1.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of practice in my throws, and today, I took my time rotating [correctly] in the shot put,” said Washington, who finished fourth in shot put and fifth in discus at District last spring.
For West Chester East junior Josh Lewin, his first-place finish in the boys’ 800 meter run with a personal-best of 1:55.77 qualified him for Districts, and he cleared the standard by four seconds.
Similarly, Garnet Valley junior Sean Garrett won the boys’ 1,600 meter run in a district-qualifying time of 4:27.84.
“It’s my best time this season, and it got me into Districts,” said Garrett. “I didn’t feel too good warming up, but I couldn’t let myself think about that at all. I started slow and picked up speed during the race.”
Coatesville did well in the boys’ field events. Ortega won the javelin throw (with teammate Aaron Young placing second); junior Ousman Kamara finished first in the high jump (6-8) and junior Dominic Miranda won the pole vault (10-6).
In the other boys’ field events, Unionville senior Erik Lapszynski won the triple jump (41-1.50); Downingtown East junior John Salt won the long jump (20-9.5); Avon Grove junior David Waters finished first in the shot put (44-0); West Chester Henderson senior Dayton Boquist was first in the discus throw (119-10).
The Rustin Invitational attracted teams from three states, as Concord (Del.) and Woodstown (N.J.) were among the squads competing. Concord senior Graham Harrison won the boys’ 3200 meter run with a clocking of 10:29.63, and Woodstown freshman Wayne Robinson won the boys’ 100 meter novice run (11.96).
On the girls’ side, Coatesville had three individual winners. Senior Sammie Miller finished first in the 800 meter run with a clocking of 2:17.93; senior Porsha Miles won the 200 meter run (25.04); and senior Megan Morris won the javelin with a throw of 97-3.
Downingtown West had a couple of girls’ winners, as sophomore Maya Tucker won the girls 100 meter run with a season-best time of 12.73, and junior Chloe Stanfield won the 300 hurdles in 47.89.
“Last week I posted my best time of the season in the 300 (47.70), and that qualified me for Districts,” said Stanfield. “My goal today was to medal in both the 300 and 100 hurdles (she finished third in the 100 hurdles) – I like the 300 hurdles best because I have time to accelerate; it’s more of an endurance event.”
For Unionville, in adition to McGovern’s first-place finish in the 3200 meter run, the Indians’ 4×800 relay of Meghan Smith, McGovern, Gemma Krautzel and Marcella Krautzel finished first (9:52.37).
Smith, a junior, said, “This was my first 800 this year – I was trying to get a PR. I like this invitational – it’s really competitive this year, and the weather’s great.”
Gemma Krautzel, a junior, said, “Madison put me in a good position [first], and I was able to lengthen it.”
Another Chester County athlete, West Chester East junior Allyson Clarke, won the girls’ 1,600 meter run in 5:15.02.
“I ran a 5:12 last Friday, so this wasn’t my best time of the season,” said Clarke. “But I wanted to go out in 2:30 today, and I did.”
Among the Delaware County girls athletes, Ridley senior Meghan Lynch won the 100 hurdles (15.55) and the triple jump (36-3.5) and Garnet Valley sophomore Grace Zamrowski finished first in the 400 meter run (59.89)
In the remaining girls’ field events, Avon Grove sophomore Alana Boiardi won the high jump (5-2); West Chester Henderson junior Karis Demi won the long jump (16-10.5); and Kennett senior Meredith Krieger won the pole vault (10-6).

First-place finishers – Boys
100 meter run – DeLone, Downingtown East (10.92); 110-meter hurdles – Graham, Ridley (15.22); 1600 meter run – Garrett, Garnet Valley (4:27.84); 400 meter run – DeLone, Downingtown East (50.90); 300 hurdles – Graham, Ridley (38.96); 800 meter run – Lewin, WC East (1:55.77); 200 meter run – Koehler, Garnet Valley (22.33); 3200 meter run – Harrison, Concord (Del.) (10:29.63); High jump – Kamara, Coatesville (6-8); Pole vault – Miranda, Coatesville (10-6); Long jump – Salt, Downingtown East (20-9.5); Triple jump – Lapszynski, Unionville (41-1.50); Shot put – Waters, Avon Grove (44-0); Discus – Boquist, West Chester Henderson (119-10); Javelin – Ortega, Coatesville (176-1); 4×400 relay – Coatesville (3:23.95); 4×100 relay – Coatesville (41.87); 4 x 800 relay – Unionville (8:19.37); 100 meter novice run – Robinson, Woodstown (NJ) (11.96).

First-place finishers – Girls
100 meter run – Tucker, Downingtown West (12.73); 100 meter hurdles – Lynch, Ridley (15.55); 1600 meter run – Clarke, West Chester East (5:15.02); 400 meter run – Zamrowski, Garnet Valley (59.89); 300 hurdles – Stanfield, Downingtown West (47.89); 800 meter run – Miller, Coatesville (2:17.93); 200 meter run – Miles, Coatesville (25.04); 3200 meter run – McGovern, Unionville (11:20.74); High jump – Boiardi, Avon Grove (5-2); Pole vault – Krieger, Kennett (10-6); Long jump – Demi, West Chester Henderson (16-10.50); Triple jump – Lynch, Ridley (36-3.5); Shot put – Washington, West Chester Rustin (36-6); Discus – Washington, West Chester Rustin (112-9); Javelin – Morris, Coatesville (97-3); 4×400 relay – Garnet Valley (4:06.38); 4×100 relay – Coatesville (48.51); 4 x 800 relay – Unionville (9:52.37); 100 meter novice run – Reynolds, Avon Grove (13.85).