Penn Relays: CB West boys 4×8 qualifies for Championship of America
PHILADELPHIA >> Neither the stacked competition nor a steady, driving rain could keep Central Bucks West from reaching its annual destination.
For the fifth year in a row, the Bucks qualified for the Penn Relays 4×800-meter Championship of America (Saturday, 4 p.m.), and did so by putting together one of the most impressive races of the day at Franklin Field Friday.
“We are very pleased with their performance today,” West coach Greg Wetzel said. “The 4×8 guys had a goal of breaking 7:50 and making it to the final and we are proud to have accomplished those goals in poor weather.
“The boys are excited to have kept the streak alive and to perform tomorrow.”
A Buck foursome of Owen Shields (1:59.25), Luke Fehrman (1:56.69), Christian Crabtree (2:00.21) and Blake Ewaskey (1:53.59) — all seniors — combined their efforts to go 7:49.72, third fastest in their heat and fifth fastest overall.
They are the only PA team to qualify for the COA and will line up Saturday against three top teams from Jamaica as well as relay foursomes from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.
West’s depth in the 800 came through — the Bucks have eight performers that have run or split a 2:02 or better so far this spring.
Particularly strong on Friday was Ewaskey, whose 1:53.59 was the fastest split of any high school boy in the competition.
West’s overall time was the second fastest by an American team — only Weddington High (Matthews, N.C.) was faster with a 7:44.41. In fact, the Bucks posted the fifth fastest time in the country this season and the best in the state. On Friday, they were nine seconds faster than any other squad from PA.
Piling on to West’s accomplishments Friday was the 4×1 team. The Bucks dropped six tenths of a second in the rain without blocks. The foursome of Matt Schwartz, Alan Zlotin, Roman Katona and senior Luke Benson will return three of its runners next year.
4×4’s Advance
The CB West, Cheltenham and North Penn girls 4×4 teams all pushed through to Saturday’s Philadelphia Area race at 5:40 p.m.
CB West’s foursome of Katy Jenkins (59.72), Steph Hiltpold (57.75), Carlin McFadden (59.85) and Kate Edenson (58.55) won the Suburban National race Thursday night with a 3:55.85. North Penn’s Alyana Faison (1:01.74), Megan Gambogi (59.17), Rachel Ahlmart (59.68) and Natalie Kwortnik (56.67) were right behind in second, in 3:57.24.
Cheltenham’s Brianna Smith (1:01.04), Cydney Wynn (59.60), Janelle Williams (1:00.76) and Bria Barnes (55.23) raced to a 3:56.62, tops in the Suburban American race.
