Chesco athletes in fast lane at PTFCA Indoor Track Championships

Chester County athletes made their presence felt at the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) Indoor State Championships Sunday at Penn State University.
Unionville junior Cole Walker, who finished third in the 3000 meter run with a career-best clocking of 8:38.08, was one of several Indians who placed highly at States.
“Cole ran smart and tough,” said Unionville head coach Mark Lacianca. “I am confident with our progression that Cole has a major drop in his PR this spring – a sub 9 can happen for 3200 meters.”
In the pole vault, Unionville junior Meghan Hart tied for fourth in the girls’ competition, with a mark of 12’0” and Indians junior Jack Miles was ninth in the boys’ pole vault, with a mark of 14’6”.
“Sunday was a terrific day for our program,” said Lacianca. “Our pole vaulters have had a great winter and both have already set school records, they should improve in the spring.”
Unionville senior Marcella Krautzel finished 11th in the girls’ one-mile run, with a clocking of 5:13.43.
“Marcella probably gave up an individual medal to run in the 4×800 meter relay, which started the meet,” said Lacianca. “The 4×8 did not work out, but Marcella had the fastest relay split on the team and came back about 80 minutes later and ran a terrific mile. Marcella should break five minutes in the mile this spring.”
West Chester Henderson sophomore Jenna Mulhern finished third in the girls’ 3000 meter run with a time of 9:42.85, which is a school record and the sixth-fastest time in the United States this season.
“This was the deepest 3000 in the country this year,” said West Chester Henderson head coach Kevin Kelly. “Six of the top 12 times in the United States were recorded in this race.”
Henderson senior Karis Demi finished 20th in the girls high jump with a mark of 16-2.75.
“We also had four relays that all ran pretty well,” said Kelly.
The Henderson girls’ 4×800 relay quartet of Weronica Ziemniak, Hannah Fielding, Gabby Caronia and Kate Conwell finished 12th with a clocking of 9:48.40.
The Warriors’ boys 4×800 relay team of Luke Geier, Gavin Brophy, Jack Davidson and Pat Rabin placed 14th (8:15.16).
Henderson’s girls distance medley relay team of Amanda Kelly, Kate Conwell, Caroline Miller and Megan Baker finished 13th (13:03.83).
The Warriors’ boys 4×200 relay quartet of John Zurlo, Cole Cooper, Aaron Newell and Aidan Ray finished 14th with a clocking of 1:32.59.
The Coatesville boys finished 12th in the team standings, and had two athletes in the top six for the boys’ high jump – Donovan Brickus (6’6”, fifth place) and Ousman Kamara (6’4”, tied for sixth). Coatesville senior Donovan Hart placed 12th (6’0”). Coatesville placed third in the boys’ 4×200 relay, with a quartet of Artie Burgess, Lebron Bessick, Aaron Wesley and Bryan Lacey posting a time of 1:30.39. Artie Burgess finished sixth in the 60-mtere dash, with a time of 6.98.
Downingtown West senior Ethan Robinson finished second in the boys’ 60 meter hurdles (8.09), behind first-place finisher Kevin Thomas of Haverford School (7.83). Whippet senior Reagan Flannery finished sixth in the girls’ one-mile run with a clocking of 5:06.04.
A trio of Whippet juniors finished in the top 14 in the boys’ one-mile run – Aiden Barnhill (ninth, 4:25.41), Declan Rymer (12th, 4:28.52) and Holden Betz (14th, 4:31.92).
Malvern Prep junior Ryan Rosenberger finished fourth in the boys long jump, with a leap of 22-7.25. Friar sophomore D’Angelo Stocker finished 14th in the boys’ 200 meter dash with a clocking of 22.26.
West Chester East senior Johua Lewin finished sixth in the boys’ 800-meter run with a clocking of 1:56.20. Viking senior Allyson Clarke finished 20th in the girls’ one-mile run, with a time of 5:25.47.
Great Valley senior Alexander Siaton finished 12th in the boys’ 200 meter dash with a clocking of 22.17, and placed 18th in the 400 meter dash with a time of 52.00.
In other Chester County results, Downingtown East senior John Salt finished 13th in the boys’ long jump, with a mark of 21-02; Kennett
senior Mary Tuley finished 16th in the girls pole vault with a mark of 10’6”; and West Chester Rustin junior Drew Gallen finished 15th in the boys’ 200 meter dash with a clocking of 22.39.