Wissahickon’s Marc, Jovanovic hit winning stride at Cardinal Invite
UPPER DUBLIN >> Two years never felt so long ago.
“Two years ago, I hated this event,” Wissahickon’s Isaiah Marc said of the 400-meter dash. “I thought it was the worst event. And then this year, I proved that I can do a lot better. So I’m really enjoying it. I like it now.”
Marc bolted to a victory in the 400 Friday night as part of a nice showing by Wissahickon at the Cardinal Invitational at chilly Upper Dublin High School.
Marc’s time of 50.06 was not only the fastest of 29 runners in the event, but testament to Marc’s rapid development, and it notched him a spot in districts.
“My coach (Don Betterly) told me he saw a lot in me,” Marc said. “I was scared of this event. But then two meets ago, I ran a P.R. And that time was like 10th in the state.
“I felt really good about it. I realized I could have a future in this event in college.”
Closing In >> Marc prevailed in a tough final heat.
He could feel Roman Catholic’s Tyler Boone (second, 50.47) closing in.
“At the end, I stayed strong and finished out strong. (Boone) was one seed above me. I proved I could beat him so that felt good,” Marc said. “I heard him down the back stretch. I got scared as heck. But I kept it strong and I finished strong. It felt good. It was a good race.”
Marc has set a goal of racing a 49.5 in the 400, with states in mind.
Teammate Brett Lehman was third in the 400 for the Trojans, with a 51.60.
“I love it. We’re all really close,” Marc said of this Wissahickon squad. “Bret and I have been best friends for about a year now, training together non-stop. It’s good to have healthy competition.”
Breaking Through >> Wissahickon’s Mila Jovanovic was seeded third in the 800, but it was Jovanovic racing to the front and holding the lead down the stretch of a tightly-contested half mile.
“The Strath Haven girl (Maggie Forbes) really pushed me at the end,” Jovanovic said. “I actually didn’t think I would keep that pace.
“But I did. I guess the crowd made me faster. And then I just tried to give it my all at the end.”
Jovanovic crossed with a winning time of 2:21.67, punching her ticket to districts.
“It’s a big P.R. too,” she said. “I was here Tuesday and ran a 2:32, so that’s more than a 10-second difference. And this weather (cold and wet) is not good, so I’m really happy.”
Jovanovic held off Forbes (second, 2:22.24) and Gwynedd Mercy Academy’s Kelly Murray (third, 2:23.72) to notch the victory.
“I contained myself (before the race), tried to stay loose and everything,” she said. “Actually, (this gives me a lot of confidence). Because now I see what I can do and I can give out even more”
Feeling Right at Home >> Upper Dublin’s Jaden Price-Whitehead won the 100 in 11.17, took the long jump with a leap of 21-5, and went furthest in the triple with a leap of 41-7.25.
Also for the host Cardinals, Gus Platt won the 1,600 in 4:45.60.
On the girls side for Upper Dublin, Peyton Kullmann won the 300 hurdles in 49.18, Sarah Eskew was first in the 3,200 in 11:30.48, and the Cardinal 4×800 relay was tops with a 10:21.96.
The Wissahickon girls seized first place in the 4×100 relay with a time of 50.91 and the Trojan boys raced to first in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:29.05.
North Penn’s Maya Adams won the 100 in 13.01.
The Knights’ Joe Larkins won the high jump winner, clearing six feet, and Luke Alcom was the javelin winner, throwing 154-11.
Mount St. Joe’s Annie Lemelin won the 100 hurdles in 15.89 and Maggie Murphy was first in the 1,600 in 5:14.54 for Mount.
The Magic’s 4×400 relay was first in 4:09.55 and Mount’s Margaux Rawson won the high jump, getting over at 5-4.
Souderton continued to stand out in the field, as Aonghas Evanick threw furthest in the discus with a 126-8 and also won the shot put with a throw of 44-7. Teammate Ayden Stankus took the pole vault, clearing 12 feet.
Big Red’s Katie Mellott won the discus with a 88-8 and teammate Hannah Alderfer won the long jump with a leap of 17-11.75
Upper Moreland’s Gabrielle Teel won the triple jump with a leap of 36-10.5.
