Central Bucks West, Dock Mennonite race to District 1 team titles at Coatesville

CALN >> In between races, the Central Bucks West girls track and field team looked for shade, escaping Friday afternoon’s heat to conserve their energy.

When they came back out of the shadows, they went right back to dominating the District 1-3A Championships at Coatesville Area High.

“It was really great. We had a good day. I’m really happy with the way this ended,” said West’s Justine Maraska.

“We finished the day on a good note,” added the Bucks’ Claire Dalsass.

West was best by a wide margin, as the Bucks piled up 70 points, distancing themselves comfortably from West Chester Rustin and Villa Maria, which each finished with 33, tied for second.

“It means so much because we worked really hard this season,” Dalsass said. “Everyone put their all into it. We had a few stumbles but we got through it to make it here today.”

The Bucks’ 4×400-meter relay capped things off in stellar fashion, as Dalsass, Maraska, Carlin McFadden and Kate Edenson captured the gold in 3 minutes, 54.27 seconds.

“It’s the first time being district champs so we’re super excited,” said a smiling McFadden. “We’re even more pumped for states next week. We wanna take home some more gold medals.”

West’s list of heroes was a long one.

The Bucks’ 4×800 relay of Dalsass, Julia Flood, Emmi Simon and Carlin McFadden got things started by racing to the district title in 9:15.90.

Katie Finnan, Marasca, Chloe Timberg and Mimi Duffy combined their efforts for a bronze medal in the 4×1.

“You’ll see us in all those relays at states,” said Edenson.

West, remarkably, took first, second and fifth in the 800, with McFadden (2:13.78), Edenson (2:14.48) and Simon (2:16.31) coming through.

Duffy, just a freshman, was fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 100.

And then there was Timberg in the pole vault, setting a district record by getting over at 13 feet, 6 inches.

“We didn’t have a spring season last year and we really felt like we owed it to ourselves and our team to really shine here today,” said Marasca.

Added McFadden: “We’re just so blessed to have this opportunity after losing last year (to the pandemic).”

Also of local interest, Wissahickon’s Kasi Brown won the long jump with a leap of 18-1.5; North Penn’s 4×1 foursome won gold in 48.22; and Annie Lemelin of Mount St. Joe’s won the 300 hurdles in 44.12.

Dock Does It Again >> The Pioneers, collectively, had each other’s back.

“I think we all had to work really hard to make sure we were keeping up for each other and running for each other,” said the Pioneers’ Olivia Mercure. “We were really making up for last season, not being able to come out, and I think it paid off for us.”

Dock was dominant in Class 2A, excelling in several events and pulling away to its sixth district title in the past seven years.

“I think we all worked very hard this season so I think it’s well deserved,” said Dock’s Lydia King.

The Pioneers outscored second-place St. Basil Academy, 165-129.

Dock was first in the 4×800 relay (10:19.74) and fourth in the 4×4, the foursome of Bobby Jo Dodds, Lindsey Gouldey, King and Mercure capping the afternoon.

Sydney Putera won the pole vault by clearing seven feet and she placed third in the high jump with a 4-6.

Isa Rodriguez won the 1,600 in 5:35.27.

Clara Benner won the 300 hurdles in 48.78 and placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 15-9.75.

Ainsley Moyer took third in the javelin with a throw of 80-3 for Dock.

“It was kind of a bummer not being able to do anything last year. So that made today really exciting,” said Gouldey, who raced to eighth in the 100 hurdles.

Mercure notched a pair of medals in the jumps, placing sixth in both the long and triple, and Dodds was a bronze medalist in the 300 hurdles.

Said Dodds: “Doing this with friends, and the whole entire team, is a joy. I think we all care about each other because we look out for each other.”

St. Basil Academy had its moments, winning the 4×400 relay in 4:13.10, and Sasha Lee won the long jump with a leap of 17-4.25, the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.68, and the triple jump with a leap of 36-1.75.

Basil also won the 4×1 in 51.28.

Also locally, Izabella Forker of Faith Christian won the high jump with a 4-10; Tanner Lafferty of Jenkintown won the shot put with a throw of 30-7.75; and Olivia Spoerl of Jenkintown won the 800 in 2:27.52.