Locals shine at North Penn Open
TOWAMENCIN — When North Penn’s Jael Sykes jogged onto the track for the start of the 4×100-meter relay on this sunny Saturday afternoon, she wasn’t surprised to see several familiar faces.
“I knew it was gonna be a good race between us and Cheltenham,” Sykes said. “I was looking forward to that competition.”
Sykes is plenty familiar with the Panthers. The transfer from Cheltenham, now in her second spring season with the Knights, knew what the Panthers were capable of.
But she also had unwavering faith in her squad.
“I was a little nervous, but I trusted my team and I knew we were gonna do well,” said Sykes.
North Penn not only outraced one of its fiercest rivals, it broke the meet record by racing to a sizzling 48.77, besting the field by more than two seconds.
Cheltenham, always battling North Penn in District One and out at PIAA’s in Shippensburg, raced to second in 51.06.
The fast 4×1 was part of a tremendous afternoon for locals at the North Penn Open.
“It’s amazing,” Sykes said of the relay. “We trust each other, and that’s mainly what you need for a 4×1. So I think we’ll definitely do well.”
Third in the state last spring, North Penn’s 4×1 is off to another fast start in 2022. A team of Taylor Forbes, Maya Adams, Maddie Lewis and Sykes topped the previous record of 51.06, set by Central Bucks South last season.
The top six also included Wissahickon (51.55), Souderton Area (51.62) and Gwynedd Mercy Academy (52.38) in a stacked race.
Other first places for North Penn included the 4×800 relay, which set the pace with a 10:13.57. Madeline Lewis won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 7 and three quarter inches and Forbes displayed her versatility by reeling off a 36-6.5 for the top spot in the triple jump. Dominique Bethel threw furthest in the discus with a 105-7.
“Our sprinters are just so fast and our field people are really good,” Sykes said. “Everybody on the team can just hold their weight. That’s what I really love.”
Cheltenham’s Eyota Bey had quite a day for the Panthers.
The junior won the 100 (12.50), 400 (57.32) and 200 (25.35), putting on quite a show on the Crawford Stadium track.
Wissahickon’s Lena Perlmutter cleared 10 feet in the pole vault, capturing first place while Pennridge’s Nicole Rindone was tops in the javelin with a throw of 96-8.
Meanwhile in the boys competition, William Tennent’s Jason Vogt is poised for a big year in the 1,600.
The senior hammered the final lap in roughly 1:03, crossing the finish line with a winning time of 4:29.63.
“That was the strategy going in,” Vogt said of his strong finishing kick.
The senior embraces the mystery of a Saturday invitational.
“It’s kinda cool going into a race not really knowing anyone there,” he said. “And finishing first is always amazing.
“These (invites) give you an opportunity to go against kids you don’t race that often. And more competition is always great. That’s how you get better.”
It was a packed house on Saturday at Crawford, on the field and in the stands.
“Finally having a normal season (following the pandemic) is great,” Vogt said. “This was great here today.”
CB South’s Michael Polak was second in 4:37.17 and North Penn’s Sacchith Miryalkar surged to sixth in the event, crossing in 4:42.08.
Vogt’s winning splits were 1:07.17, 1:11.10, 1:07.63 and 1:03.63.
“Be consistent – that was the key,” he said. “My goal for this year is to run a 4:20 mile, and this was the start of that.”
Earlier in the day, Wissahickon’s Aditya Shah won the 110 hurdles (16.55) and Pennridge’s Joey Gant sprinted to a first in the 100 dash (10.98).
Oliver Michell of Jenkintown pulled away from everybody in the 3,200, winning in 9:38.64.
Hatboro-Horsham’s Crishon Avery won the long jump with a mark of 21-8 and North Penn’s Jabrie Gaymon got off a 44-0 in the triple to grab first place.
William Tennent’s James Richie threw furthest in the discus, with a mark of 129-3.
