Pennridge boys, CB West girls bring their best to CB West Relays

DOYLESTOWN >> Jared Hess and Nick Rosica have been on tour for some time now, hitting local invitationals and working as quite the tandem in jumping events for Pennridge High School.

“We’ve been doing this together for the past two years. It’s awesome being out here with him,” Rosica said Saturday at the Central Bucks West Relays. “And it’s so cool that, instead of competing against each other, we can team up and take some of these guys down. It was an awesome field today.”

Hess and Rosica stood atop it, combining their efforts for a total distance of 88 feet, 3.75 inches to win the triple jump as part of a big day for area competitors at the relays.

“I’m just really happy we could get it done – that was pretty awesome,” said Rosica, who had a leap of 42-9.

Rosica had the third furthest individual jump of the event and Hess had the top one, getting out 45-6.75, as the Rams replaced the previous meet record, set by another Pennridge tandem back in 2017.

“It’s called a relay meet for a reason – it’s a dual effort,” said Hess. “We put it all out there, even with some injuries. We just got it. We just all put our hearts into it.”

With everyone within eyeshot of the pit clapping in anticipation of his final jump, Hess sailed to his longest leap of the competition.

“I knew I had to go pretty far. I knew I had to beat my P.R., which was a little scary and a little intimidating,” he said. “But I knew I could do it, and if I just stuck to my form, I could do it. And I got it.

“I knew we always perform well here. Last year, we both P.R.’d. And this year, we took the record so…I love this meet.”

Hess also had the top long jump of the day, with a leap of 20-3.5. He teamed up with Carter Arnaiz for a combined mark of 40-4.5, tops in the competition. Arnaiz had the finest high jump of the day, clearing 6-4 to help the Rams place second in that event.

The Pennridge boys took first in four other events.

Roberto Wallace and Matt Shuck teamed up to win the shot put (82-4.5). And on the track, the shuttle hurdle relay (1:18.74), the sprint medley (3:39.22), and the 4×200 (1:30.56) group all placed first.

The host Bucks displayed their strength on the track, with Connor Salmon (40.72) and Brayden Teufel (41.30) teaming up to win the 300 hurdles. The 4×8 (7:57.29) and 4×4 (3:26.32) also won for West.

Kian Mehler cleared 6-2 and Salmon got over at 5-10 to give the Bucks a win in the high jump.

The CB West girls put on quite a show, winning eight of the meet’s 16 events.

Capping things off was the 4×400 relay, as a team of Claire Dalsass, Miley McFadden, Mimi Duffy and Kate Edenson cranked out a winning time of 4:02.06 to beat out rival CB East for the top spot. Dalsass and Edenson return from last year’s 4×4, which won gold out at states and helped solidify the 2021 PIAA-3A team title for the Bucks.

“It was really exciting. We just came off of three races earlier, so I knew I just had to finish strong,” said Dalsass, “and get the race off to a good start for the rest of my teammates.”

The Bucks were in good position, and McFadden and Duffy made sure they stayed near the front, setting the table for Edenson.

“It was hard, but it was fun to get cheered on and then watch what happens – and win,” said a smiling McFadden.

“We were probably stressing over this race the most,” said Duffy, “but I was trying to get out to a good lead and close the gap. It was really nice having teammates everywhere to cheer us on.”

Edenson had a great anchor leg and a strong, finishing kick around the final turn to lock down the victory.

“I was just happy. I was smiling, figuring, let’s just finish it strong – it’s been a long day,” said Edenson, who will run at Boston University next year. “CB West Relays is one of the most fun meets, I think, so, it was nice.”

Central Bucks West Relays

Boys

High Jump: CB West (Kian Mehler, 6-2; Connor Salmon, 5-10), 12-0; Javelin: Council Rock South (Kemjika Iheoma, 135-11; Nick Lowney, 132-1), 268; Long Jump: Pennridge (Jared Hess, 20-3.5; Carter Arnaiz, 20-1), 40-4.5; Shot Put: Pennridge (Roberto Wallace, 45-6.5; Matt Shuck, 36-10), 82-4.5; Shuttle Hurdles: Pennridge, 1:18.74; 4×1,600: Souderton Area, 19:00.69; Sprint Medley: Pennridge, 3:39.22; 4×100: La Salle, 44.46; 300 hurdles: CB West (Connor Salmon, 40.72; Brayden Teufel, 41.30), 1:22.02; Discus: Central Bucks South (Billy Schanbacher, 123-0; Nicholas Stoughton, 105-4), 228-4; Pole Vault: Central Bucks East (Evan Clark, 12-0; Roman Messina, 9-6), 21-6; Triple Jump: Pennridge (Hess, 45-6.75; Nick Rosica, 42-9), 45-6.75; 4×800: CB West, 7:57.29; 4×200: Pennridge, 1:30.56; Distance Medley: La Salle, 11:02.81; 4×400: CB West, 3:26.32.

Girls

Shuttle Hurdles: CB West, 1:13.54; Discus: CB West (Maya Monti, 86-9; Ava Morgan, 86-3), 173-0; Pole Vault: Council Rock South (Reagan Metague, 9-0; Risha Sarya, 8-6), 17-6; Triple Jump: CB West (Jia Walia, 33-6; Maya Monti, 30-5.5), 63-11.5; 4×1,600: CB West, 23:48.07; Sprint Medley: CB West, 4:16.16; 4×100: CB West, 50.17; 300 hurdles: CB South (Felicia Oh, 47.15; Andela Dozier, 51.18), 1:38.32; 4×800: Pennridge, 9:33.13; High Jump: Council Rock South (Grace Patterson, 5-2; Jolie Brassell, 4-10), 10-0; Javelin: Council Rock North (Devianna Lepore, 99-0; Vittoria Capitelli, 70-8), 169-8; Long Jump: CB South (Olivia Dallmer, 16-6.75; Julia Daniele, 15-9), 32-3.75; Shot Put: CB East (Leah Eckley, 37-2.25; Mia Rivera, 27-10.5), 65-0.75; 4×200: CB West, 1:45.57; Distance Medley: CB South, 12:33.35; 4×400: CB West, 4:02.06.