North Penn boys, girls take home SOL Colonial titles

BUCKINGHAM >> It may have rained on their parade, but that didn’t diminish the moment.

“It means everything to us,” North Penn’s Anthony Ayala Jr. said of winning the SOL Colonial title on this drenched Saturday afternoon. “We went undefeated in the regular season, came here today and did what we had to do. Back-to-back, two years in a row.”

“It’s really nice to do it as a team,” echoed the Knights’ Taylor Forbes, whose heroics help lift the NP girls to the top spot. “We were there for each other.”

The North Penn boys and girls squads enjoyed a rainy but satisfying afternoon on the track and in the field Saturday at Central Bucks East High School, as both put forth tremendous, balanced efforts to capture division crowns.

The North Penn boys won their second straight title, and make that six out of seven years for the NP girls after rival Central Bucks West took the trophy a season ago. The Knights had won the crown every year from 2015-’19 (2020 was cancelled due to COVID).

“I think everybody had it on their mind,” Forbes said of winning back the title this spring.

The NP boys racked up 198.5 points, overcoming an impressive showing by rival CB West (185).

Jabrie Gaymon was first in both the high jump (6-0) and triple jump (44-2) for the Knights and the 4×100 relay raced to a first-place finish in 42.65 seconds.

North Penn came through with one medal-worthy performance after another.

Said Ayala Jr., who surged to second in the 400: “Now we’re just looking to have more progression into districts.”

The Bucks were powered by Collin Newman’s first-place throw (45-1) in the shot as well as J.P. Tomlinson clearing 12-6 in the pole vault for first.

Also for West, Noah Gartenberg (400), Carter Fitzgerald (800), Brennan Wellock (1,600) and Nikolaus Mangeot (3,200) all won their respective events. The Bucks’ 4×8 and 4×4 relays also took first.

Joey Gant was a double winner for Pennridge, sprinting away to wins in both the 100 (10.61) and 200 (21.34) dashes. Austin Prudish won the 300 hurdles (40.64) for the Rams.

Souderton’s Jared Zimmerman threw furthest (140-7) in the javelin while teammate Dekai Averett showed his determination on a wet day for hurdles by grabbing first in the 110’s with a 15.04.

Meanwhile, the North Penn girls won six events and placed second and third in several others.

“It was a long day but it was good,” Forbes said with a smile. “It’s a great start to the postseason. I’m happy with it. We’ll go back to the drawing board for districts, fix everything we need to, and get ready.”

Forbes had a terrific day in the jumps, winning the triple (37-1.75) and placing second in the long (17-0.75). North Penn actually took the top three spots in the long jump, thanks to Madison Gee (17-10), Forbes and Madeline Lewis (16-10.5).

North Penn’s 4×100 relay continued its stellar season with a first-place time of 48.51 while Dominique Bethel won the discus for NP (102-0), Koumba Samassa cleared 5-2 to win the high jump, and Gardenia Mikhail threw 114-10 to take the jav.

Mimi Duffy had a big day for the Bucks, crossing first in the 100 (12.23), 200 (25.02) and 400 (58.24). West’s 4×400 relay closed things out by beating all comers in 3:59.63.

Also, Pennridge’s Lauren Knapp won the pole vault by clearing 8-6.

Suburban One League Colonial Division Championships

At Central Bucks East

BOYS
Team Scores: North Penn (NP) 198.5; Central Bucks West (CBW) 185; Pennridge (P) 107; Central Bucks South (CBS) 104; Central Bucks East (CBE) 72.5; Souderton (S) 38.

Long Jump: Aiden Carey (CBS) 20-11.5; Shot Put: Collin Newman (CBW) 45-1; High Jump: Jabrie Gaymon (NP) 6-0; Javelin: Jared Zimmerman (S) 140-7; 4×800: CB West, 7:53.99; Triple Jump: Gaymon (NP) 44-2; 3,200: Nikolaus Mangeot (CBW) 9:43.26; Pole Vault: J.P. Tomlinson (CBW) 12-6; 110 hurdles: Dekai Averett (S) 15.04; Discus: Billy Schanbacher (CBS) 146-8; 100: Joey Gant (P) 10.61; 1,600: Brennan Wellock (CBW) 4:25.23; 4×100: North Penn, 42.65; 400: Noah Gartenberg (CBW) 50.51; 300 hurdles: Austin Prudish (P) 40.64; 800: Carter Fitzgerald (CBW) 1:50.50; 200: Gant (P) 21.34; 4×400: CB West, 3:20.39.

GIRLS
Team Scores: North Penn (NP) 249; Central Bucks West (CBW) 131; Central Bucks East (CBE) 106.5; Central Bucks South (CBS) 91; Pennridge (P) 87; Souderton (S) 40.5.

Pole Vault: Lauren Knapp (P) 8-6; Discus: Dominique Bethel (NP) 102-0; Long Jump: Madison Gee (NP) 17-10; 4×800: CB South, 9:23.14; High Jump: Koumba Samassa (NP) 5-2; 3,200: Brianna Jucewicz (CBS) 11:24.97; Shot Put: Leah Eckley (CBE) 38-11.5; 100 hurdles: Felicia Oh (CBS) 15.12; 100: Mimi Duffy (CBW) 12.23; Javelin: Gardenia Mikhail (NP) 114-10; Triple Jump: Taylor Forbes (NP) 37-1.75; 1,600: Riley Rooney (CBS) 5:04.90; 4×100: North Penn, 48.51; 400: Duffy (CBW) 58.24; 300 hurdles: Oh (CBS) 44.83; 800: Julia Pye (CBS) 2:16.83; 200: Duffy (CBW) 25.02; 4×400: CB West, 3:59.63.