Track & Field: Woolery, Episcopal and Haverford have big day at state indoor championships

It was a record-setting day for Episcopal Academy’s Michael Woolery at the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association’s state championship meet at Penn State Sunday.

Woolery won the 800 meter run and set the county record in the process to highlight a big day by Delaware County athletes at state indoors. Woolery ran 1:52.83 to break the mark of 1:54.35 set by Cardinal O’Hara’s Nick Smart in 2014.

That was one of five gold medals won by Delco athletes, two by EA, two by Haverford and one by Chester.

Episcopal Academy won the boys team title with 34 points, two better than runnerup Abington. Haverford placed third in the girls competition behind West Chester Rustin (37 points) and Friends’ Central (30). The Fords tallied 26 points.

Aidan McHugh, Eli Engelman, Dawson French and Dakin Ebmeyer of EA led a 1-2 Delco finish in the 4 x 800 with a winning time of 7:52.39. Penncrest’s Ben Holst-Rightley, Brendan Hefferan, Rory McAfee and Kadin Salaria finished second also in 7:52.39. Ridley finished fifth in 8:03.80.

Haverford’s Quentin Ryan, Tiernan O’Neill, Gabe Zwilling and Patrick Lawson led a 1-2 Delco finish in the distance medley relay. The Fords won in 10:22.01. Episcopal Academy’s Engelman, Woolery, Ebmyer and Connor Hanrahan took second in 10:23.53.

Also on the boys side, Upper Darby’s Lavar Jackson was fifth in the 200 (22.01), C.J. Simbiri of Delco Christian placed sixth in the triple jump (43-5½). EA also took third in the 4 x 400 (3:21.80).

Olivia Cieslak and Aubrey Leneweaver had a huge day for Haverford on the girls side. Cieslak and Leneweaver teamed with Camryn McGeehan and Morgan Elliott to win the DMR (12:16.31). Cieslak also finished second in the 800 (2:11.85) while Leneweaver claimed silver in the 60 hurdles (8.77).

Chester won the 4 x 200 (1:43.23) and Damira Allen was fourth in the 60 hurdles (9.03) for the Clippers.

Saige Forbes highlighted a strong showing for Episcopal Academy. She finished fourth in the long jump (17-7) and set a school record to take fifth in the 60-meter dash (7.68).

Alexa Brown of Strath Haven placed second in the shot put (41-10½).