Presenting the 2023 Daily Local News all-area Girls Track teams
FIRST TEAM
SPRINTS
Macaela Walker, Jr., Oxford – A repeat first team selection, the junior won the PIAA 3A title in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal record of 13.94, then about 30 minutes later, finished second in the 100 (11.92). At the District 1 meet, she finished first in both the 100 hurdles (14.16) and the 100 (11.90).
Keturah Darwon, Sr., West Chester Rustin – Senior won two individual medals at the states, placing third in the 300 hurdles (PR 42.75) and seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.97) and was part of the Golden Knights’ 4×400 relay that finished fourth. Finished first in the 300 hurdles at districts.
Rachel Hubley, Sr., Great Valley – The senior was a medal-winner at states in the 200, finishing eighth with a clocking of 25.18. Placed fifth in the 200 at districts.
MID-DISTANCE/DISTANCE
Ellie Keefer, Sr., West Chester Rustin
A repeat first team all-area selection, the senior finished second in the 3200 (10:47.14) and fifth in the 1600 (4:56.55) at districts. At states, she placed ninth in the 3200 (10:37.33).
Maddie Miller, Jr., West Chester Rustin – The 2022 Girls Track Athlete of the Year had another great season as a junior this spring, earning a state medal in the 800 (seventh place, 2:10.98) and helping the 4×400 relay to place fourth at states. At districts, she was a key part of the first-place 4×400 relay that clinched the team title for Rustin.
FIELD EVENTS
Kirstin Hoffman, Sr., Kennett – A repeat first team all-area selection, the senior finished third in the pole vault at states with a mark of 12-9. Her effort was three inches higher than her second-place mark at districts (12-6).
Maddy Kelley, Sr., Villa Maria – A repeat first team all-area selection, the junior placed sixth in the pole vault at states, with a mark of 12-3. Finished third in the pole vault at the district meet.
Mary Cate Doughty, Sr., Villa Maria – The senior finished fourth in the pole vault at states (12-3) and fourth at districts (12-0).
Charlotte Powell, Sr., Great Valley – Powell finished finished fifth in the discus (115-2) at districts. The senior was 10th (114-10) at states.
Jayen Williams, Sr., West Chester Rustin – In her debut at atates, she was a medal-winner in the long jump, finishing seventh. She was second in the long jump (19-4.75) at districts. A versatile athlete who also contributed in the 4×100 relay and the 100 meters.
SECOND TEAM
Ryleigh Hearn, Sr., Downingtown West
Keerthana Sujesh, Sr., Downingtown East
Faith Fuqua, Jr., Downingtown East
Ella Burnham, Sr., Kennett
Giovanna Jennings-Scott, Sr., Downingtown East
Michelle Olak, Jr., Westtown
HONORABLE MENTION
Avon Grove – Lily Schindler, Eva Ciuffetelli, Eden Veenema, Emma Moss; Bishop Shanahan – Meghan Willis, Sarah Uhlman, Penelope Loeper; Coatesville – Chloe Domurat, Dejah Morris; Conestoga – Julia Harris; Downingtown East – Madison Brown, Nia Massey, Katie Riley; Downingtown West – Hailey Sward, Bridget Kiey; Great Valley – Briella Gorman; Kennett – Sara Frey, Elyssa Henry; Oxford – Emma Neskie; Unionville – Becca Harkness, Mirielle Sherman, Molly Main, Nicky Diver; Villa Maria Academy – Marin Rosser; Westtown School – Maille Mojica, Laila Atkins; West Chester Henderson – Julia Ziemniak, Jen Kurisko, Brynlea Rieger; West Chester Rustin – Brooke Kruger, Ana Dakes, Julia Snelling, Joss Barkman; Westtown School – Ella Cook, Laila Atkins.
Coach of the Year
Jim Collins, West Chester Rustin
Collins coached the Golden Knights to their second consecutive District 1 3A team title this past spring.
“We are incredibly lucky to have the amount of talent we have. The girls really push the limits of the talent by competing in practice every day and helping to push limits. As lucky as we are to have the talent, we have been even luckier with our support system. We have great parents and an unbelievable booster organization that help support our needs and allow us to compete at a variety of venues.
“Even more important, we have a top notch set of coaches. Shaz Brown (mid-distance) Rohan Grant (sprints/hurdles) Dave Richard (jumps) and John Ramagano (distance) all have 15-30 years of track coaching and have completed in the sport at the highest levels. Their expertise and experience are invaluable and I am lucky to be able work with them. Our Twitter handle is RustinTF, which naturally stands for track and field, but we like to think it means Track Family. We really try to blend everyone into our program and truly think that’s what makes the difference. We celebrate all of our kids’ PRs and accomplishments.
“Every kids pushes the pace and holds each other accountable. Girls like Ava (Alexander), Keturah (Darwon), Ellie (Keefer), and Maddie (Miller) get a lot of attention, but we are only as good as we are because of the entire team we have.”
