The Coatesville High School boys’ track and field squad, which has captured the PIAA District 1 3A team title four of the last five years, return a solid lineup of runners this spring, including sprinters Robert Turner, Donte London and Jabari Stocker and mid-distance runner Tommy Silvester. Two other key returning athletes are Albert Morton (jumps) and Maximus Stukes (high jump).
Other Red Raiders to watch include Elijah Morris (sprints) and Phillip Dimatteo (sprints and hurdles).
Coatesville head coach Damien Henry said, “We have a talented group of seniors. My concern is we lack depth. The staff will focus on developing our young student-athletes as we continue to build the program and prepare for the championship season.”
Here’s an early-season look at the other local high school boys’ track and field teams as they head into April:
Avon Grove: Key returnees for the Red Devils include senior Elias Chase (javelin, triple jump), senior Lucas Dusseau (sprints), junior Kellar Cimini (pole vault) and senior Zane Frantz (pole vault, hurdles, high jump). Red Devil coach Eric Broadbent said, “Our strengths are that we are diverse in our scoring. We are solid in a lot of areas.”
Bishop Shanahan: The Eagles are considered strongest at mid-distance and distance running events. Key returnees include junior Steven Todd (1600 meter run, 3200), senior Chijioke (CJ) Okafor (400, 200) and junior Jack Polizzi (400). Other athletes to watch include sophomore Colin Cregan (100, 200), sophomore Aidan Civitella (100, triple jump), sophomore Greg Palaia (200, 400), junior Owen Whitaker (1600, 3200, senior Louis Edgcumbe (3200) and junior Sam Conte (100, 200).
Church Farm: Key returnees include senior Shalva Bent (100, 200, triple jump), junior Neiman Smith (100, 200, long jump), senior Rasheed Bakare (200, 400) and sophomore David Ibiefo (long jump, 400). Other athletes to watch include sophomore Stephen Looney (mile run), senior Angel Asiamah (800), senior Dylan Lumumba (300 hurdles) and junior Mason Jarvis (javelin). Church Farm head coach Gabriel Logan noted, “We are fortunate to be the first team in school history with an (all-weather) outdoor track — we had a cinder track prior to this year, we now have an all-weather polyurethane track surface. Our biggest challenge revolves around the youthfulness of our team, with many of our athletes having little to no prior competition experience.”
Conestoga: Key returning athletes include senior Calvin Jordan (100, 200), senior Colin Grimes (100, 200), junior Patrick Barausky (pole vault), senior Shane Walsh (3200), senior Charlie Henderson (400) and Nathan Kluge (3200). Others to watch include junior Rehobi Teshome (triple jump, long jump). Conestoga head coach Alex Foulke said, “We have a strong sprints side full of talent and potential, as well as some standout distance runners. Our biggest challenge will be growing the entire program in areas that our groups are younger such as throws and jumps.”
Devon Prep: Key returnees include senior Patrick Rullo (800, 1600), junior Sam Kleiner (800), junior Carter Shaak (400, long jump), junior Jack Bonner (400). Other athletes to watch are junior Charlie Krug (800) and senior Chris Clark (javelin). Devon Prep head coach Dylan Gavin said, “We have a decent amount of runners. We have a lot of holes that need to be filled in the field this year as we graduated a lot of our throwers and (other field athletes), so we are building upon a new crew of field athletes.”
Downingtown East: The Cougars are led by senior hurdler Luis Colmenare-Bittar, who captured a silver medal in the 300 hurdles at the PIAA 3A Track & Field Championships last spring, and was named the 2023 Daily Local News Boys Track Athlete of the Year. Other key returnees are junior Juan Colmenare-Bittar (hurdles), junior Jack Griffiths (100), junior Barry Harris (100, 200, 400), sophomore Jackson Howey (200, 400), middle distance runners Liam Taylor, Brad Kellogg and Caleb Beck, senior Nick Steinfeld (800, 1600, 3200), senior Ben Fatone (1600, 3200), sophomore Jackson Ulmer (800, 1600), junior Isaiah Johnson (2023 Ches-Mont triple jump champion) and senior Justin Zieff (high jump).
Downingtown West: Key returning athletes for the Whippets include senior Richard Planck, the Daily Local News 2023 Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year (800, 1600, 3200), senior David Whitford (1600, 3200), junior Sam Leisenring (400, 800, 1600), senior Brayden Showers (800, 1600), senior Andrew Ernst (long jump, triple jump, 100, 200, 400), sophomore Ryan Witherspoon (200, 400), sophomore Olo Kolade (200, 400), sophomore Josiah Wade (200, 400), sophomore Rowen O’Brien (200, 400), junior Spencer Dunn (100, 200), junior Logan Smith (discus) and sophomore Kevin Kokinda (high jump). The quartet of Wade, Kolade, Witherspoon and Ernst won the 4×400 relay title at the PTFCA Indoor Boys Championships last winter. Others to watch include junior Amani Sterling (200, 400), sophomore Jaden Midgett (200, 400), junior Zach Cochrane (100, 200, 400), sophomore Evan Reidinger (1600, 3200), senior Riley Trigo (1600, 3200), junior Gavin Mize (800, 1600), junior Finn Pook (400, 800) and senior Chris Frank (400, 800). D-West head coach Scott Burns said, “Our team has great versatility and talent, particularly in the long sprints and middle distances. In order to compete for a Ches-Mont title, though, we’ll need to focus on developing more athletes in the throws and jumps.”
Great Valley: Key returning Patriots include senior Colin Mahoney (400, 800), junior Ryan Pepperman (1600, 3200), junior Trip Gomez (1600, 3200), senior Jake McDonough (high jump), senior Lingesh Nagarajan (discus, shot put), Hudson Ayre (discus, shot), sophomore Cameron Gosa (100, 200), sophomore Sean Mahoney (100, 200, 400) and junior Seth Tshudy (pole vault). Great Valley head coach Nicole Jones said, “We are a nice mix of well-seasoned veterans and underclassmen that are really eager to improve on their freshman/sophomore years. The boys are very motivated to defend the Ches-Mont American Division championship.”
Kennett: Key returnees include junior Xavier McGreal (high jump, hurdles), junior Aiden Ritch (sprints, jumps), junior Finnerty Hall (sprints, jumps), sophomore Brady Eberle (sprints, jumps) and senior Karsten Bardenhagen (distance runs). John Ramagano, who is the Kennett co-head coach along with Jessica Copeland, said, “Freshmen Joalex Carbajal and Gaven Ritch, who are both sprinters, could make for a formidable 4×100 and 4×400 team.”
Malvern Prep: The Friars have a relatively young squad this spring (only four seniors), but are well-balanced. Key returnees include junior Will Cipollone (throw), junior Nick Hollander (sprints), sophomore Trey Gibson (jumps), sophomore Max Swiderski (sprints), senior Steve Hofmann (distance), junior Junior McFadden (sprints, jumps), sophomore Ryan Woerner (jumps) and sophomore Jack Morley (throws). Others to watch include freshman Pierce Nevins (mid-distance), freshman Chase O’Keefe (mid-distance), freshman Brendon Goode-Kimble (sprints, hurdles, jumps), junior Peter Hicks (pole vault), junior Pieter Schwab (pole vault), freshman Noah Monestere (distance) and freshman Killian Todd (distance).
Oxford: The Hornets do not feature a numerically large squad but they have some fine returning athletes, including senior CJ Boyer (long jump), junior Owen Oliver (distance) and junior Nate Winters (high jump).
Unionville: Key returnees include junior Grant DeWilde (sprints), and for distance runs, seniors David Hendrix, David Perkins and Lucas Siepser, and juniors James McGlynn and Jonathan Stancik. Unionville head coach Mark Lacianca said, “Our two pole vaulters, sophomore Alex Undorf and senior Sky Ziegler,
are way ahead of last year and both have a chance at districts after being under 10 feet last year. Our distance running should be strong. We have a great throwing (coaching) staff this year and are really hoping to develop this part of our team.”
West Chester East: Viking senior Tyler Wileczek looks to qualify for districts in the 100 and 200. Other key returnees include senior Damian Sheridan (400, 4×400), sophomore Tyler Duell (shot put, discus), sophomore Jacob Joslin (shot put, discus), junior Nathan DeRosa (javelin), sophomore Jack Brannon (4×800, 1600), senior Nolan Duggan (4×800, 1600), junior Brody Laurento (4×800, 1600) and junior Jake Hennessey (4×800, 1600).
West Chester Henderson: Top returning athletes for the Warriors are junior Ben Pentz (1600, 3200) and the 4×800 relay team of Aaron Varghese, Dermot Hogan, Evan Kurdziel and Pentz that qualified for Indoor States last winter. Other athletes to watch are senior Gabe Washington (100, 200), Gavin Byrnes (200, 400) and senior Christian Walker (200, 400). Henderson head coach Bryan Johnson said, “Our team has a lot of depth and we need the athletes to make the next step.”
West Chester Rustin: The Golden Knights feature depth in the hurdles and long sprints. Key returnees include senior Lucas Band (hurdles, 4×100, 200), junior Ioanni Makris (200, 400, 4×100, 4×400), senior Harry Davis (800, 400, 4×400, 4×800), junior Yashil Shah (200, 400, 300 hurdles, 4×400), senior Julian Irving (100, 200, 400), senior Ny’jzir Jones (long jump, triple jump), senior Brock Cummings (shot put, discus) and senior Shawn Roselli (1600, 3200). Other athletes to watch include junior David Jacobs (hurdles), freshman Dathan Jacobs (100, 200, triple jump), freshman Jake Wright (triple jump), sophomore Matt Stevenson (shot put, discus, javelin), sophomore Carson Englert (800, 1600), freshman Colin Finnegan (800, 1600, 3200) and freshman Phoenix Dunne (long jump, triple jump). Rustin boys head coach Shaz Brown said, “We should be very good in the 200, 400, hurdles, and 4×4. Lucas Band is the top 110 high hurdler in District 1 and Yashil Shah will be one of the top hurdlers in the area in the 300 intermediate hurdles. Harry Davis is growing into one of the top 800 runners in the District. We are also developing a group of throwers that should prove to be competitive in the Ches-Mont as well. One of our biggest challenges is continuing to develop depth in the distance events.”
