Loading your audio article
PHILADELPHIA – Even before the text pinged Olivia Clark’s phone Thursday, the Penncrest senior had an idea that things might work out.
For the third straight year, the Lions were alternates at Penn Relays, this time in the girls Philadelphia Area 4 x 400. The last two times, withdrawals have let them into the field. So as the squad went through its final preparations, the Lions had a feeling it might break their way again.
Clark’s text, from Haverford’s Olivia Cieslak, saying that her relay was leaning toward scratching so that Cieslak could focus on the girls mile, set the expectations for a busy if fruitful Friday.
“Our coach texted us this morning and he goes, I was just talking to the coach, you’re in,” Clark said. “So we got on the 2:15 train and we got up here, warmed up and got on the field and hoped that Haverford still wasn’t going to be in there.”
Whatever happened, Penncrest felt it belonged in the final. Then the Lions proved so, fifth in 3:58.44. Zoe Clark, Olivia Clark, Keeley Aiken and Sophia Donnelly comprised the squad.
The Lions’ experience with the waiting game paid off. The challenge is less emotional, Zoe Clark said, than physical, making sure to prepare right.
“It was more last night, when we found out we were the first alternate,” Zoe Clark said. “… We were kind of like, we’re just going to go there tomorrow and hope we can redeem ourselves.”
Zoe Clark set the tone by going out in 58.25, which put the Lions third. Olivia Clark had the fastest split in 56.30.
Cieslak would finish sixth in the mile in 4:45.22.
• • •
Penncrest was one of three Delco teams in the race. Chester finished third, capping a stellar day from a busy quartet.
Damira Allen, JaNasiah Dearry, Daleeah Alexander and Alasia Mosley guided the Clippers to bronze less than three hours after finishing fourth in the Northeast 4 x 100.
That latter relay is the Clippers’ bread and butter. They finished third at the PIAA Class 3A Championships last year. At the 2023 Penn Relays, their goal was to break 48 seconds. They went 48.87 in rainy conditions, yet were 47.65 by states.
This year, a 47.90 at Franklin Field indicates the elevated starting point.
“This year, we just know that we made improvements,” Mosley said, “and there’s still room for improvement to go.”
In the 4 x 400, the Clippers were out sixth. Mosley briefly pulled into the lead early in her anchor leg,. Her split of 57.60 was second on the team (Dearry threw down a race-best 53.89), but a pair of 55s by Winslow High of New Jersey and Friends’ Central led them to the top two spots.
• • •
Episcopal Academy finished one spot ahead of Chester in the Northeast girls 4 x 100 and maybe a notch or two happier.
The Churchwomen had set the school record at 48.16 Thursday to qualify. Friday, the record plunged further to 47.50. Stevie Combs, Avery Eliott, Maya Bright and Saige Forbes were the history-making four.
“I think it means that we’re the best in the school in the 4 x 1,” Bright said. “It was so fun out there. … I’m just so glad that we did so well.”
Bright is bound for soccer at the University of Pittsburgh. Elliott will run track at Penn, Forbes at Harvard. Elliott is a stellar hurdler and high jumper, and both she and Forbes pack a potent long jump.
It’s the kind of training environment conducive to maximizing talent.
“I think it’s been great,” Forbes said. “Having a training partner that’s so motivated and able to trust each is just so helpful. We help each other be our best in more ways than one.”
• • •
Ridley and Penncrest took opposite paths to the top seven in the boys DMR Championship of America.
Ridley was 11th after two legs before surging to sixth, Joey Lanci, AJ Dahn, Jesufifunmi Olugbenga and Jackson Kane sixth in 10:13.28. Penncrest made the first split with the lead back and were third until the anchor leg, finishing seventh in 10:13.94 thanks to Brendan Hefferan, James Hanson, Kadin Salaria and Rowan Carr.
Hefferan sent the Lions on the right path, third after his opening 1,200 behind only eventual winner Christian Brothers Academy and runner-up Westfield, both of New Jersey. He relished in the chase to race his goldilocks distance.
“I’ve always been really excited when I get to run the 1,200,” he said. “I like the 800 and I like the mile, but the 800 is a little fast and the mile is a little long. I feel like my sweet spot is the 1,200. Every time I get the 1,200, I want to make the most and do the best I can.”
Salaria, who missed out on last year’s race due to illness, ran in no man’s lane the entire way between groups for his 800. He handed off to Carr, who was swept up by the field into the main pack but found another gear late.
Ridley was 11th at the halfway point. But Olubenga climbed from 11th to seventh, and Kane ticked off another place with his 4:14.65 anchor.
• • •
NOTES >> Joachim Johnson of Episcopal Academy finished seventh in the high school boys triple jump, a best leap of 45-11.75. Two spots back was Delco Christian’s CJ Simbiri in 45-7. EA’s Alphonso Koukou finished 12th in the shot put. … Academy Park qualified for the boys Northeast 4 x 100 Saturday. Joshua Dean, Camir Jones, Maurice Richardson and Shaun Moat earned their ticket by going 42.51 on Friday.
