West Chester >> The Chester County track and field athletes who excelled at the 19th Annual Hoka/Bryn Mawr Running Co. Henderson Invitational Friday at West Chester Henderson’s J. Oscar Dicks Stadium were competing against a wide range of tough competitors from more than 100 schools, from York to southern Delaware.
Against this tough backdrop of competitors, Oxford High School senior Macaela Walker won two events — the 100 meter dash (12.32 seconds) and the 200 (25.00).
Walker said, “I’m always grateful to get pushed by other athletes, and this meet is definitely competitive…..I feel pretty good about my time in the 100 meter run today, since it’s my season opener in the 100 since my (hamstring) injury at (indoor) states last February. I know I can improve on that time.”
In the 100, Walker’s closest pursuer was second-place finisher, Downingtown East senior Faith Fuqua (12.55)
Walker, who has committed to the University of Cincinnati for track (sprints and hurdles), added, “I felt really good about my 200 race today. That’s always the race where I struggle to maintain my speed all the way to the finish line, but today, I felt like I did that, and it’s my first 200 since the spring season last year.”
Kennett had several standouts. Freshman Aydriane Bowden finished first in the 300 hurdles (43.78, more than two seconds faster than the second place finisher). Junior Sara Frey won the pole vault with a mark of 11 feet, six inches. Her teammate, junior Elyssa Henry, was second with an effort of 11-0.
Kennett co-head coach John Ramagano said, “This is one of the premier invitational we compete in every year. We only bring our top athletes here – the competition is pretty stellar. To win the girls 300 hurdles by more than two seconds, and to finish 1-2 in the girls pole vault is a pretty good day for us.”
Coatesville senior Robert Turner, who won the 400 in 48.27, said, “It was good to see a lot of schools here and get the (tough) competition that we got today. I wanted to get a PR today, a 46 or 47, but it was a little chilly here, so I’ll look for that at districts (in the 4×400).”
West Chester Rustin girls coach Jim Collins said, “This is a highly-competitive meet, hard to get into, so we try to do the best we can, and it’s a nice tune-up for the post-season which starts next week.”
Rustin senior Maddie Miller placed fifth in the 1600 (the winner was Katie Payne of Tatnall at 4:54.53) and noted the tough competition.
“There are a lot of schools here and a lot of good competition at this meet, which makes you run faster,” said a smiling Miller. “I don’t run the 1600 that often, but I ran it here because there’s good competition here and it works in well with my other (upcoming) races.”
In the final individual event, the boys 3200, Downingtown East senior Nick Steinfeldt finished second (9:06.72) to Council Rock North senior Brady Ott (9:04.43).
Boys
110 meter hurdles – Trevon Foster, Hill School (14.10); 100 meter run – Julian McFadden, LaSalle College (10.97); 200 meter run – Ade Lloyd, Harriton (21.51); 4×800 relay – Abington (7:56.05); 1600 meter run – Nicholas Mazzeo, Lower Merion (4:20.31); 4×100 relay – LaSalle College (42.36); 400 meter run – Robert Turner, Coatesville (48.27); 300 meter hurdles – Grayson Riggins, Upper Perkiomen (38.78); 800 meter run – Ethan Walther, Salesianum (1:51.97); 3200 meter run – Brady Ott, Council Rock North (9:04.43); High jump – Ethan Kloppmann, Penn Manor (6-4); Long jump – Blake Brown, Germantown Academy (22-1 1/2); Pole vault – Robert Bright, Germantown Academy (14-0); Triple jump – Julian Cherundolo, Salesianum (45-5.5); Shot put – Brady Mider, Berks Catholic (61-6 1/2); Discus – Brady Mider, Berks Catholic (170-5); Javelin – Aiden Zimmerman, Conestoga Valley (187-2). 4×400 -Abington (3:22.28).
Girls
110 meter hurdles – Arianna Montogomery, Tatnall (15.12); 100 meter run – Macaela Walker, Oxford (12.32); 200 meter run – Macaela Walker, Oxford (25.00); 4×800 relay – Conestoga Valley (9:37.13); 1600 meter run – Katie Payne, Tatnall (4:54.53); 4×100 relay – Conestoga Valley (48.36); 400 meter run – Nyeoni Johnson, Conestoga Valley (57.25); 300 meter hurdles – Aydriane Bowden, Kennett (43.78); 800 meter run – Abby Downin, Tatnall (2:10.97); 3200 meter run – Claire Paci, Greencastle-Antrim (10:32.56); High jump – Franchesca Severino, Garden Spot (5-3); Pole vault – Sara Frey, Kennett (11-6); Long jump –Alexis Tarlue, Tatnall (19-2); Triple jump – Destini Smith, Souderton (41-11); Shot put – Layla Gentile, Germantown Academy (36-11); Discus – Genesis Castro, JP McCaskey (138-2); Javelin – Morgan, O’Hara, Upper Perkiomen (126-3). 4×400 – Northern York (4:00.03).
