Coatesville >> Chester County’s top track and field athletes had some exciting races at the 45th annual Ches-Mont Track & Field Championships Wednesday at Coatesville High School.
One of the most competitive races was the boys’ 100 meter run, where Coatesville’s Robert Turner (11.07 seconds) edged teammate Donte London (11.08) for first place.
Turner, who also won the boys 200 meter dash (22.08), said, “Donte got out fast, and I just knew that I had to execute and trust and believe.”
Coatesville, who finished first in the boys team competition Wednesday, won the boys 4×100 relay, with a state-best 41.31, with a quartet of Damon Watson, Turner, London and Amir Haskett.
Haskett, who will be playing football for the University of Richmond next fall, said, “For us, (the key) was just trusting in each other. We have a (strong) bond.”
Coatesville’s Jabari Stocker won the boys 400 meter run with a PR time of 48.77.
Avon Grove finished first in the girls’ team competition, with 134 points, ahead of second-place West Chester Rustin (92) and third-place Downingtown East (90).
For the Red Devil girls, Lexi Boiardi won high jump (5 feet, 7 inches), Ryan Boggetta was first in shot put (35-10.75) and Eden Veenema won triple jump (36-0).
The Red Devil boys, who finished a solid second in the boys team competition with 106.5 points to Coatesville’s 128.5, did particularly well in the winner’s circle for the field events — Elias Chase was first in javelin (184-4), Kellar Cimini won pole vault (14-0) and Jacob Lott won discus (148-7).
Also in the boys’ field events, West Chester Rustin’s Cameron Varquez won the shot put (48-0.5), Coatesville’s Nasir Jordan won triple jump (44-11) and Coatesville’s Maximus Stokes won high jump (6-4)
In the girls’ field events, West Chester Rustin’s Ana Dakes won the discus (118-5), Rustin’s Ryan Layton was first in long jump (17-10.25), Coatesville’s Adrianna Figueroa won javelin (104-5) and Kennett’s Sara Frey won pole vault (11-6).
For the West Chester Rustin girls, Maddie Miller easily won the 800 meter run, with a meet record 2:12.98.
“I tried to run a fast first 400 meters, and then close with what I had left,” said Miller. “The wind was a little tough on the backstretch but it wasn’t too bad.”
The Golden Knights also won the 4×400 girls relay with a season-best 3:59.26 and a quartet of Julia Snelling, Sophia Hnetinka, Miller and Brooke Kruger.
For the Rustin boys, Lucas Band won two events, the 110 meter hurdles (14.45) and 300 hurdles (39.72).
After winning the 110 hurdles, Band said, “My time wasn’t a PR but it felt like a PR because the (west) wind was blowing in my face.”
For the Downingtown East girls, Faith Fuqua won the 200 meter run with a PR 24.68.
“I was just focusing on my form and not thinking about getting tired, just pushing,” said a happy Fuqua.
Fuqua also anchored the first-place girls 4×100 relay of Julie Zajac, Nia Massey, Olivia Dever and Fuqua, who won with a PR and top five state time of 47.62.
Massey won the girls 100 meter run with a clocking of 12.58.
For the Downingtown East boys, the quartet of Liam Taylor, Ben Fatone, Brad Kellogg and anchor Nick Steinfeldt won the 4×800 relay with a time of 7:53.39.
Steinfeldt said, “We were trying to get a pretty good district time, it’s not exactly what we wanted but it’s close. I knew I’d be given the lead, so I tried to get out as far as possible and drag everyone else deep and see if they could catch me or not.”
Bishop Shanahan won both the boys and girls 1600 meter run, as Meghan Willis won the girls race and Steven Todd won the boys run (4:23.90).
Todd said, “I tried to let other people do the early work, then I kicked it in on the last lap.”
Willis said, “I went out slower than usual (because of the heat) and then I started to go (faster) in the last two laps. Ending my senior season with a Ches-Mont championship is really exciting and special to me.”
Shanahan also won both 3200 meter races, as senior Penelope Loeper won the girls run with a time of 12:07.25, and junior Owen Whitaker was first in the boys’ race (10:11.83).
“It awesome to win (my first) Ches-Mont championship in my senior year,” said Loeper. “It’s just amazing; if you have trust in God’s plan it will always work out. It was hot today, but I just tried to think that it was hot for everyone so I tried not to let it faze me.”
Whitaker said, “In the last 300 meters, I found a second wind and just kept pushing. It means a lot to win my first Ches-Mont Championship — we’ve all been putting in a lot of hours, and it’s good to see it pay off.”
Another top Chester County athlete, Oxford senior Macaela Walker, who win the PIAA 3A state title in the 100 hurdles last spring, won the 100 hurdles Wednesday with a time of 14.11 and finished second in the girls 100 meter run.
The Great Valley quartet of Aimee and Natalie Dill (twins), Gia Patel and sophomore anchor Emma Mayer won the girls 4×800 relay with a time of 9:46.70.
“I joined the track team last year; on the last lap I just tried to give it my all and push with everything I had. I’m super excited that I could do it (win) with this team.”
In the final event of Wednesday’s meet, the boys’ 4×400 relay, Downingtown West finished first with a clocking of 3:17.51.
The Ches-Mont Championships featured some winning efforts by the younger athletes. Downingtown West sophomore Molly Weitzman won the girls 400 meter run with a time of 56.98.
“I got off to a good start and then down the stretch I pushed against the wind as hard as I could,” said Weitzman. “Winning the Ches-Mont championship means a lot to me, I’m very excited and proud of myself.”
Kennett freshman Aydriane Bowden won the girls 300 hurdles handily with a PR time of 43.19.
“(The key) was just wanting it and pushing hard,” said a smiling Bowden. “Winning (Ches-Mont championship) means a lot and I’m very excited and happy that I did that.”
Boys’ team points
Coatesville 128.5, Avon Grove 106.5, West Chester Rustin 77.5, Downingtown East 70, Downingtown West 67, Great Valley 61, Bishop Shanahan 50, Unionville 39, West Chester Henderson 37, West Chester East 22, Sun Valley 21, Oxford 13, Kennett 9.5.
Girls’ team points
Avon Grove 134, West Chester Rustin 92, Downingtown East 90, Downingtown West 57, Great Valley 51, Kennett 45, Bishop Shanahan 42.50, Coatesville 40, Oxford 39.5, Unionville 38, West Chester Henderson 37, West Chester East 29, Sun Valley 5.
Boys’ event winners:
110 meter hurdles – Lucas Band, West Chester Rustin (14.45); 100 meter run – Robert Turner, Coatesville (11.07); 200 meter run – Robert Turner, Coatesville (22.08); 4×800 relay – Downingtown East (7:53.39); 1600 meter run – Steven Todd, Bishop Shanahan (4:23.90); 4×100 relay – Coatesville (41.31); 400 meter run – Jabari Stocker, Coatesville (48.77); 300 meter hurdles – Lucas Band, West Chester Rustin (39.72); 800 meter run – Tommy Silvester, Coatesville (1:56.30); 3200 meter run – Owen Whitaker, Bishop Shanahan (10:11.83); 4×400 – Downingtown East (3:17.51); High jump – Maximus Stukes, Coatesville (6-4); Pole vault – Kellar Cinini, Avon Grove (14-0); Triple jump – Nasir Jordan, Coatesville (44-11); Shot put – Cameron Varquez, West Chester Rustin (48-0.5); Discus – Jacob Lott, Avon Grove (148-7); Javelin – Elias Chase, Avon Grove (184-4).
Girls’ event winners:
100 meter hurdles – Macaela Walker, Oxford (14.11); 100 meter run – Nia Massey, Downingtown East (12.58); 200 meter run – Faith Fuqua, Downingtown East (24.68); 4×800 relay – Great Valley (9:46.70); 1600 meter run – Meghan Willis, Bishop Shanahan (5:16.80); 4×100 relay – Downingtown East (47.62); 400 meter run – Molly Weitzman, Downingtown West (56.98); 300 meter hurdles – Aydriane Bowden, Kennett (43.19); 800 meter run – Maddie Miller, West Chester Rustin (2:12.98); 3200 meter run – Penelope Loeper, Bishop Shanahan (12:07.25); 4×400 – West Chester Rustin (3:59.26); Long jump – Ryan Layton, West Chester Rustin (17-10.25); High jump – Lexi Boiardi, Avon Grove (5-7); Pole vault – Sara Frey, Kennett (11-6); Triple jump – Eden Veenema, Avon Grove (36-0); Shot put – Ryan Boggetta, Avon Grove (35-10.75); Discus – Ana Dakes, West Chester Rustin (118-5); Javelin – Adrianna Figueroa, Coatesville (104-5).
