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Perkiomen Valley senior Ian Johnson has played soccer all his life, which makes sense based on his performance at the District 1 Track and Field Championships.
Johnson out-kicked the competition on back-to-back days.
After winning the 1,600 meters on Friday, Johnson kicked off Day 2 competition by doing the distance double and winning the 3,200 meters in 9:09.43, less than a second ahead of runner-up Aiden Maue of Souderton (9:09.90).
“In the 1,600, I was second or third, and then I outkicked; in the 3,200 I sat around 10th for a lot of the race. In the final two laps I moved up to around fifth; in the last lap I moved up a couple of spots and was able to reach the lead runner and just tried to outsprint the last 100 (meters).”
Bound for Georgia Tech, a big finish awaits Johnson at next week’s PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University.
“My goal is to medal at states this year, and to PR in the 1,600 and 3,200 – sub 4:10 in the 1,600 and sub 9 in the 3,200 if possible. I’m assuming the medals will come with the PRs.”
Methacton freshman Victoria James also had a golden finish by the narrowest of margins, much like Johnson.
James hit 37-0 ¼ on her third attempt, which landed her a quarter of an inch ahead of runner-up Kira Moses of Pennsbury (37-0).
Methacton senior Summer Mellow earned her first trip to states in the sprints with her silver finish in the 100 meters. She ran a 12.06, bested only by the Pa. second-best 11.84 of Cheltenham’s Amirah Nesmith. She later placed fourth in the 200 (24.62). Boyertown junior Harper Glennon placed fifth in the 100 in 12.28 and sixth in the 200 (25.28), reaching state standards in both events.
Perkiomen Valley senior Sienna Miller earned a place in states with her second-place finish in the 3,200 meters. Miller finished in 10:55.66, trailing only Lillian DiCola of Hatboro Horsham (10:51.38).
Boyertown junior Taylor Rosen and Methacton senior Kenslee O’Donnell backed up their PAC meet wins with podium finishes and state qualification in the hurdles. Rosen finished third in the 300 hurdles in 44.25, a personal record. O’Donnell placed fifth in the 100 hurdles in a personal-best 15.19.
Owen J. Roberts junior Julia Bold placed fourth in the triple jump with a personal best and state-qualifying 36-10. The event was won by Souderton junior Destini Smith, who jumped a District 1 meet-record 41-10 ½.
OJR’s Jane Kratz earned a trip to states in the 800 meters by placing fifth in 2:12.39. Also medaling in the race were Norristown’s Avah Savage (7th, 2:14.51) and Methacton freshman Marlie Klein (8th, 2:15.57).
Spring-Ford boys’ 4×400 relay of Jack Stanick, Eli Dunham, Belal Abdelrahman and Chris Brittingham finished second (3:19.58)
“We had to mix things around today, but we had a good start by Jack,” Brittingham said.
Abdelrahman said, “I had an opening, I was a little tired but I just tried to keep everything out in front of me and give Chris the best possible chance to win.”
Abdelrahman, Stanick, Dunham and William Wiles will be running the 4×800 at states after finishing fifth in districts Friday (7:48.97).
The Rams also got a second-place finish from junior Abe McNelly in the pole vault (13-6).
In the boys’ 110 hurdles, West Chester Rustin’s Lucas Band rose up and bested the PAC’s top two in Pottstown senior Tyrese Washington and Upper Perkiomen’s Grayson Riggins. Band’s 14.13 was ahead of Riggins (14.47) and Washington (14.48). All three met the state standard, giving Washington the chance to defend his PIAA title next weekend.
In the javelin, Phoenixville junior Talon Romance uncorked a 177-1 to place second. His third attempt was 29 feet better than his second-best throw. Perkiomen Valley’s Doug Ledger placed third (172-10).
Owen J. Roberts freshman Matt Gregory earned a spot in states in the 100 meters and 200 meters by placing fourth in both events.
In the 300 hurdles, Pottsgrove senior Tre Cook finished sixth (40.69).
