5/7 WKND: Black US#10, McCoy 5-8, Gil PA#1, Malone 1M-32|Magaha US#7 8, Keenan US#15, Gilmore 2 #1s

Altoona Area

Wade Endress of Altoona ran a solid double to start his final month of high school track. He won the 1600 meters in 4:22.51 and won the 800 meter run in a PA#7 time of 1:55.17. Zach Penrose of Indiana Area cleared 6-6 to win the high jump. Kyle Hefkin of State College won the javelin with a PA#4 mark of 201-7. Ryan Steinbugl of Altoona won the pole vault with a PA#2 mark of 15-2. Teammate Deron Lee won the triple jump with a PA#5 mark of 47-0.50.

For the girls, Nikki Kerns of Altoona ran 45.92 to win the 300 meter hurdles and cleared 5-4 to win the high jump. Chloe Schmidt of State College won the 800 meter run with a PA#4 time of 2:15.02. Her 4x800 meter relay team ran 9:32.51 to win that event. Lauren Kenney of State College won the javelin with a mark of 151-6. Heather Arey of South Western cleared 11 feet to win the pole vault. Shannon Daniels of State College won the triple jump with a mark of 36-5.

West Chester Henderson   

 

Meet coverage extra to PennTrackXC by Chris Wyatt

Photos by Charles Stone
By Chris Wyatt

 

WEST CHESTER,PA ---This meet featured some PA heavy-hitters, including Gabby Becattini, Leah Nugent, Taylor Ellis-Watson, Cierra White, Tymerah Burgess, Haley Pierce US#1 3000m, and great athletes competing in individual events. And we can't forget the middle and long distance relay teams of Tatnall (girls) and Abington (boys). At the beginning of meet, the weather was fantastic and so were the performances. Later in the evening, the 4x400m and Boys 200m Finals were cancelled and the 3200m Run was rescheduled for the following day.

Leah Nugent, nationally ranked hurdler for Abington, began her impressive meet by producing a new meet record in the 100m Hurdles with a 14.40 to beat second place finisher Springford's Mikaila White's 14.95. In the Girls 300m Hurdles, Nugent went on to break another of her own meet records with a cruising time of 43.06, besting her 2009 meet record time of 44.42. Nugent said that she entered this meet to see where she is at as far as execution and timing right before the journey to States. She also said when asked about how does she handle the pressure of being nationally ranked, "I like to compete as if I'm the underdog and I never get complacent." Nugent believes she performed well at the meet, but knows she can do more.
 
Haley Pierce of Tatnall, US# 1 in the 3000m Run, ran a blazing 800m race with her teammate Reagan Anderson shoulder-to-shoulder to the finish. This was a real crowd-pleasers. Pierce finished with a new meet record time of 2:10.99 (US#13) and Anderson a close second with a  2:11.13 (US#14). Gabby Becattini of Methacton tied the meet record in the triple jump with a strong 38-1 effort, just shy of her current PA#1 mark.
 
Another big event was the Girls100m Dash, where it was very apparent that this was a two-lady showdown between Philadelphia Public League and nationally ranked runners' Engineering & Science 's Cierra White and Simon Gratz's Tymerah Burgess. They ran their preliminary rounds separate and then were paired up in Lanes 4 and 5 for the finals. White is well known for her good starting ability and it was on full display as she gained a quick lead and held off the fierce closing speed of Burgess. White finished first with new meet record  and PA#1 time of 11.97 and Burgess finished quickly in second with a 12.25. White and Burgess will meet again for another great performance at next week's Philadelphia Public League Championships.
 
White also had serious competition in the 200m Dash.  White would be vying for first place along with talented Springside track athlete Taylor Ellis-Watson. They did not go head-to-head until the finals, and it sure was something special. Both athletes should be applauded for their awesome performances. White caught up to and passed Ellis-Watson on the curve, but the will, determination and talent of Ellis-Watson allowed her to close the gap and move ahead for the win. Ellis-Watson took first with new meet record time of 24.81 (she is PA#1 with a 24.13w) and White finished with a 25.35. Ellis-Watson then went on to win the Girls 400m Run with a new meet record and US#24 time of 54.97. Ellis-Watson turned 18 on the day of the meet and what better way to celebrate than with two gold medals.

 

Ellis-Watson said that her goals at Henderson Invitational were to run PR and season's best in open 400 and to get out fast and have a quick turnover on the homestretch in the 200. She said that besting Cierra White was one of her coach's goals. Her feelings on breaking meet record in the 400 were, "I was expecting to break the meet record without much problem...because it was only a 56+, and my goal was to run low 55/high 54." She said it is fun to compete against great track athletes like Cierra White and Tymerah Burgess, she says "It is nerve racking.......but still very thrilling."
 
Ellis-Watson states that practicing her turnover and quick steps have improved her speed which allows her to be successful in all three dashes. She says that she had a problem with overstriding. Before the outdoor season is over Ellis-Watson indicated that she wants to break (below) 12sec in 100, 24sec in 200, and 54sec in 400. Doing well at New Balance Outdoor Nationals and becoming All-American is her goal. Being that she is a student at an independent school , she says,"I would of loved to compete in the PIAA state championships. That would have been a wonderful opportunity for me. I still go watch every year though. I hope that someday my school will be able to compete in the PIAA."
 
"It feels great to have the (Pennsylvania) number one times in the 200 and 400," Ellis-Watson declared when asked about her rankings. "I am glad that everyone is finally seeing my talent. I am just having fun right now. This feels good to come back strong after a hard couple of years with injuries." The main influence on her track performances is her faith."Honestly, God is my main influence. He gets me through every day, every practice, every meet, and every race. I could not do it without Him."
 
Athletics run in the family, her father played basketball and football, and her mother played softball and was a cheerleader --- neither parent ran. Ellis-Watson joyfully proclaims to be very excited to go to University of Pittsburgh in the Fall, and believes she will have a great time and perform well. Taylor has a fantastic support system. When Taylor's parents, Melanie Nelson and Stephen Watson, were asked if they got nervous when attending all their daughter's meets they commented. "I think I get more nervous then she (Taylor) does," said her father," I had told Taylor that sports is 90% mental and 10% physical, and she came back later and said sports are 95% mental and 5% physical."
 
"I don't get nervous, I just get anxious, because Taylor always surprises me with her performances," said her mother.
 
Springside Track Coach Craig Stephens states that Taylor would be training for outdoor nationals and possibly USA Nationals in June. Being that Taylor's school is not a member of the PIAA, she will not compete there for a state title. The parents spoke about how determined and resilient their daughter has had to be deal with tendinitis she had since 9th grade. They said that in order for their daughter to excel to the competitive level that she has, sacrifices had to be made like the postponement of modeling pursuits and the loss of time spent with family and friends.

A special friend and track coach was mentioned by Taylor's mother. She said that Coach Tony Darden coaches her daughter mostly in the summer, but that he gives advice and support all year long. Coach Darden went on to say how he had began coaching Taylor around 8th grade just before she entered high school. Coach Darden says she is still young in the sport and has plenty room to continue to develop nicely in college. Darden concluded the conversation by stating that she was of fine character and such a joy to work with. The University of Pittsburgh intendee will be a great asset to that track team come this Fall.
 
There were a few other notable meet records broken.
Boys 300m Hurdles, Methacton's Kolin Jeffers, with new meet record and PA#2 38.29.

Boys 4x100m Relay, Downingtown West, new meet record 43.11.
Boys 4x800m Relay, Tunkhannock, new meet record 8:03.35.

This was a wonderful invitational meet  with great competition and the lawn seats were the best seats in the house!

 

Photos by Charles Stone

 

Meet summary by Lex Mercado
 

Leah Nugent of Abington won both hurdle events, earning PA#3 in the 100 meter hurdles in 14.40 and becoming the new state leader in the 300 hurdles with a big performance of 43.06. Taylor Ellis-Watson of Springside solidified her case to be named the best long sprinter in PA in 2011. She was the winner of the 400 meter dash in 54.97! She also added a win in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.81. Cierra White of Engineering and Science did finish 2nd to Ellis-Watson, but did run 24.57 in the preliminary rounds (PA#2).

 

Jess Cygan of Liberty ran 5:06.49 to win the 1600 meter run. Natalie Deacon of West Chester Henderson cracked the state top 8 in the 800 meter run with a 3rd place finish of 2:16.40. Kelsey McDonald of Unionville ran 2:16.80 to finish 4th. Methacton ran a state top 8 time in the 4x800 meter relay with a PA#8 time of 9:30.50. The top four finishers in the long jump, led by winner Hollis Coleman's 17-11 performance all made the PA top 8! Megan McCloskey of Germantown Academy won another high jump title with her winning clearance of 5-5.

 

 

For the boys, Nate McClafferty of Conrad Weiser ran a PA#3 time of 4:15.50 to win the 1600 meter run. Matt Dallago of Perkiomen Valley finished 2nd in 4:18.28 which is also a top 8 mark. Kolin Jeffers of Methacton ran a PA#2 time of 38.29 to win the 300 meter hurdles. Sheldon Hannibal-Dixon of Wilson (39.30) and Ryan Hynes of Central Bucks South (39.33) also made the top 8 list. Luke Lefebure of the host school West Chester Henderson ran 1:53.21 to win the 800 meter run and earn PA#3 honors. Alex Sheltzer of Friends Central finished 3rd and ran a PA#5 performance of 1:54.31. Kyle Moran of Abington ran a PA#6 time of 1:54.42 for 4th.

 

 

 

Ryan Brumfield of Owen J Roberts cleared 6-6 to win the high jump. Dexter Bridge of Conestoga jumped a PA#5 mark of 23 feet even to win the long jump and Brent Charlton of Downingtown West won the triple jump with a PA#6 mark of 46-6.

 

Villanova University