WYNDMOOR, PA—The Philadelphia Catholic League outdoor track and field season ended much the same as it began, with Archbishop Wood’s Gary Martin having done big things and dropping fast times during the season... More on that later.

The PCL championship was held on May 15th at La Salle College High School and the young ladies of Cardinal O’Hara earned the team title narrowly defeating the Monsignor Bonner & Prendergast Pandas by one point 132 to131.

MBAP's Taylor Johnson earned Track Athlete of the Meet. Johnson would go on to compete in the District 12 championships (3A) earning 1st place in 100m (12.45) and 1st place in 200m (26.18).  She also earned a trip to Shippensburg to compete in the PIAA outdoor state championship. A great season for the MBAP junior.

Tell me a little bit about your MBAP team?

Johnson: "Being on the team is like being part of a family. We make a lot of jokes but on the track, we are serious with the same goal. Our team is close due to us all being friends and wanting the best for each other. Our coaches love the dynamic of our team because they know we protect and help each other."

Who do you look up to? 

Johnson: "I look up to my sister Alaina Johnson. My sister introduced me to track and field. She holds the Bonner & Prendie hurdle records and was the MAC champion for the 60m hurdles in college. She’s always there to help me and cheer me on even if she’s miles away. I enjoy making her proud."

Tell me something about yourself that not many people know?

Johnson: "One thing that many people don’t know about me is that I try to learn different languages by myself. When I’m not on the track I’m either playing with my dog, hanging out with friends/family, or working out in some way. Besides running, one thing that I’m great at is cooking/baking."

Heading into her senior year, Johnson looks to be a key force for the Pandas.  

Other Notable Performances.

Cardinal O’Hara’s Bridget McGuinn finished her season in the top spot of the 300mh. She placed 1st at the PCL championship, with a time of 48.37, and 1st in the D12 3A championship (48.75), but her PR time was back in the beginning of May when she ran 48.04. McGuinn also did well in 100mh, running a Pr 17.63 at the D12 3A championship, finishing in 2nd place. McQuinn went on to represent O’Hara at the state championship in both the 100mh and 300mh. She also earned a 2nd place finish in the high jump with 4-6 at the PCL championship.

In 2A, Lansdale Catholic's Isabella Greco ended the season in the top spot in the PCL in the 1600m, the mile and the 3200m. Her 1st place win at D12 3A championship in the 1600m earned her a trip to states, where she placed 24th in the state with a time of 5:24.97. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the sophomore.

Also, in 2A it was exciting to see Bishop McDevitt’s Taleea Buxton competing again after not seeing her on the track since the 2020 indoor since because of COVID. Buxton did not disappoint with her outdoor performances, earning a first place state medal in the 100mh with a time of 14.73, earning her a PA No.2 ranking! She also competed in the triple jump at states earning 4th place with a PR 36-9.25.

The young men of La Salle won their 6th consecutive PCL team championship, with La Salle’s Tommy Christie being named Field Athlete of the Meet. Christie went on to win D12 3A championship in pole vault, high jump and long jump with a PR of 23-2 (PA No.3). He competed at the PIAA outdoor state championship in long jump and pole vault, earning 6th and 8th place respectively. He ended his high school career tied for the PA No. 5 spot with his 6-6 jump during the season.

 La Salle’s Brian Scotto ended his time as an Explorer with the top spot in 110h in PCL with a time of 14.78.

Luke Shissler’s discus throws at PCL and states earned him a 1st place at both meets with a PR of 133-8 at the PCL championship. 

Other Notable Performances.

Archbishop Ryan’s Brendon Heubner ended the season in the top spot for the PCL in the 100m with a time of 10.98 and 200m with 22.05

Roman Catholic's Tyler Boone was named Track Athlete of the Meet. Boone ended his career as a Cahillite with the top spot in PCL in the 400m (48.76) and PR's in the 100m (11.32), 200m (22.62), 400m (48.76), 800m (2.06.76) and long jump (20-8). And, to top it off, he secured a District 12 title in the 400m.

St. Joseph Prep’s Brendan Leneghan earned an 8th place finish in the PIAA 3A outdoor state championship in long jump with 21-8.5 and the top spot in the PCL for triple jump in the PCL with 45-3.5 and a 2nd place finish at the District 12 championship.

Martin currently sits in the lead spot in the 1600m and mile, earning PCL, District and State titles along the way.  He broke Ken Lowry’s 39-year-old state record of 4:05.24, coming in at 4:03.53 in the mile that has stood since 1982 leading Martin to be named ‘Gatorade PA Player of the Year' for the 2021 outdoor track and field season.

Archbishop Wood head coach Paul Streleckis, who will be starting his fifth year at the helm of Wood T&F, talked about how Martin went home after his first track practice and said he made him run with the slow runners.

“It was outdoor track his freshman year. He did not run cross country or indoor-track as a Freshman, so it was the first time I saw him. He did qualify for Districts in the 400m as a freshman, so you saw there was a certain talent there.”

“As a XC/Distance guy I’m always trying to move athletes up so it was inevitable that I would push him to the 800m. However, I don’t think anyone could honestly predict he would become the fastest Miler in PA high school history. That’s a generational thing,” said Streleckis. 

Streleckis talked about team workouts and specifically about how Martin trains. 

“Our key workouts are ones that allow us to come back and do it again after a few days of recovery. Staying healthy has allowed for consistent training which has been key. Martin rarely misses a day, but he has developed the ability to talk to his body and listen when it tells him to back off for a day. Most of his in-season workouts are with the team but obviously at faster paces. Since he now runs at a national caliber level his seasons have been extended. Most of the post regular season workouts are solo efforts that he handles very well,” said Streleckis.

Prior to the cross country season, the plan is for Martin to get “some well-deserved R&R before beginning building a cross country base, which will carry him into one of the Cross Country National Championships.