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TRACK & FIELD: La Salle and Cardinal O’Hara Girls Successfully Defend Outdoor Track and Field Championship

By John Knebels Photos: Lou Rabito & Colleen Claggett, 05/21/22, 11:00AM EDT

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Archbishop Wood's Gary Martin Named “Athlete of the Meet”… District 12 Results also included

Photos/Videos: Lou Rabito & Colleen Claggett

BY: JOHN KNEBELS

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Zach Brill ran the best mile of his career in the Philadelphia Catholic League outdoor track and field championship at Cardinal O’Hara High School, completing the 1,760 yards in an outstanding 4 minutes, 17.89 seconds.

The La Salle High School senior placed second . . . 20 seconds behind Archbishop Wood senior phenom Gary Martin, who was named the boys’ track athlete of the meet.

Shaking my head emoji quadrupled.

“To be honest, I’ve accepted that Gary is just on a whole different level of competition than myself,” said Brill. “I was more focused on bettering my time, which I did. My previous personal best was 4:18.81, so being able to chop almost a second off was definitely more of what I focused on.

“I don’t think anything frustrates me about getting second to Gary. He’s just incredible, and I commend him on that. I was just more focused on my personal time in that moment.”

While Martin became the first Pennsylvania high school athlete to run a sub four-minute mile and his mind-boggling time of 3:57.98 was the nation’s seventh fastest high school time ever recorded, Brill celebrated La Salle’s seventh consecutive Catholic League championship, eighth in nine seasons, and 11th overall.

Buoyed by six finishes in second, four in third, and two in first, the Explorers accrued 121 points to defeat second-place Father Judge (76 points), St. Joseph’s Prep (74), Cardinal O’Hara (71), and Archbishop Ryan (55.5).

“I mean, being a part of a team that can win conference and district titles is always a great feeling, but I think what is more special is how much of a tight knit team we are,” said Brill. “Everyone is friends with everyone, and we all work together to achieve our own goals and, henceforth, achieve the wins that we do.

“I think for us, though, it ends up being more about what we put into it and the time spent with each other rather than the final outcome. But we still always feel good when that outcome is a win.”

Archbishop Wood senior Gary Martin was named PCL boys track athlete of the meet - PSD Video by Lou Rabito

La Salle College High School - 2022 PCL Track & Field Champions - PSD Video by Lou Rabito

The Belmont University-bound Brill was able to capture the 3,200 run in 9:41.80. Finishing right behind him 1.69 seconds later was his junior brother, Drew.

“In the past I’ve always been better than him so that was fine – older brother better than younger brother – but recently, he’s been speeding up and beating me just as many times as I beat him,” said Brill. “I’d say now, I look at it as him succeeding while I’m still succeeding because we’re both running very fast times for people of our age, and even though he may be beating me, I’m still hitting my goals, which is great.”

St. Joseph’s Prep senior Brendan Leneghan was named Boys’ Field Athlete of the Meet after taking firsts in both the long jump and triple jump.

For the girls, Cardinal O’Hara amassed 165 points to corral its second straight league crown.

Junior Maddie Ellis (800 meters) and sophomore Sarah Lorenz (3,200) provided most of the damage in the running events, and the Lions’ field event specialists dominated.

While sophomore Ava Hneleski took first in shot put and second in both discus and javelin, and senior Ann Brown snared the high jump, senior Sam Sharrow seized both the long jump and triple jump. The soon-to-be Scranton University freshman was named the Girls’ Field Athlete of the Meet.

“Winning the Catholic League championship was a goal our team had ever since last season with our PCL win,” said Sharrow. “As a senior, I was determined to end the season with the plaque and two golds for long and triple jump.”  

Cardinal O'Hara HIGH SCHOOL - 2022 PCL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS - PSD VIDEO BY LOU RABITO

“I think winning and doing your best depends on the people around you and the bond you have with your team. We’re all super close and support each other on the sidelines through every event. Being named outstanding performer was extremely special to me because every day my coach (Jim Baroni) and I put in the work that got me to this point. The hard work and dedication is what people don’t see, and I’m happy I could receive this award as a senior,” added Sharrow.

The Girls’ Track Athlete of the Meet was a no-brainer.

Two weeks after anchoring her team to a gold medal in the 4x400 at the prestigious Penn Relays, Bonner-Prendergast senior Taylor Johnson won both the 100- and 200-meter dash, and also anchored the 4x100 and 4x400 to first-place finishes; the 4x100 relay established a school record.

Johnson echoed her thoughts of how she felt after Bonner-Prendergast and her relay teammates won at Penn that included freshman Ryan Smith, sophomore


Bonner-Prendergast senior Taylor Johnson in 4x400 Penn Relays (Photo/ Patty Morgan for PSD)

Misa Love, and freshman Tamasen Allen-Bey. Sophomore Raziah Womack was a key member of the 4x100 relay.

“We took our win at Penn Relays and used it to better ourselves for PCL champs,” said Johnson. “We always take our performances at meets into consideration and figure out how we can strive to be better.

“I’m grateful that we all combined our hard work together and put our best onto the track. I know that my teammates have a bright future ahead of them. So even though I am graduating this year, I will still watch their progress on and off the track.”

(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)

PCL District 12 Results:

Girls: In Class AA, Conwell-Egan placed first with 156 total points, followed by West Catholic with 81 points. In Class AAA, Cardinal O’Hara came in first with 120 points with Bonner-Prendergast behind them with 108.50 points.

Class AA:

Conwell-Egan sophomore Constance Wojton placed third in the girls AA 1600m with a time of 6:08.74 and first in the 3200m (13:22.39). Fellow sophomore Ella Robertson placed third in the 3200m (17:18.80). Junior India Haynesworth placed second in the girls 100m hurdles (19.43). In the field, sophomores Emily Capella placed first in high jump (4-08.00) and Serenity Simon placed third (4-06.00). Sophomore Kiera Banks placed third in long jump (16-03.00). Capella also placed second in triple jump (29-06.00) and freshman teammate Megan Werner placed third (28-09.00). Junior Margaret Walker placed third in shot put (24-04.75). Walker also placed first in discus (78-08.00) and teammate Isabelle Ginchereau placed second (70-03.00). Banks placed first in javelin with a throw of 88-02.00 and Ginchereau came in third (58-04.00).

West Catholic sophomore Kanai English Bey placed first in the AA girls 400m with a time of 57.60. Junior Talea Buxton placed first in the 100m hurdles (14.78). In the field, Buxton placed first in long jump (18-03.00) and triple jump (37-05.50). Juniors Famata Diallo (26-11.75) and Tashana Hunter (26-05.50) placed first and second in shot put.

Class AAA:

Cardinal O’Hara’s Samantha Sharrow placed second in the 200m (26.85), while junior Maddie Ellis placed first in the girls 800m (2:25.18). Sophomore Sarah Lorenz placed second in the girls 3200 with a time of 12:13.90. Senior Bridget McGuinn placed third in the girls 300m hurdles (49.56). The Lady Lion’s 4x100m relay team placed second with a time of 50.21 and their 4x400m relay team placed second (4:14.05). In the field, senior Bridget McGuinn placed second in the high jump (4-09.00) and Sharrow placed second in long jump (16-10.00) and first in triple jump (34-11.50). Sophomore Ava Hneleski placed third in javelin (83-09.00).

Bonner-Prendergast’s Taylor Johnson placed first in the 100m (12.29) and 200m (25.38). Freshmen Tamasen Allen Bey came in third in the girls 200m (26.91) and Ryan Smith placed second in the 400m (1:01.21). Sophomore Misa Love took first place in the girls 300m hurdles with a time of 48.65. The Panda’s 4x100 meter relay team placed first with a time of 49.20 and their 4x800m relay team placed second with a time of 10:19.65. In the field, junior Hannah Quinn placed second in discus (93-11.00).

Archbishop Carroll’s Mariah Kinder placed second in the 100m (12.93).

Archbishop Wood senior Alexis Smith came in second place in the 800m (2:26.56) and took first in the girls mile with a time of 5:30.34.

Lansdale Catholic freshmen Kate McManus placed second in the 1600 (5:31.99) and Meaghan Garlick placed first in the high jump (4-09.00).

Archbishop Ryan junior Olivia Smiarowska took first place in the girls 100m hurdles (15.93). The Ragdoll’s 4x800m relay team took first place with a time of 10:12.46 and swept the pole vault. Sophomore Henrietta David placed first after a jump-off with senior teammate Paige Geiger, who placed second. In the field, Smiarowska placed third in triple jump (33-07.50). Senior Allie Palmer placed first in javelin (90-06.00).


Cardinal O'Hara's Maddie Ellis - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito


MBAP's Taylor Johnson - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito


Lansdale Catholic's Kate McManus and Archbishop Wood's Alexis Smith - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito

Boys: In class AA, Devon Prep placed first with 77 points and Archbishop Carroll placed second with 70 points. In class AAA, La Salle placed first with 112 points, Father Judge placed second with 91 points and St. Joseph’s Prep placed third with 84 points.

Class AA:

Devon Prep sophomore Pat Rullo placed second in the boys AA 1600 (4:42.27). Senior Keaton Rush placed second in the boys 3200m (10:08.53). Senior Christian Urquhart placed first in the boys 110m hurdles (15.96) and first in the 300m hurdles with a time of 45.21. In the field, freshman Carter Shaak placed second in the boys long jump (20-01.00). Junior Andrew Dean placed third in discus (93-00.00). Senior Thomas Walk placed first in javelin with a throw of 117-06.00.

Archbishop Carroll sophomore Gabriel Cuffey placed first in the boys AA 800m (1:58.35). Junior Michael Glavin placed first in the AA 1600m (4:38.39). The Patriot’s 4x800m relay team placed first with a time of 8:50.17. In the field, junior Rodrigo Davis placed first in long jump (21-03.00) and triple jump (40-09.50). Senior teammate Derrick Banks placed third in triple jump (38-03-50).

West Catholic senior Marcel Jackson took first place in the boys AA 100m with a time of 10.99 and second in the 200m (22.09).

Lansdale Catholic senior Anthony Gargani placed second in the boys AA 800m (1:59.48) and first in the boys 3200m setting a new District record with a time of 9:41.39. In the field, junior Josh Brown placed third in the shot put (38-09.00) and second in discus (95-02.00). Freshman Christain Johns-Wallace placed third in javelin with a throw of 113-05.00.

Conwell-Egan sophomore Matthew Gorman placed third in the boys AA 1600 (4:45.68). In the field, senior Derrick Johnson placed first in high jump (6-00.00) and sophomore Anthony Conrey placed third (5-04.00). Johnson also placed second in shot put (46-05.00).

Class AAA:

La Salle College High School’s Will Rau placed third in the mile with a time of 4:20.22. Brothers Drew and Zachary Brill took first and second in the boys 3200. Drew, a junior, finished with a time of 9:27.85, while Zachary, a senior, clocked in shortly behind at 9:31.73. The Explorer’s 4x400m relay team placed third with a time of 3:27.51 and their 4x800m relay team placed second (8:01.19). In the field, senior Dean Leader took second place in shot put (43-03.50). Seniors Ryan Carr (151-02.00) and Luke Shissler (139-04.00) placed first and second, respectively, in discus. Fellow senior Owen Tatlonghari placed third in javelin (124-05.00).

Father Judge senior Michael Carolan placed third in the 3200 with a time of 9:52.10. Fellow senior, Colin Murray, placed second for the Crusaders in the boys 110m hurdles (16.72) and third in the 300m hurdles (42.73). In the field, junior Anthony Knuttel placed second in pole vault (10-09.00) and sophomore Chris Coulter placed first in shot put (43-08-50). Senior Zach Bayer placed third in discus (136-06.00). Senior Brendan Hutz placed first in javelin (128-08.00) and Knuttel placed second (127-05.00).

St. Joseph’s Prep junior Brock Harris placed third in the 200m (22.55) and first in boys high jump (6-03.00). Senior teammate Quinn Worrell came in second place in the boys 1600 with a time of 4:20.03. The Hawk’s 4x800m relay team placed third (8:19.06). In the field, senior Matthew McCabe won pole vault (12-03.00). In the field, St. Joe’s Prep senior Brendan Leneghan placed first in long jump, with a new District 12 record jump of 23-08.25. Leneghan also won the boys triple jump (45-03.00).

Archbishop Wood senior Gary Martin posted District 12 meet records in the 800m with a time of 1:53.26 and also in the mile (4:10.28). The Viking’s 4x800m relay team placed first with a time of 7:57.90. In the field, senior David Piotrowski placed third in the boys high jump (5-11.00).


West Catholic senior Marcel Jackson - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito


Lansdale Catholic senior Anthony Gargani & La Salle senior Will Rau - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett


La Salle senior Zachary Brill - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett


St. Joseph's Prep senior Brendan Leneghan - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett


Archbishop Wood senior Gary Martin - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett

Cardinal O’Hara sophomore Jaden Collins placed second in the 400m with a time of 50.10. The Lion’s 4x100m relay team placed second with a time of 43.09. In the field, junior Xavier Lozowicki placed third in shot put (43-00.00).

Archbishop Ryan senior Brad Cantoral placed first in the boys 110m hurdles with a time of 14.95 and in the 300m hurdles (41.16). Freshman teammate Corey Demas placed second in the 300m hurdles with a time of 42.30. The Raider’s 4x100m relay team placed first with a time of 43.06 and their 4x400m relay team took second (3:25.63). In the field, junior Jake Cahill placed third in pole vault (10-03.00).