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Sports photographer Patty Morgan has turned her enthusiasm and knowledge for track and field and cross-country into a life-long passion. She continues to showcase both indoor and outdoor events at the high school and collegiate level bringing visual appreciation to these stellar student athletes through her lens. Morgan wanted to do more to highlight this sport and its athletes. Through her column, On Track with Patty Morgan, she hopes to give audiences a more personal experience to the hard work, training, and dedication of these athletes.

For the The outdoor season you get to see the leagues compete in invitationals but when it gets to championships they separate again.  One of the first major meets that covered where all leagues were present was the Penn Relays Carnival.  Always held the last weekend of April this is a rain or shine event that once again did not disappoint.

Penn Relays

The weather did not cooperate at the 127th running of the Penn Relays Carnival but that didn’t stop the athletes of the Philadelphia Catholic League, Inter-Academic League and Friends League from dropping some great performances.

Friends' Central junior Avery Lewis claimed her gold watch for the second year in a row. Lewis jumped 20-04.50 . That jump landed her the top spot in PA and tied her for US#10 ! (More on Lewis' outstanding year towards the end of the article.)

The Monsignor Bonner & Pendergast Pandas earned 1st place in the Philadelphia Catholic League High School Girls 4x400 with a time of 4:14.21.

The gentlemen from Germantown Friends School were 2nd in HSB Prep 4x400 with 3:28.29.  In the HSB Inter-AC 4x400 Episcopal Academy was tops with 3:22.85. For the PCL HSB 4x400 Roman Catholic took the top spot 3:22.39 and they also placed 2nd in HSB 4x100 Northeast .

Episcopal Academy’s Alphonso KouKou tossed the Shot Put 46-8.25 in the High School Boys Championship and one week later at the Delaware County boys Championships he tossed a PR throw of 54-1.5 moving him up to the PA #8 spot!

One of the highlights of the Penn Relay's Carnival 2023 weekend was seeing the return of last year's PCL and Archbishop Wood alumni star Gary Martin who now runs for The University of Virginia (UVA). Martin ran a leg of the CM DMR COA helping his team earn a 3rd place victory with a time of 9:35.60. Team UVA also ran the CM 4xMile COA earning a 4th place victory with a time of 16:14.48.

Inter-Ac League, Friends School League & PAISSA Championships

Boys

Some familiar names showed up in the outdoor season and excelled in their respective events.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's Stefon Dodoo ran a PR 47.73 400m at the Inter-AC Championships for 1st and also placed 1st in the 800m. He then went on to be the The Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) champion in the 800m 1:52.55.  His PR was at the Father Judge Relays in April with a time of 1:52.52 and placed 2nd in Boys 800m finals at New Balance Nationals Outdoor .

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's Tony Hicks also had a great outdoor season .  He had a PR 14.80  in the 110h at the PAIASSA Championships.  That PR of 14.80 would keep him in the top 25 hurdlers in the state at the end of the season.

The PAISSA Team Champions went to the gentlemen from The Episcopal Academy.  They earned a team total of 136 points and scored in 13 of the 18 meet events. The Haverford School came in second with 90.5 followed by Germantown Academy with 83 points

Episcopal Academy freshman Abaas Hunter was the PAISSA champ in the 100m & 200m and went on to Nationals running a PR 48.52 in the 400m.  Outstanding outdoor season for the freshman .

Episcopal Academy's Michael Woolery coming off a stellar indoor season came in 4th in the 800m at the PAISSA Championships and ended up running a post season PR 1:51.54 landing him in the PA No.1 spot for the 800m.  During the outdoor spring season he earned PRs in the 400m, 1600m and 3200m.

Dakin Ebmeyer earned Episcopal Academy points this season in the 3200m, 1600m & 800 adding to their team championship titles in the Inter-AC and PAISAA meets.

On March 10th,  EA's distance medley relay of Aidan McHugh '23, Abaas Hunter '26, Dakin Ebmeyer '23, and Michael Woolery '24 ran away with the national championship at Nike Indoor Nationals. The team's time of 10:08.93 is the third fastest in the country.

The team champions for the Friends School League for Boys and Girls went to Germantown Friends School.

The GFS running teams have earned the reputation of a top program in the city, state, and beyond. The Varsity Boys Track & Field team won the FSL title for the third consecutive year in 2023. It was their eleventh title in 12 years.

The Girls' Track & Field team won their second consecutive FSL title after competing in the Championship meet hosted by Westtown. Margaret Harvey ‘23 won both the Girls' 100m and 300m hurdles. Emma Nam ’23 won the 3200m, followed by teammates Katya Henisz ’23 and Cora Rosin ‘23. Henisz ‘23 also came first in 1600m. Audrey Ling ‘24 came in first in the Girls Pole Vault jumping an impressive 7-06. The Girls High Jump solidified the victory for GFS. Alayah Campbell ‘25 won the event and cleared 5-05, tying the Friends League record, followed by teammate Jane Keenan ‘25 who took second with a personal best of 5-00. Five student-athletes received All-League honors: Zahara Brown ’26, Alayah Campbell ’25, Margaret Harvey ’23, Katya Henisz ’23, and Audrey Ling ’24. 

The Boys Varsity Track & Field won their third title. Simon Donovan ‘23 won the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m races by decisive margins. Oliver Briger ‘23 sprinted past the competition and placed first in the 100m and 200m dashes. Graham Greene '23 took gold in the 300m hurdles and teammate Isaac Okewole won the 400m. The boys also placed first in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays. In field events, Ben Idinopulos ‘25 won the Pole Vault and Joel Baah ‘24 took first in the triple jump. Eight student-athletes made the All-League team: Oliver Briger ’23, Joel Baah ’24, Simon Donovan ’23, Graham Greene ’23, Ben Idinopulos ’25, Jasper Mosley ’24, Isaac Okewole ’23, and Da’Vid Robinson ’24.

The Inter-Ac Team Champions and PAISAA Championship for the girls went to William Penn Charter School

For the second consecutive year, the Quakers left the Inter-Ac Championship meet ahead of the rest of the field. PC scored 180 points to top Episcopal, who finished in second place with 141. After capturing their second consecutive Inter-Ac championship on May 13, the Quakers made it 2-for-2 by winning the program’s second straight PAISAA title on May 20 at Malvern Prep. PC finished with 150 points, 31 ahead of second-place Episcopal Academy.with 180 points Alli DeLisi picked up first-place finishes in both the 800 and 1600 and was a member of the victorious 4x400 relay team along with Michaela Poland, Dani Shipon and Alex Jaffe. The 4x400 crew set a new league champs record in the event, finishing the race in 3:59.51. Poland also had a big day, winning the 400 while finishing second in the 200 and third in the 100.

The boys' Inter-Ac League champions went to The Episcopal Academy with 162 points. It was the boys second consecutive Inter-Ac Title.  Springside Chestnut Hill Academy followed with 98 points.

Senior Dakin Ebmeyer finished with 28.5 points and earned the meet MVP award after winning the 1600m, 3200m, and 4x400m relay.

The boys scored in 13 of 17 events, winning seven of those events. The championship was a full team effort, as seven different student-athletes tallied scores in two or more events and 20 others scored at least one point.

The Team Champions for the Girls was Archbishop Ryan with 171points .  Freshman Amirah Nesmith captured first place in Long Jump the 100m & 200m and was voted MVP Track Athlete of the meet and she wasn’t finished yet with her amazing freshman year.

Senior Olivia Smiarowska was 2nd in the 100h and 300h . Shania Williams was 1st in high jump and second in triple jump earning points in both events for the team.

Monsignor Bonner & Prendergast Senior Hannah Quinn was nominated as Field Athlete of the meet earning 1st place in Girls SP with 32-1.5 , 1st in Discus with 103-6 .  She helped the Pandas earn second place as a team with 119 pts.  Cordelia Adenuga ran a PR 58.62 in the 400m for 1st place and also ran a PR 26.07 200m for 4th place.

Archbishop Wood freshman Gwen Hamilton was 1st in the 800m and The Mile and also competed with her teammates Katherine Sullivan,  Sofia Krawczyk & Jenell Moebius in the 4x400m relay earning 2nd place finish with 4:10.97contributing 28 of the 30 team points earned by the girls of Wood.

West Catholic senior Taleea Buxton ran a meet record 14.03 in 100h and also placed 1st in triple jump with 37-5.5. The girls of West Catholic would round out the top three teams with 73 points.

The team champions for the boys went to La Salle College High School with 149 points. 

La Salle earned points in multiple events but some of the highlights are as follows. Senior Ryan McGinley was 1st in the Mile and the 800m. Drew Brill was 2nd in the Mile and 3200m. Joe Cavalcante earned points in the 100m & 200m and Cole Casadei earned 10 points for a first place in the 3200m. Will Palopoli earned points in both the 3200m and The Mile.  Sam Ross was 1st in the Discus with a toss of 138-00 ft .  Joe Morgan earned 8 points coming in second in the high jump.

The second place team was Father Judge with 115 points and rounding out the top three was St. Joseph's Preparatory School with 66 points. 

Father Judge senior Momo Peters individually earned 24 points competing in the triple jump, long jump, high jump and 100m.  Anthony Knuttel was 1st in pole vault and 2nd in javelin. Christopher Coulter earned points in all three throws… first in shot put, second in discus and fifth in Javelin.  Ryan Stankiewicz earned points by placing  2nd in 300h, 3rd in 100m and 4th in the 200m.

Roman Catholic senior Demetrius Bell was 1st in the 110h & 300H earning 20 individual points.  The guys from RC were 1st in the 4x400m relay with Bell running a leg in that relay and also the 4x100m relay earning team points in both.   Senior Jak Kearney earned points in the LJ, 400m & 200m and also contributed to the 1st team win in the 4x400m relay. 

Cardinal O’Hara’s Logan Maloney was 1st in the 100m & 200m and 2nd in the 400m. The 200m 21.88 would be season PR.  Maloney also was names Athlete of the meet for the Track

Conwell-Egan’s Anthony Conrey earned Athlete of the meet for the field with his PR jump of 43-9 in triple jump, 2nd place win in the long jump and 4th place score in the high jump. 

Archbishop Carroll senior Rodrigo Davis placed 1st in Long Jump with 22-7, ran a PR 22.90 in the 200m earning 8th place and also earned 8th in the 100m.

Lansdale Catholic senior Jonathan Dang earned 1st place in Javelin with 154-01.

District 12 AA Champions PCL Girls

Conwell-Egan’s Margaret Walker Discus 78.00

Conwell-Egan’s Kiera Banks Javelin 99-09

West Catholic’s Milan Roan - 800m 2:40.07

West Catholic’s Taleea Buxton - 100h 14.37 & Triple Jump 38-02.50

West Catholic - 4x100m relay 48.97 & 4x400m relay 4:01.55

District 12 AAA Champions PCL Girls

Archbishop Ryan’s Amirah Nesmith - 100m 12.19 & 200m 25.45 & Long Jump 18-06.75

Archbishop Wood’s Gwen Hamilton 800m 2:10.93 , 5:07.84

Archbishop Ryans Aleah Lazar 3200m 12:11.56

Archbishop Ryan’s Olivia Smiarowska 300h 47.70

Archbishop Ryan 4x100m relay 49.27

Lansdale Catholics Meaghan Garlick High Jump 5-00

Archbishop Ryan’s Shania Williams Triple Jump 35-02

Archbishop Ryan’s Henrietta David - Pole Vault 8-06

Archbishop Carroll’s Arianna Netzel - javelin 109-07

PIAA Outdoor State Championships and post Season Highlight

One of The highlights of the PIAA (Pennsylvania Independent Athletic Association) State championships was the incredible performance by West Catholic senior Taleea Buxton.  Buxton ran a PR 13.80 in AA Girls 100h  for the third straight year.  . She also came in 6th in the AA Girls Triple Jump with a leap of 37-0 . She ended her regular season in the PA # She competed in the post season and also claimed 1st place win in the USATF Mid-Atlantic Junior Olympic Championships with a 13.92.  Taleea has committed to Syracuse University to continue her athletic and academic career. 

West Catholic girls also earned the Championship spot in the AA Girls 4x100m relay with 48.49. 

Freshman Amirah Nesmith of Archbishop Ryan would earn medals in 100m 3rd place , 200m 4th place .  Nesmith earned PRs in the post season in the 100m 11.82, 200m 24.52 and long jump 19-0.25.  She ended her season PA #6 in the 100m , PA #12 in the 200m and PA #9 in the Long Jump. Incredible season for 9th grader. 

Archbishop Carroll junior Gabriel Cuffey earned a 3rd place in the AA boys 800m 1:56.26 and 4th place in the 400m 49.78. 

Archbishop Carroll senior Rodrigo Davis was 4th in AA Boys Long Jump with 21-6.  Davis ended his regular season in the PA #12 spot with his PR 22-10.25 leap in May.

Archbishop Wood freshman Gwen Hamilton competed in the 800m and 1600m  earning a 3rd place medal in the 800m 2:10.34. 

Conwell-Egan’s Anthony Conrey earned 2nd place in AA boys Long Jump with 22-2.25.  Conrey would go on post season to jump a PR 22-10 at New Balance Outdoor Nationals ending in the PA #14 spot. 

Individually La Salle senior Drew Brill earned 7th place on the medal stand in the 3200m.  But it was the relays where the guys shined as a team placing 7th overall in the 4x400m relay and 4th in the 4x800m relay with 7:50.60.  The guys came from the first heat to earn their place on the podium. 

The top individual medal winner for Roman Catholic was senior Demetrius Bell with his 3rd place 110h and 7th place 300h .  The team also earned medal in the 4x100m relay 7th place and 4x400m relay earned 5th. 

One of the most exciting standouts this post season had to come from Friends' Central’s junior Avery Lewis.

On June, 28th, Lewis of was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Lewis is the first Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Friends' Central School. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Lewis as Pennsylvania’s best high school girls track & field athlete.

Lewis went on to Outdoor nationals and had a PR long jump for 1st place 20-9.5 was 5th in the 200m and 2nd in the 100m. Lewis also won the 100, 200 and long jump at the Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association state meet, then earned All-America honors in all three events at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. 

After NBON Avery went to the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Oregon where she placed 7th in the 100m, 8th in the 200 and 2nd place in Long Jump with 20-8.  The U20 Championship qualified Lewis to compete for Team USA in the Pan Am U20 Championships .  Lewis brought home the gold Individually  in the long jump with her leap of 20-5 and also was a member of the 4x100m relay team earning another gold with their 42.88 blazing time.  An amazing athlete and a great way to end the outdoor season. 

Lewis went on to set the state outdoor long jump record with her leap of 20 feet, 9.5 inches at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, which ranked No. 3 leap by a prep girl in 2023. Lewis also captured the long jump at the 2023 Penn Relays (20-4.5) and won the indoor NBON title in the event. She set the state record in winning the state indoor title in the 60-meter dash in 7.22 seconds ranked No. 3 in the country this winter and she enters her senior year as a combined five-time All-American in those two events.

As always please send any comments or suggestions to me at pattymorganphotography@gmail.com. Up next is Cross Country, so look for more great stuff coming as we highlight the talented athletes of the Inter-Ac, Friends and PCL leagues for the Fall. 

Click here for additional links from Patty Morgan highlighting the 2022 cross country and 2023 indoor track & field seasons!