PHILADELPHIA- Germantown Academy's boys' track team put on a masterful performance on Saturday afternoon at the Inter-Ac League Championships. The Patriots finished in the top three in every event outside of the long jump and triple jump, and as a result dominated the field en route to their first Inter-Ac title in 31 years.
Heading up the championship effort was Kyle Garland '18. An all-around athlete, Garland won the Greenwood Trophy, which is awarded to the meet's top scorer. Garland took first in the high jump and 300-meter hurdles, and finished second in the shot put and 110-meter hurdles.
In the shorter of the two hurdles competitions, Garland was trumped only by teammate Devon Goodman '16, who earlier in the year set the school record in the 110-meter hurdles. He finished the meet as GA's second-leading scorer and also finished first the 400-meter dash with a key lunge at the finish line and third in the 300-meter hurdles. He even anchored the Patriots' 4x400 team, which also consisted of Alejandro Gonzalez '17, Eathyn Edwards '16 and Gaven Giampalmi '17.
2016 GERMANTOWN ACADEMY TRACK TEAM INTER-AC CHAMPIONS
photo Sal Tommassello
The high-scoring Patriots even exceeded the rising expectations of Peter Jennings '99, who notched his first Inter-Ac Championship as the team's head track and field coach.
"We had an idea of what we would score out there, but the guys far exceeded even our best case scenario," said Jennings. "They really wanted this championship and did everything they needed to do to get it done, from day one of practice all the way to the championship meet.
"It is equally important to say that they had so much fun all the way through that journey. They support each other, have great respect for the sport, and really understand the work that it takes to improve."
Kyle Garland '18 being presented with the Greenwood Trophy by Penn Charter Athletic Director John Thiel
GA Track Team proudly hold their trophy high
photo by Sal Tomassello
Garland and Goodman were not the only Patriots to taste the glory of victory. Owen Ritz '17 won the two-mile run, spurred by an incredible stretch run. He also finished third in the one-mile run.
Austin Takei '17 won the pole vaulting competition for the second year in a row to score some insurance points for the Patriots.
In addition to Ritz and Takei, many other Patriots put forth respectable showings to score some extra points that ultimately helped GA secure the league title.
K.J. Cartwright '18 finished second in the 100m dash and third in the 200m dash. Gonzalez finished third in the 800m run, and Giampalmi finished fifth in the pole vault and sixth in the 400m run in addition to being part of the winning 4x400m relay team.
Though Garland and Goodman stood out, it took a team effort through and through for the Patriots to win the elusive league track and field championship. This is something that is recognized by Jennings, who credited everybody involved in making the magic happen on Saturday.
"This team has worked so hard this season, and this was really an incredible team championship," Jennings said. "From Kyle scoring 36 points down to guys pushing to grab a point out of the slow heat to the kids going crazy cheering on our throwers in the morning, everyone on the team contributed."
PHOTO GALLERY GERMANTOWN ACADEMY TRACK AND FIELD
(photos by Zamani Feelings & Sal Tommassello)
