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TRACK & FIELD: Philadelphia Catholic League, A Year in Review

By PSD Staff - Video/Photos by Courtney McGuigan & Patty Morgan, 06/14/18, 10:15PM EDT

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2018 Philadelphia Catholic League Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Worth Noting Accomplishments, Records, Accolades and Results.

2018 Indoor PCL Round-Up:

LEHIGH, PA – On Sunday, February 11 the 2018 Catholic League Indoor Track and Field Championship took place at Lehigh University. Overall, Neumann-Goretti took home the title as girls’ PCL indoor champion with a total score of 152.  Cardinal O’Hara girls’ team placed second with 85 points and Bonner-Prendie came in third place with 77 points.

2018 Indoor PCL T&F Highlights by Patty Morgan:


2018 Indoor PCL Champions: La Salle College HS (boys) and Neumann-Goretti (girls) - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

Most notably as a team, the Saints placed 1-2-3 in the girls’ 200m dash. Sydni Townsend came in first with 25.52s, followed by Mykala Perry at 25.77s and Eliza Brooks with a time of 26.33s. Neumann-Goretti also swpet the podium in the 400m dash. Townsend placed first (57.09), Perry second (57.83), Dasia Wilson took third place (58.87) and Kimberly Jones placed fourth tallying 4 points for the Saints with a time of 1:02.40. 

At the indoor championship, the La Salle College High School Explorers took home the first place team trophy for the boys with a winning score of 157. St. Joseph’s Prep placed second with a total score of 139 and Father Judge came in third with an overall score of 38.5. La Salle’s head coach, Gregory Bielecki lauded his entire team’s effort after claiming the 2018 indoor title. 

“We have an amazing group of guys. We have a talented and really hard working group and are lucky to have great leadership,” said Bielecki. “Our team captains - Octavious Carter, Jon Squadrito, Ryan O'Neill, Evan Addison, Sean Egan, Dan Boyle helped set the tone of dedicated, disciplined hard work. We really preach everyone buying in to our process of working hard every single day to try to get a little bit better, no matter whether you are one of our guys qualifying for States, or someone totally new to the sport.  With a team of over 100 student-athletes we expect everyone to take their role seriously and try to contribute positively to our team every day.” 

La Salle’s Octavious Carter placed second in the boys’ 60m dash (7.08s), Evan Addison placed third in the 800m (1:58.52s) and first in the mile (4:30.65s), Ryan O’Neil, Dan Boyle, Mac Costonis and Marcus Curran helped lead the Explorer’s 4x400m relay team to a third place finish (3:35.84) and Jonathon Squadrito placed first in the high jump (6-06.00). 

Squadrito defended his high jump title at the PCL championship and placed second at the PTFCA state meet. The high flying senior offered a few tips of the trade for achieving a successful high jump.

Before I jump each time I like to visualize everything up to the takeoff. I see step by step what needs to be done then focus on my arms, then knee drive, then arch, and finally the kick,” said Squadrito. “Watching video is also key to a good jump. I've had enough experience to know what I need to fix if a jump goes bad, but seeing it through video helps me fix anything I might have missed.”


La Salle senior Jonathan Squadrito - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

This was the fourth consecutive year that the Explorers have won the indoor PCL track and field title. Squadrito credited strong senior leadership and coaching to his team’s continued success.

The senior classes have always been the heart and soul of our team throughout the years. Each year they pick up where the previous left off and lead the team every day to do their best,” said Squadrito. “Our coaches also help push us to our limits to make sure we can compete to the best of our ability and every meet. They make sure we are healthy and have trained hard enough to allow everyone to help the team.”


2018 Indoor Most Valuable Running Performer, Neumann-Gorretti's Sydni Townsend - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

On the track, Neumann-Goretti senior Sydni Townsend won the 60m hurdles (9.41), the 200m dash (25.52) and 400m dash (57.09) to earn the title as Most Valuable Running Performer. Last year, Townsend along with teammates Eliza Brooks and sophomores, Mykala Perry and Jazmyn Ellis set the new PCL 4x400m relay record time of 4:02.37.

“Our girls’ team broke the (PIAA AA) state record when Eliza and Sydni were freshman with a time of 3:49:00,” said Saints track & field coach, Lincoln Townsend. “We won the state meet last year for two-way schools in the 4x400m relay and have been the state champion the past five years. They also currently hold the state record for the outdoor 4x400m relay.”

For the boys, the 2018 Indoor Catholic League Most Valuable Running Performer award was presented to Miles Green of St. Joseph’s Prep. The First Team-All Catholic and now Virginia Tech commit has had himself quite the career as a Hawk. This year, Green set a new Catholic League record for the boys’ 400m dash with a time of 48.79. He also placed first in the 60m hurdles (8.41s). Green is also a major asset to the Prep’s 4x400m relay indoor team, which includes Salim Epps, Sahmir Hagans and Bobby Dupell III. The team placed first with a time of 3:32.31. *See additional indoor accolades for Green below under Worth Noting.


St.Joe's Prep senior Miles Green earns MVRP at the 2018 PCL Indoor T&F Championships - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

While Green has made many individual accomplishments, Hawk’s head coach Curtis Cockenberg explained that Green has a “team oriented” track mentality. 

“Miles does what is necessary to have the success he has. He is a good listener to instructions, but also has an outstanding work ethic in that he comes to practice everyday to do his best that day,” said Cockenberg. “This work ethic contributes to his mental toughness. He is a highly motivated athlete, but also a team rather than me athlete.”

Conwell-Egan’s Theresa Richardson shined on the field this past indoor season. Richardson placed first in the Triple Jump (35-02.50), second in the Long Jump (16-00.50) and third in the High Jump (4-08.00) during the PCL finals to earn the title as Most Valuable Field Performer (MVFP)

The junior, who was just awarded the 2018 Courage Award by Catholic Athletes for Christ for her outstanding leadership in academics, athletics, service and faithwas honored to be recognized as MVFP for all of her hard work this season.  


Conwell-Egan junior Theresa Richardson was the 2018 Catholic League MVFP - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

It truly means a lot to me. I have been working hard since the summer and was very determined to perform well this past indoor season,” said Richardson. “I did not start off well, but I did not give up. I used my poor performances as motivation to work harder.”

While the budding upperclassman has shown her strengths in all of the jumping field categories, Richardson has a favorite out of her three events.

My favorite field event is the triple jump,” she said. “This event has a very unique and interesting quality to it and is simply fun! I truly enjoy myself when I am doing it. You can just feel when it is going to be a good jump the second you take off the board; it feels as if you are flying.”

St. Joseph’s Prep senior Isaiah Ritchie also rightfully earned the title as 2018 boys’ MVFP of the Catholic League’s indoor championship meet. The Loyola University of New Orleans commit placed first in the Triple Jump (43-03.50), Long Jump (21-11.75) and Pole Vault (12-06.00). Ritchie was humbled to have received the award as a senior. 


St. Joe's Prep senior Isaiah Ritchie won the 2018 MVFP award after placing 1st in three events - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

“It feels really good to be able to say that I’m the field MVP in the Catholic League,” said Ritchie. “After having competed in field events for almost four years, it’s really gratifying to be able to say that I’ve won the highest award for field events in the PCL.”

 

*See 2018 Philadelphia Catholic League indoor track and field championship results here.

Worth Noting 2018 Indoor Season: On February 25, 2018, 22 Philadelphia Catholic League student athletes placed within the top 5 of their respective event categories at the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) Indoor State Championship meet at Penn State University.


La Salle senior Octavious Carter placed 5th in the 60m at the 2018 PTFCA Indoor meet - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan


La Salle senior Evan Addison placed 3rd in the mile at the 2018 PTFCA indoor meet - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan


Bishop McDevitt senior Blair Knuckle placed 2nd in the high jump at the 2018 PTFCA state meet - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

For the gentlemen, La Salle College High School senior Octavious Carter placed 5th in the 60m (7.05), St. Joe’s Prep senior Miles Green placed first and set a new school record in the 400m (47.93), Neumann-Goretti senior Kamil Jihad came in fourth place in the 800m run (1:54.59), La Salle senior Evan Addison placed third in the mile with a time of 4:18.56, St. Joe’s Prep 4x200m relay team of Green, Salim Epps, Bobby Dupell and Malik Cooper placed first (1:30.51) along with the Hawk’s 4x400m relay team of Green, Dupell, Epps and Calvin Willie (3:19.69) and lastly, La Salle’s distance medley relay team of Addison, Vincent Twomey, Mac Costonis and Danny Boyle placed fourth with a time of 10:26.73. In the field, La Salle senior Jonathon Squadrito placed second in the high jump (6-04.00). 

For the ladies, Neumann-Goretti senior Sydni Townsend (24.58) and sophomore Mykala Perry (24.71) took third and fourth place respectively, in the 200m dash. The duo also placed 1-2 in the 400m with Townsend timing in at 55.17 seconds and Perry at 55.65 seconds. In addition, Cardinal O’Hara sisters junior Christine Mancini placed fourth in the 800m (2:14.11) and senior Elizabeth Mancini secured the fifth spot in the 3000m run with a time of 10:10.95. Neumann-Goretti’s 4x200m relay team of Townsend, Perry, Sherisse Peterson and Imira Roussaw placed first (1:41.35). They also placed first in the 4x400m relay (3:49.76). The Saint’s 4x800m relay team of Peterson, Dasia Wilson, Ayana Tucker and Kimberly Johnson placed second in the state with a time of 9:21.03. In the field, Bishop McDevitt senior Blair Knuckle placed second in the high jump at a height of 5-06.00. 

Overall, Neumann-Goretti won the 2018 girls’ PTFCA state title. The Saints scored 60 points and claimed the gold out of 73 participating teams. 

St. Joseph’s Prep proudly represented the Catholic League on the boys’ side, claiming the 2018 PTFCA boys’ indoor state title. The Hawks scored 37 points and placed first out of 76 teams. La Salle placed third in the state meet with a score of 25.

St. Joseph’s Prep head track and field coach, Curtis Cockenberg noted that his team’s second place finish in the 2018 indoor PCL meet pushed his team to exceed their limits and win gold in states.

“My team was a team that worked very hard and achieved great success with the state championship,” said Cockenberg. “We got a sense of our potential when our 4x200 and 4x400 won at the New Balance Games in January running PA No.1 times. We managed to have a second place finish at the PCL Championship which gave us more confidence.”

On January 20, 2018, Cockenberg’s 4x400m team of Epps, Dupell, Cooper and Green broke the New Balance Game’s record with a time of 3:18.23. This time also currently stands as a new St. Joe’s Prep Hawk record for the 4x400m relay.  

 

*See 2018 PTFCA indoor track and field results here

2018 PCL Indoor T&F Championship - Photos by Patty Morgan

2018 Outdoor PCL Round-Up

SPRINGFIELD, PA – The PCL Outdoor Track & Field Championship was held at Cardinal O’Hara Highs School on May 12, 2018.

Girls' Most Valuable Track Performer: Mykala Perry, Neumann-Goretti
Girls' Most Valuable Field Performer: Hannah Bierling, Bonner & Prendie
Boys' Most Valuable Track Performer: Miles Green, St. Joseph's Prep
Boys' Most Valuable Field Performer: Isaiah Ritchie, St. Joseph's Prep

Neumann-Goretti girls captured the 2018 PCL outdoor track and field girls’ championship. Senior Syndi Townsend set a meet record time of 42.92 in the 300m hurdles. Townsend also came in first in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.70. Teammate Mykala Perry won the 100m (12.52) the 200 meter (25.04) and the 400m (54.94). 

2018 PCL Track & Field Championship Video Package by Courtney McGuigan:

The Saints finished with 130 points, followed by Archbishop Ryan with 96 points and Bonner-Prendie with 78 points. Bonner & Prendie’s Hannah Bierling took the gold in both the shot put (33-8.25) and the discus (92-2). Bishop McDevitt’s Blair Knuckle took first place in the high jump (5-2) and Cardinal O’Hara’s Elizabeth Mancini placed first in both the mile (5:17.79) and the 32000m run (11:20.47). 

La Salle College High School won its 4th consecutive PCL boys’ outdoor track and field championship.

The high jumping duo of Jon Squadrito and Tom Christie jumped 6-6 and 6-2 consecutively to place first and second. La Salle placed in the 5 top spots in the boys’ mile with Evan Addison winning (4:25.05) followed by Vince Twomey (4:28.12), Jack Seiberlich (4:32.24), Ethan Maher (4:33.28) and Matt Zilligen (4:33.42). In the boys’ 3200m, La Salle once again dominated taking the top 6 spots. Twomey came in first at (9:50.33) followed by Maher (9:58.01), Sean Egan (9:59.64), Seiberlich (10:00.06), Griffin Pumilia (10:04.30) and Bradden Koors (10:08.73).

La Salle finished with a 192 points, St. Joe’s Prep came in second with 120 points and Bishop McDevitt ended the afternoon with 50 points. Miles Green took gold for St, Joe’s Prep in both the 400m dash (47.68) and the 300m hurdles (38.92). Bishop Mc Devitt’s Tyler Bird placed first in the 100m dash (11.02) and the 200m dash (22.08).

*For complete results of the PCL 2018 Track and Field Championships click here.  

Worth Noting Outdoor 2018: In the 2018 District XII Championships, Conwell-Egan girls’ team captured the 2A title and Archbishop Ryan won the 3A team title on May 16 and 17 at the Germantown Supersite in Philadelphia. In the 2A category, Conwell-Egan finished with 124 points, Neumann-Goretti finished in second with 110 points and Bishop McDevitt came in at fourth place with 64 points. In the Class 3A girls’ meet, Archbishop Ryan finished first with 104 points, Cardinal O’Hara finished 3rd with 90 points and Bonner-Prendie finished fifth with 66 points. 


2018 Catholic League Girls' Most Valuable Field Performer, Hannah Bierling, Bonner-Prendie - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

La Salle College High School captured its seventh consecutive District XII 3A Championship tallying 170.50 points. St. Joe’s Prep finished second in the 3A meet with 118.50 points, Roman Catholic came in third with 55 points and Cardinal O’Hara came in fourth with 44 points.

In the Class 2A Boys’ District XII Championship, Conwell-Egan finished second with 95 points, Bishop McDevitt came in third with 78 points and Neumann-Goretti finished fifth with 54 points.

*For complete 2018 District XII meet results, click here.

It was an extremely hot weekend for the 2018 PIAA Outdoor Track and Field State Finals that took place from May 25-26 at Shippensburg University.

The heat did not deter Neumann-Goretti’s girls’ team from taking the gold and capturing the 2018 2A State Title. The Saints finished with 86 points taking a strong lead from second place Athens Area with 44 points. Senior Sydni Townsend won gold in the 300m hurdles and set a meet record with a time of (41.60). Sophomore Mykala Perry also placed first in the 400m dash (55.10). The Saints also took the gold in the 4x100m (47.65) the 4x400m (3:49.78) and the 4x800m (9:16.65).

*For complete results of the 2018 PIAA State Finals click here.


St. Joe's Prep 4x400m relay team of Calvin Willie, Salim Epps, Bobby Dupell & Miles Green - PSD Photo by Patty Morgan

At the 2018 Penn Relays, St. Joe’s Prep senior Miles Green finished third in the Championship of America High School boys’ 400m hurdles, setting a new school record and personal record of 52.30. The 4x400m relay team of Salim Epps, Calvin Willie, Bobby Dupell & Green won the PCL section, breaking their own record set last year and creating a new school record with a time of 3:15.56.

2018 PCL Championship - PSD Photos by Patty Morgan