Contributions by Cory Mull, Joe Battaglia, Ashley Tysiac, Olivia Ekpone and Jim Lambert
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- New Jersey made its presence felt in a hurry on the opening day of the 127th Penn Relays presented by Toyota on Thursday, placing three teams into the Championship of America boys 4x800m final during qualifying heats.
The 12 fastest teams in the four heats of the meet's first event advanced to the C of A final, scheduled for Friday at 5:50 p.m. EST.
West Orange Seton Hall Prep (NJ) got its ambitious weekend -- the program was attempting a mind-boggling triple this weekend -- off to a fast start by blasting out to a time of 7:49.99 to place second in its heat with the second-fastest overall qualifying time.
Kingston Jamaica College, the Championship of America favorite entering the Penn Relays, won the heat with the top time of 7:49.29.
Chatham (NJ) ran the third-fastest time of the day in 7:51.26. The Toms River North (NJ) boys, meanwhile, earned a spot in the 4x800 final for the first time ever by running 7:56.02 to place third in the same heat as Seton Hall Prep.
Seton Hall Prep's triple attempt didn't last long. The team was disqualified from its heat of the 4x100. But the squad will be making its first C of A appearance in the 4x800 since it advanced to both the 4x400 and 4x800 finals in 2005.
The West Orange school will attempt to become the first U.S. team to win the 4x800 since Pleasantville (NJ) captured the title in 2013, though it will be a difficult task. Jamaica College, which was anchored by Kemarrio Bygrave said the team is looking to run "7:28" in the finals on Friday.
On Thursday, Seton Hall Prep used a lineup that consisted of Russell Webb (1:59.15), Ryan Matulonis (1:53.72), Nick DeVita (1:55.86), and Brandon Williams (2:01.27). Matulonis ran the fastest split in the heats, in fact.
Chatham, which won the New Jersey indoor Meet of Champions title in the 4x800 and finished finished ninth in the C of A 4x800 last year, used Charles Henne (1:58.71), Adam Petitjean (2:00.21), Leo Valenzuela (1:57.22), and Ryan Beegle.
Toms River North's quartet was Camryn Thomas (1:59.46), Taysaun Wilson (1:57.08), Wlliam Broomeland (2:02.50), and Teddy Wilson (1:56.99).
Toms River North coach Michael Barrett was ecstatic to see his team earn a berth in the C of A race.
"To come here with a group of guys who have worked so hard and see them advance to the Championship of America race means so much to us and the program,'' said Barrett. "They have been building for this moment for a long time, and I couldn't be happier to see them reach a big like this goal.''
Camden Diocese Boys 4x100: St. Peter was an easy winner in this heat, running 49.91. Christ the King finished second in 51.18 followed by Our Lady of Hope in 52.98
Camden Diocese Girls 4x100: Christ the King scored a two-second victory in 54.74. St. Rose was runner-up in 56.94 and St. Margaret took third in 57.73.
Wilmington Diocese Boys 4x100: NOTE: Results are duplicate of Camden Diocese
Wilmington Diocese Girls 4x100: St. John the Beloved earned a victory in 57.82, with St. Mary of the Assumption finishing second in 58.76 and St. Ann taking third in 59.24.
Philadelphia Archdiocese Senior Boys 4x100: In one of the tightest finishes of the day, St. David / OLHC edged Ss. Colman - John Neumann by two-hundredths of a second, 47.74 to 47.76. St. Francis of Assisi was third in 48.99.
Philadelphia Archdiocese Senior Girls 4x100: St. Genevieve cruised to victory in 52.86 with Corpus Christi runner-up in 54.10 and St. Alphonsus third in 54.12. Less than a second separated places two through eight.
Master's Men's 4x100 40yo & Older: The USA Masters team of Ron Parker, Terrance Roland, Durran Dunn and Gerald Green pulled off the victory in 44.40. Southwest Sprinters Track Club finished second in 47.36 and MVTC M45 finished third in 50.87.
Master's Men's 4x100 50yo & Older: Unite4 anchor Arif Husain held off David Jones of Southwest Sprinters Track Club to earn a 47.04 to 47.36 victory. Greater Philadelphia Track Club finished third in 48.38.
Master's Men's 4x100 60yo & Older: Greater Philadelphia Track Club's 'A' team of Bill Yelverton, Bruce Rash, Wally Hernandez and Daryl Johnston posted an easy victory in 52.40. Houston Elite was second in 55.67 and Pony Express Masters was third in 56.31.
Master's Women 4x100 40 & older / Men's 4x100 70 & older: Shore AC pulled away for the victory with Rick Lapp, Spider Rossiter, Ivan Black and David Gritz clocking 55.19. Southwest Sprinters placed second in 56.14 and Houston Elite took third in 59.77
THE BOYS 4X100
Bradenton IMG Academy (FL) made sure to make a statement on Thursday.
And the Ascenders did not leave the preliminaries disappointed, clocking the heat's top time of 41.32 seconds, which qualified them for the Championship of America on Friday at 1:40 p.m. EST.
But perhaps that was only the first step.
Tomorrow, IMG Academy, which traveled all the way to Philadelphia from Sarasota, Florida, will face six Jamaican teams in the finals of the C of A, including the heat's second-fastest team, St. Elizabeth Technical, a program out of Kingston who ran up to IMG with a nearly identical 41.32.
Then there's Kingston College (41.72) and Wolmer's Boys (41.79), both of which who ran under 42 seconds.
IMG Academy won't be on an island, though. DC-based Archbishop Carroll ran 41.89, claiming the fifth-fastest time of the heats and guaranteeing itself a place in the C o A final.
Charlotte Mallard Creek, the last American team to qualify, is out of North Carolina and ran 41.91. St. George's (JAM) and Excelsior (JAM) were the other two high school teams to qualify for the final on Friday.
Photo Credit: Elias Catania
High School Boys 4x100: A total of 25 teams broke 43 seconds in the preliminary heats. Friday's action will also feature a Northeast, National and high school boys International final, opposite the Championship of America final at 1:40 p.m. EST.
High School Prep Boys Independent 4x100: Deerfield Academy, the boys program out of Massachusetts, won the heat in 43.82, followed by Loomis Chaffee (CT) in 44.52 and Masters School (NY) in 44.65.
Master's Men 100m 40yo: Roderick Parker of Atlanta Track Club took the win in 11.16 over Jeremiah Dixon of Speed Tech (11.51) and Jessie Torres (12.07).
Master's Men 100m 50yo: Jeffery Mack was the winner in 11.59. Arif Husain scored his second medal of the day, taking silver in 12.02 with Adeniran Epebinuade grabbing bronze in 12.42.
Master's Men 100m 55yo: David Gibbon of Southwest Sprinters Track Club edged Norris Haines of Potomac Valley Track Club, 11.76 to 11.94, for the victory. Jacques Lucien of Greater Philadelphia Track Club finished third in 12.61.
Master's Men 100m 60yo: Tony Fulton out-leaned Don McGee of Potomac Valley Track Club for the win, 12.97 to 13.02. Bill Yelverton of Greater Philadelphia Track Club took third in 13.19.
Master's Men 100m 70yo: Oscar Peyton of Potomac Valley Track Club was victorious in 13.17, followed by David Ortman of Houston Elite (13.97) and David Craig of SoCal (14.22).
Master's Men 100m 75yo: Charles Allie of Houston Elite ran 13.96 for the victory over teammates Don Warren, who crossed in 14.79, and Noah Perlis, who ran 15.47.
Master's Women 100m 40yo & Older: Esther Grant was the easy winner, taking this race in 12.70. Santa Medina of CPTC was second in 13.33 with Andrea Collier right behind in 13.68.
Master's Women 100m 60yo & Older: Margarite Matthews of Potomac Valley Track Club pulled out the win in 15.95 with Claudia Simpson of Greater Philadelphia Track Club edging Tomomi Seki of CPTC, 16.55 to 16.89 for second. Nyok-Kheng Lim was the lone 80-year-old division competitor in the race, running 23.37.
FRIDAY FUN FACTS
Haverford High School's boys and girls, indoor state champions at the distance medley relay, are both competing in the distance medley relay on Friday at The Penn Relays.
THE BOYS 4X400
It hasn't really mattered where the meet has been, or perhaps who he's raced.
Quincy Wilson, a freshman from Chesapeake, Virginia, has simply made things happen, time and time again in 2023.
On Thursday in the preliminaries of the 4x400 at The Penn Relays, Wilson anchored the Bullis School boys to the fastest time of the day in 3:14.12, thereby solidifying the Maryland powerhouse into the Championship of America final, which runs on Friday at 4:20 p.m. EST.
He ended his indoor season with the fastest 400m performance of the season nationally, claiming a national title and a new freshman class record.
On Thursday, Wilson made up a 10 or 15 meter gap on Jamaican-based Calabar.
Of course, Bullis School will face Calabar again on Friday. More competition will find Bullis School in Bishop Loughlin (NY), St. Elizabeth Tech, Seton Hall Prep, St. Jago, Edwin Allen, IMG Academy.
Photo Credit: Derick Dingle
High School Prep Independent 4x400: Loomis Chaffee (CT) claimed the overall win in 3:29.39, while Norfolkchrist (VA) was second in 3:36.74 and Deerfield Academy (MA) was third in 3:39.51.
High School Prep Prep 4x400: Georgetown Day (DC) took the tape in 3:27.87, while Germantown Friends (PA) was second in 3:28.29 and Gilman School (MD) was third in 3:28.48.
High School Inter-Ac 4x400: Episcopal Academy (PA), which has hopes of winning the DMR, won this heat in 3:22.85, nearly two seconds ahead of Chestnut Hill (PA) in 3:24.06. Haverford School was third in 3:28.75.
High School Central 4x400: Upper Darby (PA) ran away from Ridley (PA) with a time of 3:26.98, out-legging their competitors, who finished in 3:27.96. Strath Haven was third in 3:28.19.
High School Suburban A 4x400: Spring-Ford posted the win in 3:23.90. Chester was second in 3:25.24 and Penn Wood was third in 3:26.35.
High School Suburban ChesMont: Downingtown West earned the heat's victory in 3:26.03. Coatesville was second in 3:26.45 and Bishop Shanahan was third in 3:28.04.
High School Suburban National: Abington claimed the top prize in the heat in 3:18.43, while Central Bucks West was second in 3:20.45. Pennridge was third in 3:26.13.
High School Suburban American: Cheltenham (PA) won in 3:22.42, while Harry S. Truman was second in 3:22.97 and Springfield MontCo was third in 3:28.54.
High School Northern Delaware: This one came down to three hundredths of a second. Alexis I. duPont (DE) took the tape in 3:24.39, while Salesianum (DE) was runner-up in 3:24.42. Delcastle Tech was third in 3:27.93.
High School South Jersey Small: Deptford won the heat in 3:27.07, while Willingboro (NJ) was second in 3:30.88 and Clayton third in 3:33.58.
High School South Jersey Large: Pennsauken took the win in 3:18.87, while Washington Township (NJ) was second in 3:29.88.
High School Philadelphia Catholic: The battle of the parochial rivals went to Roman Catholic, which authored a time of 3:22.39. La Salle College was second in 3:24.57 and Archbishop Carroll was third in 3:31.51.
High School Philadelphia Public: Imhotep Charter posted the win in 3:27.10, while Paul Robeson was second in 3:32.09 and Central was third in 3:35.70.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"All of us throwers are in a small but tight community and we all push each other and pull for one another, so to see Fabian get a big throw and also get top American is a great feeling. I'm happy for him."
Joshua Huisman, St. Rose HS
Photo Credit: Mary Ann Magnant/MileSplit
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Master's Women's 4x400 40yo & Older: CPTC Tracksmith earned the win in 4:24.11, a full 17 seconds in front of Greater Philadelphia.
Master's Men's 4x400 60yo & Older: Global Sprinters gapped its competitors by eight seconds, winning in 4:08.94. Greater Philadelphia was second in 4:16.62.
Master's Men's 4x400 50yo & Older: Southwest Sprinters took the win in 3:53.37, using a 57-second anchor to down Greater Philadelphia Track Club.
Master's Men's 4x400 40yo & Older: Shadow Project TC, that was the winner here in 3:47.41, a full five second in front of Greater Philadelphia and seven seconds ahead of Freedom-Garmin Runners.
FIELD
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High School Boys Discus: Nathan Villegas-Reyes, of University Garden (PR), won the discus with a mark of 205 feet. He was followed behind by Southern Regional's (NJ) Fabian Gonzalez, who marked a new career best of 203-2. Three throwers were over 200 feet in total.
High School Boys Shot Put: Calabar's Kobe Lawrence, the pre-event favorite, won with a mark of 68 feet, 8 inches. St. Rose's Joshua Huisman followed closely behind in 63-7.75, giving two athletes marks over 60 feet.
High School Boys Long Jump: Demario Prince, of St. Jago (JAM), won the long jump in 24-4.5, while Archbishop Carroll's Camren Williams was second with a mark of 24-0.25.
High School Boys High Jump: Bloomfield's Ja'Mari Manson said he was nervous as the competition whittled down to two athletes. But from there, he said, focus took over and led him to the title with a height of 6 feet, 6 inches. Kingston College's Isaiah Patrick was second with a mark of 6-6 and was the runner-up based on attempts.
High School Boys Javelin: Jamaica College's Gabriel Lim tossed the implement 200 feet, 11 inches, winning by just over three feet. Danville's Bronson Krinak was second with a mark of 197-10.
High Schools Boys Triple Jump: Trevon Jamer, of Jamaica College, won in 49-9.25 inches, claiming the championship by nearly a foot over Ty'heak Buie of Potomac (VA), who jumped 48-10.
High School Boys Pole Vault: Madison Central's (KY) Wyatt Stewart, the nation's leading pole vaulter, cleared a winning height of 16-8. Brian O'Sullivan, of Hillsborough (NJ), was second with a mark of 15-8.25.