Lansdale, Pa – Great weather for a change helped times (along with a tailwind on the homestretch) resulting in 33 PRs out of 48 efforts, including relay legs. An almost-school-record, a couple of additions to the Wiss Top-Ten/All-Time list and TWO 4x4s going under the District Qualifying Standard were highlights.
Amari Nash dipped under 11.00 for the second week in a row with his 10.94 third place at 100m.
Aiden Wescott, new to hurdles this year, had two PRs. 110H in 15.10 and 39.49 for 300H. The latter putting him #9 Wiss All-Time for his first attempt at the event and 2nd place. Evan Tolmie has been steadily improving hitting 15.64 here, down from 16.7 last season. (Dom had seemingly won the event in 38.61 but was DQ’d with a lane violation. He came off hurdle 5 awkwardly, almost fell, caught himself and finished but took several steps into the lane inside of him before righting himself.)
This is the third season our 4×1 legs 2-3-4 have been together. As freshmen, the foursome of Jason Murray, Quentin West, Jayden Davis and Dom Sheppard ran 44.46 before lead-off Murry was injured. Last year, the all-sophomore team with Zion Ford leading off, posted 42.55. Here, with the lead-off Zion AGAIN out with a slight injury, in went Amari Nash (10.94) who we knew was faster than Zion (11.32) but he’s been running the 400 for us. I seeded us at 42.50 hoping for the best. Trailing Hatboro at the midway point, Jayden Davis stormed the curve giving Dom a slight lead over their anchor. Dom pulled away for the clear win. Even the announcer was shocked when the scoreboard read 41.75. #2 Wiss All-Time behind 41.64 which won States in 1984.
In an attempt to sort out the 4×4 for Penn Relays coming up, we put together 2 capable teams to go head-to-head here. I think other coaches were skeptical with projected seed times of 3:22 and 3:24, but we have quite a stable of runners. Without a doubt, the deepest group in the history of the school. Both teams made Districts. Based on the results below, our four best project out to a low 3:17.
Results: Team A – Nash 50.07PR, Davis 50.43PR, Wescott 50.86, Sheppard 48.64PR 3:21.00 1st Team B – Sydney 49.88PR, Pickel 52.41PR, West 52.87, Johnson 49.35PR 3:24.51 5th
In the distances, Ralph Antonucci continued his PR streak which stretches back to mid-indoors. His ‘start in the back and slowly move up’ tactics paid off again. With 600 to go in the mile, he moved up with the lead pack and held on for a 4 second PR and fifth place in 4:25.40 (Districts)
Jack Pickel became the 29th Wiss athlete to go under 2:00 for 800. (50+ guys have done it on a relay). His 1:58.45 (Districts) only got him 6th here in a stacked field.