Penn Relays Coverage
The biggest and most prestigous track and field meet has returned for its 110th running with a strong contigency of
Virginians heading to Franklin Field to compete in the Penn Relays.
Saturday Highlights: Thomas Dale's Dennis Boone soared in the long jump to a state best mark of 23-6.25 to win the
event at Penn Relays. Caroline's Hubert King also had a high finish (3rd) in the long jump with a jump of 22-8.50. The Deep
Creek boys 4x100 meter relay team of Antawn Cary, John Hyman, Keishon Jones, and Travis Stallings was victorious in the large
school division with a swift clocking of 41.68.
The Westfield boys 4x800 meter relay team dipped under 7:50 for the first time this season with a 4th place finish (7:49.11)
in the Championship of America race. Splits for Westfield: Chris Courson 2:00.3, James Scheiner 1:54.8, Chris Black 2:00.4,
David Groff 1:53.6.
The Tondereau brothers of Westfield had strong showings in the 400 meter hurdles with fourth and fifth place finish for
Phillippe Tondereau (54.17) and Alvin Tondereau (54.52). Virginia was well represented in the boys' pole vault taking places
3 through 8 with Great Bridge's Daniel Brennan (15-1), Great Bridge's Daniel Magness (15-1), Norfolk Academy's Will Byrd
(15-1), Westfield's David Lewis (15-1), and Great Bridge's Michael Morrison (14-7.25). West Potomac's Jeremy Beal (43-10.50)
and Lafayette's Dakari Taylor-Watson (43-7.25) finished 9th and 11th respectively in the triple jump.
Friday Highlights: The Bethel girls finished an impressive fifth place in a stacked field for the Championship of
American 4x400 meter relay with their time of 3:49.64. The relay was made up by Shakira Pinnock (60.3), Britni Spruill
(56.3), Essynce Roberts (59.5), and Francena McCorory (53.5). Earlier in the day, the Bethel girls 4x100 meter relay of
Crystal Carrington and 4x400 members Spruill, Roberts, and McCorory won the large school section with a state best time of
46.56. Salem (49.33), I.C. Norcom (49.76), and South Lakes (49.97) all had strong performances in the 4x100 prelims.
Westfield boys 4x800 meter relay team qualified for Saturday's Championship of American thanks to a 1:53.3 split from David
Groff and 1:55 split from James Scheiner. Midlothian dipped under 8 minutes with a 7:59.20 clocking, while Oakton (8:00.59),
James Robinson (8:01.74), and Herndon (8:02.46) just missed the mark. In the high school girls' Championship of America 4x800
meter relay, Herndon finished ninth with a time of 9:18.47 with the team of Heather Fisher, Hannah Green, Karen Wilson, and
Jenny Miller. In the boys' DMR, Thomas Jefferson finished 11th overall with a time of 10:28.84 as Christo Landry posted a
4:13.7 1600 meter anchor leg. Herndon finished not too far behind in 15th at 10:33.55. In the boys' shot put, the Chesapeake
area was well represented with Joseph Cezard of Deep Creek (9th, 54-4.50) and Joseph Jones of Great Bridge (12th, 52-11.50)
with 50+ feet performances.
Thursday Highlights: Sarah Bowman wins the mile after taking second last year with a 4:48.55. Potomac School
freshmen Michaeline Nelson finishes 8th in the race with a time of 5:05.18. VA goes 3-4 in the girls 3K with Amanda Patterson
of Midlothian (9:54.74) and Emily Harrison of Warren County (10:05.79). Patterson went for the win with 300 meters left in
the race, but was overtaken by Laura Cummings of NY (9:51.28) in the end for another exciting battle between the two. Herndon
girls advance to the Championships of America 4x800 meter relay finals with a 9:19.06 state best clocking. The high school
girls Championship of America 4x800 meter relay will be run on Friday at 12:25 PM. Four other girls 4x800 relays from VA also
dipped under 9:30 with Salem (9:26.74), Oakton (9:27.24), Lake Braddock (9:27.85), and James Robinson (9:28.99). Kecoughtan's
Keshia Ashe finished 11th in the 400 meter hurdles (63.37). In the girls 4x400 meter relay, the Bethel squad of Britni
Spruill, Francena McCorory, Megann Lawrence, and Essence Roberts earned themselves into the Championship of America with
their smoking time of 3:45.97. McCorory had an incredible leg with a 53.5 split! The Championship of America race for the
high school girls 4x400 meter relay will be run at 5:50 PM on Friday. James Robinson (3:57.22), Salem (3:58.88), and
Kecoughtan (3:59.82) all fine showings with sub 4 clockings in the event as well. The Oakton girls' DMR team of Allegra
Smith, Amber Young, Meredith Tighe, and Danielle Light finished 11th overall with a time of 12:24.83. In field event action,
Salem's Shayla Jemmett, a national indoor champion, finished sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 36-5. In the high jump,
Lake Braddock's Ashley Haislip took 7th place honors with a 5-3.25 clearance.
Penn Relays Coverage