"A dream comes true" as Henderson crushes state record

Shippensburg- The Indianapolis 500 is a well known American tradition and seen every year on Memorial Day weekend, another is the annual trek made by the finest track and field performers that the Keystone state has to offer, as they converge on the tiny college town of Shippensburg in search of something that is not available in the Wal Mart that welcomes visitors to town as they trickle off the interstate.

 What they are all in search of is a PIAA State championship gold medal.

Thousands of track fans and hundreds of athletes make there way over the turnpike and crossroads to have an opportunity to etch their names into the rich history of the championships.

Thanks to the efforts of an extraordinary quartet of young ladies that wear the maroon and white of the Warrriors, track fans will be talking about the 4x 800 relay race that they ran for years to come.

The names of Jamie Augustine, Michelle Tracy, Suzanne Sanders and Natalie Deacon will be written in the PIAA record book as not only the 2011 girl’s 4 x 800 meter relay champions, but also as the Pennsylvania state record holder with a time of 8:55.43, shattering the exhisting record by almost three seconds.

“I can’t even wrap my head around the thought of breaking the record,” said anchor runner Natalie Deacon, who chose not to run individual events, which she qualified for, for the betterment of her relay mates. “When I came a crossed the line I was thanking god for giving us this chance. I decided that this race was much more important to me than running any individual races.”

Junior Janie Augustine set the tone early as she battle through traffic and a labrynth of arms and leg flailing in the air to squeak free and transfer the baton to fellow junior Michelle Tracy.

“I just wanted to get off the line clean,” said Augustine. “We saw teams false tart yesterday and that would be horrible. We cruised a little bit yesterday, which probably helped us today, along with the crowd screaming, Oh my god, I just can’t believe it.”

“I usually just try to get out as fast as I can to avoid crashes,” added Augustine, who ran a split of 2:15.7. “I was just focused on the gun and getting the baton into Michelle’s hand.”

“Our goal coming into today was to beat our old PR of 9:06,” said Suzanne Sanders, the only senior in the bunch.  “To hear that we are the fastest 4 x 800 team to ever run at states is something that I can’t even begin to comprehend.”

Fueled by the huge crowd’s enthusiasm, mid way through the 3200 meters, the Warriors started to gain momentum a Sanders, who‘s split of 2:13.09 was the fastest of all third leg runners, took the baton and jetted around the track at Seth Grove Stadium.

It was clear that something special was about to happen as Deacon readied herself for the final exchange, with Sanders opening up a 50 meter lead, a brush with history was now thrust on the very capable shoulders of the diminutive sophomore.

Deacon stayed smooth and even with no one pushing her, as the closest competitor Strath Haven was almost ten second behind, managed to push herself to a split of 2:12.9, the fastest of all anchor legs.

 “Natalie was amazing and she is so strong,” said Tracy. “I don’t’ believe what we just did, we wanted to peek for this meet, which is why took it a little easy yesterday, I am so lucky to have such a group to run with.”

Henderson obliterated the old record as they crossed the line, claiming their place in PIAA track and field history.

Henderson’s Tim Collins, qualified for the state final with a time of  9:31.44 in the 3200 meter run, but had to battle through a tough physical field , in which he finished 16th in the state with a run of 9:37.41

West Chester Rustin senior Kayla Owens saved the best for last as she set a new personal best on her final throw of her high school career with an electrifying throw of 41-06.25, which was a foot and a half further that her qualifying distance.

“I am so excited right now,” said Owens. “That is a new PR which is awesome, but to do it on my last throw made it even more special. I just figured I would let it all go and I get to go home with a medal.” 

Owens wasn’t the only Golden Knight that was making an impact in the field events as triple jumper Mariah Powell got to end her career on the state medal podium, claiming seventh in the state with a triple jump of 36-01.5, which may have been a foot less than her PR but good enough to have the Rustin senior smiling form ear to ear.

“Oh, yes I am loving this feeling,” said Powell. “I am so excited. I am disapointed with how far I jumped, but hey I have a medal even though I didn’t beat my PR. I always long jumped and my coach told me I was a triple jumper, coaches are usually right.”

 “I can’t honestly even comprehend being the state champion, much less to hold the record,” added Warriors sophomore Natalie Deacon. “I put all my eggs in one basket this weekend and I am so happy I did. I have three more years to run the 800, but only one chanced to run with these three girls, this was a dream come true.”

 Girls 4x800 Meter Relay AAA 

1 West Chester Henderson 01                         9:13.22    8:55.43R       

2 Strath Haven 01                                   9:16.08    9:02.36#       

3 Central Bucks West 01                             9:22.40    9:06.25#       

 4 Downingtown East 01                               9:17.55    9:06.83#        

5 North Allegheny 07                                9:23.99    9:09.99#        

6 Cardinal O'Hara 12                                9:14.69    9:15.57#        

7 Central Bucks South 01                            9:23.16    9:18.60         

8 North Penn 01                                     9:14.90    9:19.91         

9 Methacton 01                                      9:24.22    9:24.19   

10 Pennsbury 01                                      9:16.49    9:25.85   

Boys 3200 Meter Run AAA 

1 Burkhardt, Glen           12 Unionville 01        9:14.32    9:07.53   10     

2 Hebda, Zach               12 North Hills 07       9:17.94    9:07.93    8     

3 Kildoo, Jacob             12 Grove City 10        9:22.67    9:11.53    6     

4 Trainer, Tom              12 LaSalle Collg 12     9:23.56    9:18.67    5     

5 Kush, Joe                 12 North Hills 07       9:16.18    9:20.03    4     

6 Silenieks, Juris          12 North Hills 07       9:22.39    9:21.49    3     

7 Hibbs, Sam                11 Hatboro-Hrshm 01     9:22.42    9:22.40    2     

8 Kacyon, Matt              12 Whitehall 11         9:29.84    9:22.49    1     

9 Strynkowski, Connor       11 Palmyra 03           9:29.66    9:25.77   

10 Farrell, Dillon           12 Wissahickon 01       9:26.63    9:26.55   

11 Kuchta, Andrew            11 Baldwin 07           9:16.89    9:28.85   

12 Steiner, Logan            11 No Allegheny 07      9:24.30    9:29.50   

13 Greth, Zach               12 Exeter 03            9:32.20    9:29.83   

14 Barnhill, Ian             12 Downingtown W 01     9:22.53    9:30.58   

15 Izewski, Alex             12 CB East 01           9:24.36    9:34.15   

16 Collins, Tim              12 WC Henderson 01      9:31.44    9:37.41   

17 Mohn, Logan               12 Gov Mifflin 03       9:25.30    9:38.84

Girls Triple Jump AAA 

1 Hays, Jasmine             12 West Mifflin 07     37-11.00   39-02.75   NWI  10    

 2 Maduka, Ada               12 Cntrl Dauphin 03    37-01.75   37-05.25   NWI   8     

3 Janneh, Jamilla           11 New Oxford 03       36-04.75   36-11.75   NWI   6    

 4 Daniels, Shannon          12 State College 06    37-11.00   36-08.00   NWI   5     

5 Benitez, Ramonia          -- Pocono Mtn W 11     36-04.00   36-07.75   NWI   4     

6 Jacques, Sydnee           10 North Penn 01       37-05.25   36-06.00   NWI   3     

7 Powell, Mariah            12 Bayard Rustin 01    37-01.00   36-01.50   NWI   2     

8 Fornwald, Alisa           12 Girls HS 12         36-07.75   36-01.50   NWI   1     

 Girls Discus Throw AAA 

1 Serafin, Rachel           12 Hempfld Area 07       134-09     134-00   10     

2 Vaughn, Mercedes          12 Academy Park 01       118-02     130-10    8     

3 Fatherly, Rachel          11 Williamsport 04       128-04     126-10    6     

4 Fairbanks, Sarah          11 Elizabethtown 03      117-09     125-10    5     

5 Slagus, Jenn              10 North Pocono 02       127-11     122-01    4     

6 McCloskey, Anna           12 Crdnl O'Hara 12       120-10     121-02    3     

7 Seiber, Taylor            12 West Perry 03         112-05     120-11    2     

8 Conner, Sarah             12 Penn Manor 03         114-09     120-04    1     

9 Pancoast, Susan           12 Unionville 01         118-04     119-03   

10 Frisina, Natalie          11 Bradford 09           109-03     115-07   

11 Hojnacki, Taylor           9 CB South 01           116-11     113-01   

12 Bleiler, Jessica          12 Nrthrn York 03        113-03     112-11   

13 Wethey, Allison           11 Bayard Rustin 01      113-02     112-04   

14 Rogers, Hope              12 Chambersburg 03       123-08     111-09

Girls Shot Put AAA 

1 Britton, Margo            12 Dallastown 03       42-04.25   44-04.00   10     

2 Serafin, Rachel           12 Hempfld Area 07     46-04.50   44-02.00    8     

3 Fatherly, Rachel          11 Williamsport 04     42-00.00   43-02.25    6     

4 Owens, Kayla              12 Bayard Rustin 01    40-05.50   41-06.25    5     

5 Gamble, Spring            12 Girls HS 12         41-08.00   39-06.50    4     

6 McCloskey, Anna           12 Crdnl O'Hara 12     38-11.00   39-01.25    3     

7 Denapoli, Alexis          11 DuBois Area 09      37-11.00   38-04.00    2     

8 Wissler, Laura            11 Penn Manor 03       38-08.00   38-01.00    1     

9 Fairbanks, Sarah          11 Elizabethtown 03    37-09.00   37-10.50   

10 Washko, Kate              11 Norwin 07           37-11.50   36-04.50