Sat. Pa. track: Cheltenham sweeps SOL American titles

For Kayla Coley and Ciara Leonard, Saturday afternoon at Plymouth Whitemarsh must have felt just like practice.

There was Coley, Cheltenham's Texas Tech-bound hurdler, capturing the 100-meter girls' hurdles at the Suburban One American Conference Championships. And near her side, just two-tenths of a second behind, was sophomore teammate Leonard.

"We put them next to each other every day on the hurdling drills," coach Kelly Jensen said. "They work tremendously together and are competitive, but collegial."

The two helped the Panthers capture their fourth straight girls' team title, and the Cheltenham boys' team won its first crown since 1996.

Coley finished in 13.78 seconds, surpassing Ryann Krais of Methacton's 2008 meet record by two-tenths of a second. Leonard tied the mark of Krais, who now runs at Kansas State.

Jensen said it will be an interesting race between Coley and Leonard for the rest of the season. The two finished second and third at last year's state final.

Hannah Gilliam, a Panthers senior, captured the 800 in 2 minutes, 16.02 seconds for a meet record, as Cheltenham recorded seven first-place finishes. Coley also won the long jump and 300 hurdles.

Mark Thompson captured the boys' 100 and 200 to lead Cheltenham. John Lewis won the 800, and Paul Somerville grabbed the discus and javelin titles.

Suburban One National. Uchechi Onuoha captured the girls' high and low hurdles, and Anthony Bullaro did the same in the boys' meet as Pennsbury won both conference titles.

Onuoha also won the triple jump and was fourth in the 400. The Falcons boys also were aided by Sam Webb's second place in the 3,200 and Derek Woods' second place in the high jump.

William Tennent's Horace Spencer cleared his body height (6-foot-8) to capture the high jump.

Suburban One Continental. North Penn swept the boys' and girls' team titles behind Riley Gaibler's 400 win and Sydnee Jacques' 100 hurdles crown.

Jared Alston of North Penn won the boys' triple jump, and Daniel Boardman captured the long jump. Boardman also finished second in the high jump, behind Quakertown's Ishmael Wright. North Penn's team of Gift Omo-Ekpadi, James DeSimone, Vincent Esposito, and Jordan Green won the 4x100 relay.

Jacques finished second in the girls' long jump, behind Pennridge's Ariana Przybylowski. North Penn's Victoria Finley won the pole vault.

Inter-Ac. Mikaela Kilmer anchored the winning 4x400 and 4x100 relays to lead Episcopal Academy to the girls' team title. Freshman Paige Kupsky of host Germantown Academy set a meet record in the 3,200, 11:29.43.

Penn Charter's Daryl Worley captured the 100, 200, and 400 as the Quakers won the boys' team title. Malvern Prep's Eric Purnell won the 110 hurdles and long jump.

Pioneer. David O'Such pulled into second in the 200 dash but rallied to win the 400 as he helped Spring-Ford capture the boys' title.

Kara Steinke took the 1,600 and 3,200 to propel Methacton to the girls' championship. Jenny Martin, also of Methacton, won the 100 hurdles.

Bicentennial. Christian Kardish captured the 1,600 and 3,200 and Patrick DiIorio won the discus and javelin as host Holy Ghost Prep gained the Independence Division boys' championship.

Armond Owens won the 100 and 200 and Aondofa Anyam won the high jump and was second in the triple jump to help Church Farm win the Constitution boys' title.

Christopher Dock won the league's girls' title behind Lauren Anderson's victories in the triple and high jumps.