Blazers bring Screaming Eagles down to earth

APRIL 24, SENECA VALLEY HS-

The boys' outdoor track team dominated in its last dual meet of the season today, beating Seneca Valley by the widest margin of any other dual meet this season, 120-13. With a 6-0 season record, the boys were crowned Division IV champions. The Lady Blazers defeated the Screaming Eagles by a more modest margin of 73-63, and end the season with a record of 5-1.

The boys swept five events by placing first, second and third in the 100m hurdles, 300m intermediate hurdles, 400m dash, 800m run and discus.

The addition of senior co-captain Aaron Townsend and junior Haben Ghebremeschel to the team's hurdle squad resulted in the boys' newfound success in hurdles. Townsend won the 300m hurdles with a time of 43.4 seconds and ran 16.2 seconds to place second in the 100m hurdles.

First-year track runner Ghebremeschel took second in the 300m hurdles with a time of 43.7 seconds and ran 16.6 seconds to place third in the 100m hurdles.

Junior Brandon Hudgins won the 100m hurdles in 15.6 seconds and senior Prince Griffin took third in the 300m hurdles with a time of 46.1 seconds.

Ghebremeschel took an interest in the hurdles during the first few weeks of the season and his natural rhythm and good form have translated to success. "I thought I could excel in it," Ghebremeschel said of his initial interest in hurdling.

The Blair girls also enjoyed success in the hurdling events, earning four points in the 100m hurdles. Seneca Valley's Brittney Villafana won the event but Blair senior Amani Foster was only a stride behind, finishing second in 17.58 seconds. Senior Ana Ramos took third in a time of 19.2 seconds.

Ramos also ran the 300m hurdles, placing second in 54.37 seconds behind Seneca Valley's Elizabeth Wiener.

Villafana returned in the 100m dash to claim first with sophomore Amber Seals and junior Lauren Reives close behind in times of 13.4 seconds and 13.56 seconds, respectively, to take second and third.

Both the boys' and girls' teams swept all of the relays, though the girls' 4x800m relay was disqualified. Runners are not allowed to wear jewelery in meets. A member of the relay wore hair bands on her wrists, which the race official deemed to be equivalent to wearing jewelery.

The girls' 4x200m relay was in trouble as second-leg runner Seals was sprawled over and throwing up minutes before the start of the race. Seals cited the heat as the cause of her sickness. She decided to run in spite of her nausea to earn the team points. "I knew that if someone else ran in my spot we wouldn't get a good time," she said.

First-year head coach Mike Fleming was proud of the team's accomplishments Tuesday as the boys won Division IV and gave thanks for the aid of his fellow coaches. "I think there's more talent on this team than you really realize," he said. I didn't know what to expect [in my first year as head coach], but I think with a great assistance from coach Goldman and coach Penn, it makes a difference in keeping these athletes moving along."

The Blazers' next meet will be the Penn Relays this Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania, where the boys' 4x100m and 4x400m relays will compete.