Locals Shine at States, Keenan and Cho Claim Gold

The Indianapolis 500 is a well-known American tradition 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 Walmart 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 their way over the Turnpike and crossroads to have an opportunity to etch their names into the rich history of the championships.

The word “special” gets thrown around far too frequently when describing today’s athletes.

When talking about Gwynedd Mercy Academy’s Emma Keenan, the word "special" only scratches the surface.

Keenan, who was the anchor leg of the Monarchs 4x100 meter relay that claimed the state bronze medal with a time of 48.60, took a break, caught some shade, and went out and blew away the field in her 800-meter run final, snagging the gold medal with a run of 2:13.06.

“I knew Chloe (Schmidt of State College, who finished second with a time of 2:14.41) was going to go out fast,” said Keenan. “The wind was tough, and I knew it would be better to [go] out front and [be] ready to go when she did. I am so excited right now; I can’t even put into words what it means to be a state champion.”

Keenan stepped out in front of the field after the first 400 meters and never allowed the elite group of runners she was on the track with to mount a challenge, as she cruised home with a three-lengths victory.

“I felt in the zone right from the start. The crowd was amazing, and I have my teammates cheering me on. I just really focused on getting out of the traffic at the start of the race so we didn’t get all tied up with each other," she said.

Keenan wasn’t the only area runner making some noise in the 800-meter run. Wissahickon’s Hong Cho set a new personal best and school record with a time of 1:52.49 to take home the gold for the boys.

“Wow, what a race,” said Cho. “It’s great to win the gold and have one of the top 10 fastest times in the country, but having my teammates here with me to share it makes it even more special. We are great friends and loving running out relay.”

Cho took the lead half way through the second circuit and never looked back as he finished a full second ahead of silver medallist Andy Flynn.

Like Keenan, Cho also participated in a relay with his teammates. The Trojans 4x400 squad battled through a field featuring the best of the state and wound up claiming the sixth-place medal with a time of 3:19.71.

The quartet of Cho, Cornell Dixon, Max Hairston and Dave Stellato were constistently in the mix through out the entire finale and did the Wissahickon faithful proud as they took their spot on the podium.

“We know we have to step up next year without Hong,” said Max Hairston, who also claimed a fourth-place medal in the 300-meter hurdles with a new personal record of 38.76. “Two medals is more than I hoped for coming out here. I look at the hurdles as a warm up for this relay. It keeps me loose and ready to run. This is so amazing to think that our relay was third in the state out of all the great runners here.”

Not to be outdone by the neighborhood boys, the Monarchs 4x100 relay team battled the best in the state, finishing third to snare the bronze medal and set a new school record in the process.

GMA junior Maura Knowles, who led off, could not stop smiling as she made her way down from the podium. “I can’t believe this,” said Knowles. “This is so sweet. I love these girls and to come out here and win the bronze medal is amazing.”

The Monarchs, who have broken their personal record four times this season, led for the first 300 meter, and had it not been for an insane anchor leg by Norristown, they would have emerged form the fray in second overall.

“I mean honestly, I would have never thought this was possible at the start of the year,” said senior Libby Rosenberger, the second leg of the 4 x100. “I think the energy from the crowd is what got us to run faster than we ever have before.”

Sarah Deitz was another Monarch afflicted with perma-grin syndrome, as she got ready to root for Keenan in her 800.

“Oh my god, I can’t stop smiling,” said Deitz. “This has been an incredible season, and to end it here with a new school record and a state medal is a dream come true.”   

Boys 300-Meter Hurdles AAA  

1 Futch, Eric               11 Penn Wood 01           37.32      36.43R    

2 Scott, Kowan              12 Wilson Area 11         38.65      37.68         

3 Louco, Byrum              12 No Allegheny 07        38.73      38.65         

4 Hairston, Maxmilian       11 Wissahickon 01         39.17      38.76         

5 Hannibal-Nixon, Sheldon   12 Wilson 03              38.78      38.76     

Boys 800 Meter Run AAA  

1 Cho, Hong                 12 Wissahickon 01       1:54.25    1:52.49#       

2 Flynn, Andy               12 Cumberlnd Vly 03     1:55.03    1:53.36         

3 Endress, Wade             12 Altoona Area 06      1:54.65    1:53.76         

4 Bekelja, Mato             12 Hershey 03           1:55.37    1:54.35         

5 Krszal, Brandon           -- W Allegheny 07       1:54.95    1:54.36        

 6 Lefebure, Luke            12 WC Henderson 01      1:55.24    1:54.38    

Boys 4x400 Meter Relay AAA  

1 Cardinal O'Hara 12                                3:19.99    3:17.61     

2 Abington 01                                       3:17.28    3:17.96         

3 Seneca Valley 07                                  3:18.79    3:18.36         

4 North Penn 01                                     3:17.96    3:19.29         

5 Cedar Crest 03                                    3:19.71    3:19.70         

6 Wissahickon 01                                    3:17.74    3:19.71         

7 North Allegheny 07                                3:19.84    3:25.23      

Boys 3200 Meter Run AAA  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Girls 4x100 Meter Relay AAA  

 1 Norristown Area 01                                  47.38      47.13        

2 Central Dauphin East 03                             48.04      47.61         

3 Gwynedd-Mercy Academy 01                            48.58      48.60         

4 Milton Hershey 03                                   48.46      48.61         

5 State College Area 06                               48.54      48.88         

Girls 800 Meter Run AAA  

1 Keenan, Emma              10 Gwynedd-Mercy 01     2:16.12    2:13.06     

2 Schmidt, Chloe            12 State College 06     2:17.65    2:14.41         

3 Sheaffer, Morgan          12 West Perry 03        2:16.39    2:14.66         

4 Carcella, Taylor          12 Downingtown E 01     2:15.55    2:15.22        

5 Long, Marissa             11 Indian Valley 06     2:16.47    2:15.38         

Girls Shot Put AAA  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 Rogers, Hope              12 Chambersburg 03     38-05.50   36-02.00   

12 Krahe, Margaux            12 Bethel Park 07      40-00.00   36-00.25   

13 Broglie, Devon            12 CB East 01          36-01.25   35-10.50   

14 Stewart, Christina        12 Upper Merion 01     36-10.75   35-09.25   

15 Smith, Maryam             12 West Perry 03       37-03.00   35-09.00 

 16 Forcellini, Elizabeth     10 Gwynedd-Mercy 01    36-02.75   35-06.50