Duos of Vikings and Golden Panthers Qualify for States

With a time of 4:19.43, Perkiomen Valley miler Matt Dellago on Thursday qualified for the PIAA State Championship meet coming up this week in Shippensburg.

Dellago went out Friday morning and shaved more than three seconds off that time in the final, claiming a fourth-place medal in the Class AAA 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:16.15.

“Yeah, man, going to States,” said Dellago. “As a senior it’s awesome to make it to States. This was a tough race; everybody in this group was fast. It’s a little intimidating when you look down the line and see who’s there.”

After focusing mostly on the 800 last season, due to an injury, Dellago made the jump to the mile this year. In the final, he battled in the top three for most of the race. He finally gave way to Upper Moreland’s Drew Magaha, who set a new District One record, state record and one of the top 10 times in the country with a time of 4:10.99.

“My plan was to just stay in touch with the lead group for the first two laps,” said Dellago. “I try to stay relaxed for those first two times around, then kick it into gear.” 

Perkiomen Valley, which has been know more for its long-distance runners in the past few seasons, got a spark in the sprints for senior Hollis Coleman and upstart junior Daquan Coker. It was Coker who posted a time of 11.11 in the 100 meter dash, which is one-tenth of a second from being a state-qualifying run.

“Ouch, I can’t believe I missed by that little,” said Coker. “I really wanted to make States, but had a bad start and the rain sucked. I have some work to do on technique and my starts, but I want to make it next year to States.”

Coker credits his tireless work ethic and desire to one person--his training partner Hollis Coleman.“Hollis is amazing,” said Coker. “She pushes me every day and gets on me when I don’t work hard enough. She is my inspiration.” 

 Coleman will have her own chances to claim a state medal in long jump. She qualified for the big dance with a leap of 17.06.5, placing her eighth at District One and punching her ticket to states. There she will also be running in the 200-meter dash as her time Thursday of 25.81, a full second ahead of her finals time--which was run in the rain--put her into states. 

Pope John Paul II senior Tom Lang has nothing to prove when it come to throwing the javelin. He has won three straight District One gold medals, Class AA in 2009 and 2010, as well as a Class AAA on Thursday with a throw of 194:04.00, which qualified him for states for the third consecutive year.

But Lang is in search of PIAA State Class AAA gold this season as he ends his outstanding high school career.

“I am glad I had the one good throw,” said Lang. “Winning three gold medals in a row is pretty cool, especially this year jumping to AAA. I don’t know that anyone has done that before. The coolest thing about this year is that I have a teammate here with me, Jacob Gribb. It has been awesome to have some one to talk to and go over things with.”

Lang is known for being his worst critic, and the Duke committee has enjoyed the camaraderie with Gribb, who snared an eighth-place medal at districts with a toss of 167.01, and the support they offer each other.

“I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Tom Lang,” said Gribb. “He is the example of what a jav thrower should be, and I hope I can have near the success he has had next year as a senior. This has been a lot of fun; getting a medal at districts is just a bonus.”

“There is no one harder on me than me,” said Lang. “Jake has really helped me stay up, even when I have a bad day like today where I really had only one decent throw.”

Lang will be joined at Shippensburg next Friday by PJP2 teammate and fellow javelin combatant Devon Player, who claimed a fifth-place medal and State slot by recording a throw of 119.04.

“I am so excited to make States,” said the diminutive freshman Golden Panther.  “It’s not a size thing in jav. You just have to be strong and fast.”

The state qualifying throw was the furthest that Player has ever thrown in a meet, setting a new personal record.

The PIAA Pennsylvania State Championship meet starts Friday at 9 a.m. at Seth Grove Stadium with finals for most events on Saturday. 

Event 302  Girls 100 Meter Hurdles AAAPreliminaries   

22 Lane, Taylor              11 Perk Valley              16.33         

 Event 303  Girls 100 Meter Dash AAAPreliminaries  

 17 Chernaskey, Rachel        -- Pope John Paul           12.83    

Event 304  Girls 1600 Meter Run AAAPreliminaries    

 13 McKeon, Molly             10 Pope John Paul         5:18.28             

 Event 305  Girls 400 Meter Dash AAAPreliminaries  

 20 Coleman, Hollis           12 Perk Valley            1:01.58           

Event 306  Girls 4x100 Meter Relay AAAPreliminaries

35 Pope John Paul II                                     51.74                

Event 309  Girls 200 Meter Dash AAAPreliminaries  

 13 Coleman, Hollis           12 Perk Valley              25.81qSQS   

18 Chernaskey, Rachel        -- Pope John Paul           26.28         

19 House-Hay, Elena          10 Perk Valley              26.28    

 Event 309  Girls 200 Meter Dash AAASemi-Finals  

16 Coleman, Hollis           12 Perk Valley              26.76             

Event 314  Girls Long Jump AAA    

 8 Coleman, Hollis           12 Perk Valley           17-06.50 SQS       

 12 Chernaskey, Rachel        -- Pope John Paul        16-09.00    

Event 316  Girls Shot Put AAA

10 Tanseco, Macey   9 Perk Valley           34-03.00                

11 Armstrong, Emily          11 Perk Valley           34-01.50  

 Event 317  Girls Discus Throw AAA 

13 Tanseco, Macey             9 Perk Valley           94-06.00      

Event 318  Girls Javelin Throw AAA  5 Player, Devon       

9 Pope John Paul       119-04.00  

Event 701  Boys 4x800 Meter Relay AAAPreliminaries

 20 Perkiomen Valley                                    8:20.13           

Event 702  Boys 110 Meter Hurdles AAAPreliminaries 

19 Heimbach, Ryan            10 Perk Valley              18.78 

  Event 703  Boys 100 Meter Dash AAAPreliminaries  

11 Coker, Daquan             11 Perk Valley              11.11Q      

Event 703  Boys 100 Meter Dash AAA   Semi-Finals 

6 Coker, Daquan             11 Perk Valley              11.27Q        

Event 703  Boys 100 Meter Dash AAA   Finals   

7 Coker, Daquan             11 Perk Valley             J11.21             

Event 704  Boys 1600 Meter Run AAA   Preliminaries   

7 Dallago, Matt             12 Perk Valley            4:19.43QSQS               

Event 704  Boys 1600 Meter Run AAA  Finals     

4 Dallago, Matt             12 Perk Valley            4:16.15 SQS                     

Event 707  Boys 300 Meter Hurdles AAA   Preliminaries

17 Rodgers, John             -- Perk Valley              41.54                    

Event 709  Boys 200 Meter Dash AAA   Preliminaries  

22 Coker, Daquan             11 Perk Valley              23.38          

Event 718  Boys Javelin Throw AAA 

1 Lang, Tom                 12 Pope John Paul       194-04.00 SQS               

 8 Gribb, Jacob              11 Pope John Paul       167-01.00