Track: Carr, Durrell Lead Phantoms to Dual Meet Sweep

POTTSTOWN-On Wednesday, one could only surmise why Phoenixville’s Rachel Carr was smiling from ear to ear as the sopping wet afternoon was giving way to a frigid evening.

Was it that she and her 4 x 400 relay team had just laid waste to the field, helping propel the lady Phantoms to a rare dual meet sweep? Or the fact that she was done for the day and could finally head for a warm dry place?

“It's pretty nasty today,” said Carr. “It’s really difficult when it’s wet and cold like today. There is nowhere to go to stay warm. Your body just wants to stop really bad, but once I’m on the track, it’s time to focus on the race.”

Carr’s relay squad finished so far ahead of the field that as she was crossing the finish line, the nearest competitor (Pottsgrove) was making the final turn. Carr also won the ladies 800-meter run with a time of 2:29, with teammate Jackie Turner finishing with a time of 2:35. 

The “Phoenixville Express” that was the girls' squad was boosted into hyper-drive by two event wins by Jacine Durrell (400-meter run 1:00.14 and 200-meter sprint at 26.92), allowing them to cruise to an 89-48 win over host Pottstown and hold on to defeat Pottsgrove 75-66 to complete the sweep.

“I am very impressed with the way the girls are running today,” said Phantoms head coach Jay Carlin. “On days like this it’s very difficult to perform up to the level they are used to and stay focused. Both of our teams have done very well and have really given a great effort.”

“Meets like Saturday’s invitational really help get ready for our PAC-10 meets,” added Carr. “It’s great to see a lot of the girls having great days. We need to boost our PAC-10 points, so it’s important to run every race as hard as we can no matter what the weather is like.”

Pottsgrove far outnumbered the Phantoms in the number of combatants when it came to the field events, but it was the quality, not the quantity that helped the Phantoms edge out the Falcons in the final count.

Phoenixville junior Alison Thomas won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet 0 inches, just two inches off her personal best, to claim the points for winning the event.

“The cleats really help get grip, but on a day like today, everything your wearing gets so heavy with the rain,” said Thomas. “The coaches are great about telling us to keep moving between jumps and try to keep our muscles warm.”

Thomas, who fell in love with high jump in middle school, when she was prompted by to try it by her friends due to her height, was anxious about participating in the 4 x 400 relay later in the day.

“I am very nervous about running in the 'A' heat with our girls team,” added Thomas. “Our girls are so good, they qualified last year for districts and I hope I can keep up my end.”

Tossing the nerves aside, Thomas and her fellow relay mates did just fine as the Phantoms claimed first and third in the heat.

The Phantoms boys were led by Penn-bound senior Tom Timmins, whose 4 x 800 relay team qualified for districts and the Penn Relays Saturday at the Viking Invitational, winning the 800-meter run as he posted a time of 2:01.35.

“This is not the best of conditions,” said Timmins. “But this is what I love to do. It’s easy to warm up and get ready for something you love to do. I look to improve every time I take the track, so a day like today is just a little more challenging.”

After winning the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.17, Timmins finished more than six seconds ahead of the closest competitor in the 800-meter run, teammate Ryan Mark.

The 4 x 400 boys relay team, of which Timmins was part of, also left Pottstown’s Grigg Stadium with a victory, posting a time of 3:31, but it was not enough to emerge with a team win as Pottstown defeated Phoenixville 75-57. The Phantoms achieved a split in the dual meet by returning the favor to Pottsgrove, beating the Falcons 75-56.

Chris Mullin, who won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:45, finished the 3,200 on cruise control almost lapping several runners, posting a time of 10:51, giving the Phantoms points for the win.

A pair of Phantoms crossed the finish line in virtual tie at 23.65 in the 200-meter dash with Xavier Knight finishing a whisker ahead teammate Travis Andrews to snag the team points for the finishing first and second.

“It’s exciting for us to be off to a good start in my senior year,” said Timmins. “I will be running at Penn next fall so it will be very cool to get to go and run in the Penn Relays again. It is an experience like none other in track. All of those people cheering and all of the flags; it’s almost overwhelming when you take the track.”

Next up for the Phantoms runners will be a trip to the Great Valley Relays, held at Great Valley High School near Malvern on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.