Upper Dublin Girls Soak Up Penn Relays

Upper Dublin Girls track coach Matthew Dwyer brought his team to the Penn Relays with an open mind. 

While first-place finishes would have been quite an accomplishment, the experience of competing in one of the most prestigious relay events in the nation was satisfying enough.

“The Penn Relays is always a top-notch meet,” said Dwyer.  “It was good to get the girls down there and have them experience what a world class meet is like.  Anyone that’s been there in the high school event knows it gets a little hectic, but it was a huge step for us.”

The girls of Upper Dublin competed in a pair of team events and one individual event. Taylor Morgan represented the Cardinals in the high jump. Morgan joined three of her teammates in the 4x100, while four other Cardinals were on the track for the 4x400 race. 

Despite the high pressure of the event and competing against some of the top competition in the country, Dwyer said his girls were relaxed as their events were ready to get underway.

“They’re a pretty loose group,” Dwyer said. “They get themselves fired up and calmed down. They’re a good group of girls. They really know when to turn it on and when to shut it down. They kind of police themselves in that regard.”

The 4x100 relay team placed 198^th out of a field of 322. The 4x400 squad finished sixth with a time of 4:12.34.  Morgan’s highest jump was at 1.55 meters, and she was one of only two Eastern Pennsylvania high jumpers in the event.

“That was definitely one of her goals,” said Dwyer. “She wanted to get to the Penn Relays. I think she was a little bit disappointed not clearing a higher height, but just the experience of being there and getting the jump in was a good learning process.”

After enjoying plenty of success this season in its own backyard, getting a taste of the country’s best track stars can serve as an eye-opening experience. For Morgan, it was one of many highly-touted meets she has participated in during her days with the Cardinals.

“It’s definitely a little humbling,” Dwyer said. “But Taylor’s been in big meets.  She was in indoor nationals and competed at the state level since she was a freshman. She doesn’t really get rattled by where she is or the competition she goes against.”

The stop at the Penn Relays has been part of a memorable season for the Cardinals. Upper Dublin has remained in contention for a conference crown throughout the season and has proven it can more than hold its own against the best teams in the region.

“Our girls are tough, and they’re competitors,” said Dwyer. “I think we may have stolen two meets. We went up against two teams that may have been a little better than us. Our girls are competitors. They don’t like to lose, and they do whatever it takes to win a meet.”

Dwyer believes he will have many of his Cardinals back at next year’s Penn Relays. It is a standard that has been set by the track and field standouts who will be returning to Upper Dublin next season.

“The goals have already been set,” Dwyer said. “Our relay teams expect to get in next year. Anything less is unacceptable. They set those goals. We didn’t even have to mention them.”

The Upper Dublin boys also competed in two Penn Relay events.  In the 4x100, the Cardinals placed 103^rd out of 246 schools.  In the 4x400 Suburban American meet, Upper Dublin placed eighth.