Penkala captures 2A crown in 1,600
Southern standout emerges from pack to win indoor title
Eric Penkala pretty much led wire-to-wire in claiming the Class 2A West Region crown in the 1,600-meter run last week. Southern’s standout distance runner chose a different strategy for the state indoor track and field championships.
Penkala stayed out of the leading group for most of the race then turned it up over the last few laps in capturing the 2A state title in the 1,600 Tuesday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
Penkala won with a time of 4 minutes, 26.46 seconds, more than two seconds better than runner-up John Saltysiak of Harford Tech.
“At regionals, I was kind of the pace car, but I didn’t want that to happen this time. So I started from the back,” Penkala said.
Penkala steadily moved toward the front, then found another gear when he saw Ethan Aidam of Oakland Mills pick up the pace. Aidam, who later won the state title in the 3,200, led most of the race before Penkala made his move, passing him on the final lap.
“I stayed with [Aidam]. I thought I was done for, but I just kicked I guess,” said Penkala, whose strong move on the finishing straightaway left both Saltysiak and Aidam behind.
“Just whatever I had left, I used it all. Throughout the race, I was thinking I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Penkala placed second in the 800 in 2:01.4, just on the heels of winner Tyler Edson of Liberty. Penkala personally scored all 18 points for the Southern boys, who finished 10th out of 32 teams.
Rebecca Burgee placed fourth in the 500 in 1:21.43 to lead the Southern girls, who finished 10th with 17 points. EmmaKate Derrick placed sixth in the 800 (2:28.58) for the Bulldogs. Burgee and Derrick both ran legs on Southern’s 4x800 relay, which placed third with a time of 10:13.39. Maggie Schiavone and Sophia Grigg were the other members of the foursome.
Burgee, Derrick, Schiavone and Mckenzie Blundell made up the 4x400 relay, which finished sixth.
Boys basketball
Spalding 76, John Carroll 58: Sophomore forward Malik Washington had a strong all-around game with 24 points 18 rebounds and five assists as the Cavaliers rolled in the MIAA A Conference quarterfinals. Junior RJ Newton totaled 20 points and four blocked shots for Spalding (15-16), which will top-seeded Mount St. Joseph in Thursday’s semifinals. Freshman TJ Moultrie added nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
St. Paul’s 65, Severn 61: Sophomore Marquell Paschall exploded for 27 points as the Crusaders upset the third-seeded Admirals in the MIAA B Conference quarterfinals. Andrew Cooper scored 12 points, while Jeremiah Douglas added 10 for No. 7 St. Paul’s, which will meet second-seeded Chapelgate in Thursday’s semifinals. Kingston Price scored 19 points to lead Severn, which finishes with an 18-11 record. Jacob Randall chipped in 16 points.