Locals leave their mark at Coatesville
Locals leave their mark at Coatesville
Faith Christian junior Josh Forker grew up around hoops, and hurdles.
“When I was a little kid, and I would go to my dad’s basketball games and go to the bigger schools, and they had hurdles around and stuff, I would just jump over them and thought it was fun,” said Josh, son of Faith girls basketball coach, David Forker. “I just found a passion for running and jumping.”
Thanks to Saturday’s 6-foot-2 leap in the high jump, Josh is headed to states for the first time. Being on one of the smallest teams around didn’t prevent him from winning a district gold.
And he even maintained a sense of humor in terrible conditions.
“When we were driving down here, you couldn’t even see,” he said of the rain, wind and fog on Saturday morning. “I
“When I was a little kid, and I would go to my dad’s basketball games and go to the bigger schools, and they had hurdles around and stuff, I would just jump over them and thought it was fun. I just found a passion for running and jumping.” — Faith Christian’s Josh Forker
was afraid I wasn’t even gonna be able to see the bar when I was jumping. I was gonna practice closing my eyes and going over.” TWICEASNICE» Madison Langley-Walker won gold in the triple jump with a leap
of 38-6.75 and then edged out Plymouth-Whitemarsh’s Taylor O’Brien (42.96) in the 300 hurdles, winning in 42.93.
The Oklahoma-bound Langley-Walker feels her best is ahead.
“I had to get in a good jump before I get to states,” said the Upper Dublin standout, who also earned silvers in the long jump and 100 hurdles. “We’re still working on a few things with triple jump, like my second phase, and hopefully at states, everything goes well. Hopefully I pop out a 40-foot jump, at least.
“I’m looking to have PR’s next weekend and to finish off my senior year with a good note.”
Jonae Cook found some pretty nice redemption this weekend at districts.
“Last year I did really badly at this meet so it motivated me to do better,” said the Norristown senior, champion of the 100 dash. “I just worked hard at practice and my coach kept telling me I can run 11.8. It was hard to believe at first, but once I did it, I was like ‘wow, I can really do this.’”
Now she gets to go back to states, after competing there last year with an injury.
“It’s big motivation to go there and get top three, like I did at indoor states,” Cook said. Sasha Lee of St. Basil Academy jumped 17-3 to win the 2A Long Jump on Friday, but she’s not done.
“My goal for states is to jump 19,” the freshman said.
The North Penn girls earned Runner-Up honors in Class 3A, with Kwortnik earning bronze in the triple jump on Saturday with a leap of 37-9.75 and also getting second in the 400 with a 56.98.
Also for the Knights, Ariana Gardizy finished third in the 3,200 with a 10:59.76 and Olivia Dyer also pushed ahead to states, placing sixth with a 11:08.26.
North Penn’s 4x1 four- some raced to bronze, with a time of 49.11.
The CB West girls nearly made it a Bucks sweep in the 4x8. The girls foursome raced to silver, in 9:20.73.
The Pennridge boys came awfully close to a team title defense in Class 3A, with Anderson Dimon helping to lead the way. Dimon raced to second in the 400 with a 48.65.
Meanwhile, Ashley Gordon of Pennridge raced to a silver in the 1,600, clocking a 5:07.28.
Jenkintown’s Jack Miller pulled off one of toughest one-two punches, winning gold in the 2A 3,200 (10:02.02) and then coming back and winning gold in the 1,600 (4:31.23).
“The goal was to come out, run hard, and see what I can do, take the wins if I could,” the Drake senior said. “I’m glad I got that done today. I think my training was a lot more focused this year. I was a lot more confident after this cross country season. I was just ready to come and race hard.”
Miller will pick which event he wants to do at states next week.
Said the junior: “I’m excited to get back with some of the guys from cross country, some fast guys, and run hard.”