Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Girls Track
After the race, the quartet of Miles, senior Sammie Miller, senior Patty Rokins and freshman Lorelei Eberly were hugging each other and weeping - for joy.
“It was so emotional because three of us are seniors and we’ve run together since the 6th grade,” said Miller. “I knew Porsha could do it [in the final leg], she’s always been able to do it for us, even though I knew she was tired after running multiple events today.”
Coatesville girls coach Keith Andrew said, “It was phenomenal; I was really excited watching Porsha come down the stretch. The distance that Porsha had to make up, and then to hold the lead at the end, was phenomenal.”
Miles finished first in the 100 meter dash with a clocking of 12.28 (she ran 12.15 in the preliminaries), and Miller placed fourth in the 800 meter run (2:15.89).
One Coatesville runner who is headed to States for the first time is senior Wiltricia Snoh, who qualified in both the 100 meter dash (fifth place, 12.43) and the 200-meter run (sixth, 25.91) as well as the 4x100 relay.
“I’m excited about going to States – I feel that now I can believe in myself [as a runner],” said Snoh.
Coatesville finished second in the Class AAA 4x100 final, which included seven of the top 10 4x100 relay teams in Pennsylvania. The Red Raiders posted a time of 47.81, behind first-place Harry S Truman (47.74), with a lineup of Snoh, Miles, Miller and Kaia Morse.
In the Class AAA team standings, Coatesville finished second with 50 points, behind first-place Cheltenham (65). The Red Raiders were the only Chester County team in the top 10, Downingtown West was tied for 15th and West Chester Henderson and West Chester East tied for 17th.
Downingtown West finished fifth in the Class AAA 4x100 relay, which included seven of the top 10 4x100 relay teams in the state. Truman finished first (47.75), Coatesville was second (47.81) and D-West came in fifth (48.41) with a quartet of Lauren Diottavio, Maya Tucker, freshman Sarah Schreiber and Jada Alston.
Alston, the anchor, said, “We had to make a few changes along the way - Sarah Schreiber joined us at Ches-Monts - and we’ve come a long way this season. The key today was staying positive.”
The Whippets’ 4x800 quartet of junior Grace Mucha, juniors Reagan Flannery and Lauren Flannery (who are twins) and Schreiber (anchor) finished fourth with a PR 9:27.78 and are headed to States.
“When we realized we were going to States, we all started hugging and fell to the ground,” said Grace Mucha with a laugh.
“We are so overjoyed,” added Lauren Flannery.
Tucker, a sophomore, finished sixth in the 100 meter dash (12.59) and will be advancing to States in that event as well.
A bright spot for West Chester Henderson was freshman Jenna Mulhern, who won the 3200 meter run with a time of 10:54.
“My strategy was to stick with the lead girl for the first three laps,” said Mulhern. “At the end of three laps, I was in second place, then I took off. My Mom and Dad were here today to watch me run; a few of my teammates are here today to watch (Mulhern also ran in the 4x800 for the Warriors Saturday), but Henderson had their Senior Prom last night. I’m very happy and looking forward to States.”
For West Chester East, junior Allyson Clarke finished third in the 3200 meter run (11:06.62). Last year, at States, she placed 18th (11:35.25).
Clarke also anchored the Cougars’