Girls: 3rd straight title for Wilson
The Wilson girls track and field team won their third consecutive Berks title on Saturday.
Behind strong performances from seniors Caryn Rippey, Katie Dallas and Kara Brown, the Bulldogs scored 124.75 points, lifting them to the county title at the William H. Firing Memorial Victory Meet at Shillington.
“It was a great team effort,” Bulldogs coach Doug Dahms said. “We won all three relays, which is what the team part is all about.”
Wilson swept the relays, winning the 400 at 49.19, the 1600 at 4:01.26 and the 3200 at 9:43.01. The 1600 relay team broke a meet record, which was set at 4:01.38 by Wyomissing in 2015.
“I’m so happy and so proud of everyone,” said Dallas, a member of the 1600 relay team. “We had good handoffs and everyone ran the races they were supposed to run, so it really means a lot.”
The 1600 relay was one of three wins Dallas garnered on Saturday. She repeated as county champion in the 800, running a 2:16.84
“I’m really happy with how I did today,” Dallas said. “Being able to win the 800 again, it’s something I’m really proud of.”
Dallas also served as the anchor on the 3200 relay team, which took gold at 9:43.01. She finished third in the individual 3200, which was run on Thursday.
“(I’m) just so proud of us,” Dallas said about Wilson’s relay teams. “Everyone has to pull their weight, and everyone is doing that — they’re doing amazing.”
Dallas was supported on the 3200 relay by Rippey, who ran leadoff for the Bulldogs. In addition to her relay win, Rippey repeated as county champion in the 3200, which was run Thursday, at 11:00.08 and in the 1600 at 5:04.65.
“It was a really good experience to come here and have everyone supporting me,” Rippey said. “I’m happy with my performances this week.”
Rippey finished second to Dallas in the 800 at 2:20.02. With four medals, Rippey hopes to build off her performance in the upcoming District 3 and PIAA championships.
“This meet is a really nice preparation for districts and states,” Rippey said. “Using the little things that I use here will be even more important in districts (and states).”
In their final season of high school track and field, Rippey and Dallas combined to earn 54 team points. Thirty of the Bulldogs’ points came from their three relay victories.
“(They are the) heart and soul of the team,” Dahms said about Rippey and Dallas. “We’ll be missing them next year.”
Wilson also relied on strong performances from Brown, who won the first county title of her career in the 100 hurdles with a career-best 15.81. She also finished third in the 300 hurdles at 48.98 and tied for third place in the long jump on Thursday at 4-11.
“It meant a lot to me,” Brown said about winning a county title in the 100 hurdles. “It feels good.”
Gov. Mifflin finished second to the Bulldogs with 104.25 points. In addition to senior Annika Ermold’s wins in the shot put and discus on Thursday, the Mustangs were led by freshman Sierra Hess.
In her first county championships, Hess earned two gold medals, winning the 200 at 25.86 and the 400 at 57.70. Both times were career bests
“Putting in a lot of work and executing it at this meet, I felt really good about that,” Hess said. “I don’t really know how I pulled it off, but it feels really good.”
Hess took home four medals, as she finished third in the 100 and was a member of Mifflin’s 400 relay team, which placed second. Unfazed by the spotlight or the more experienced competition, Hess said the key to her success was staying calm throughout the day.
“(I) put my mind to it and then relaxed,” Hess said. “At the end, in the (last) 50 meters, that’s when I pulled it together.”
The biggest surprise of the day came in the 300 hurdles. Running the event for just the second time in her career, Fleetwood junior Chanel Hercules won at 46.45, breaking the school record.
“I (thought), ‘This is so crazy,’ “Hercules said after her upset win. “I was so happy.”
Hercules won the event on the last hurdle, passing Muhlenberg’s Jessica Johnson, who finished second, for the victory. The two were separated by just .21 seconds.
“That’s where I really gained on her,” Hercules said about the final hurdle. “I took advantage of her mistakes.”
Hercules ran the 300 hurdles for the first time at the Shaner Meet at Wyomissing on Monday, which served as a last-chance qualifier for the county championships. Hercules ran a 49.47, earning her the No. 2 seed on Saturday.
“We knew that when we asked her to run the 300 hurdles last week, she was going to be good at it,” Tigers coach Steve Zeller said. “For her to win the event at counties is incredible. It just shows how much talent that girl has.”
The win in the 300 hurdles was Hercules’ first county title. She finished third in the long jump on Thursday at 16-5.75, eighth in the 100 on Saturday at 13.00 and served as the anchor on Fleetwood’s 400 relay team, which finished fourth.
“It’s so cool,” Hercules said about her gold medal. “It’s my second time (running the event) and I’m the best in the county.”
Wyomissing’s Alexis Hardy won the 100 at 12.58.