The end of the indoor track season brought great success for CB South.

First, at the Millrose Games in New York City, one of the most famous track events, the 4×800 meter relay team, consisting of Kaitlin Poiesz, Amber Stratz, Brianna Stratz, and Alexa Kwapinski, received second place with a time of 9:17.44. At the time, the girls were considered second in Pennsylvania.

Senior Alexa Kwapinski said of the season, “Winter track went really well. The entire team was able to qualify in a lot of events for states.”

At the indoor State Championships held at Penn State just weeks later, many of our athletes placed.

Randall Johnson received third place on the high jump, with a height of 6 feet 6 inches.

The boys’ Distance Medley Relay, consisting of Chris Kelso, Ben Fielding, James Chappell, and Matt Scarpill also medaled.

Boys’ 4×400 relay, consisting of Casey Bell, Luke DiGangi, Qadir Haqq, and Randall Johnson medalled eighth with a time of 3:26.31.

Devan Accurso ran a personal best of 26.16 seconds in the 200 meter. The girls’ 4×200 relay, which Devan is a part of along with Lydia Fielding, Jasmine Noble, and Halle DePerro unfortunately was not officially timed, so they were given eleventh place.

Other people that competed includes Taylor Hojnacki, who threw a distance of 37 feet 10.50 inches in shot-put and received thirteenth place. Mike Jadwin received twenty-first place in the men’s triple jump.

The 4×8 girls shaved 5 seconds off their time from the Millrose Games, running 9:12.80. They medalled third in the state and seventh in the country. The girls also broke the school record.

With that time, the 4×8 girls qualified for the 2014 New Balance Indoor Nationals on March 16th at the Armory, in New York City. To receive the title of All-Americans, those considered the best athletes of a specific sport, the girls had to place in the top six at Nationals. However, there was doubt for the 4×8 because the two teams that beat them at states would also be competing. The girls cut five second off their time, ran the fastest time for Pennsylvania, received fourth place, and broke the state record, with a time of 9:07.08. There was less than a second separating the second place team from the fourth place team.

Alexa Kwapinski says, “We had no idea we were capable of doing something so big, and it was the greatest feeling in the world to make such a huge accomplishment.”

For the 4×8 team, early mornings spent swimming and running during frigid practices have paid off . Senior Kaitlin said, “It’s so cool seeing such a big drop in our time in the 4×8 because we have worked so hard this winter regardless of the bad weather conditions.”

All our track athletes continue to be very successful, and several will be continuing their track career in college. Kaitlin Poiesz has signed to run for LaSalle University, Alexa Kwapinski has signed to run for Lafayette College, James Chappell has signed to run for Lehigh University, and Taylor Hojnacki has signed to throw for the University of Pennsylvania.

Now track has the spring outdoor season to look forward to. Kaitlin says, “Everyone is excited about spring track and we are really looking to do huge things, especially at the end of May, at the State Championship.”