The boys' track and field team is the Pennsylvania state indoor track and field champion for the second consecutive year and Coach Zach Richards, Hon. has been named Coach of the Year.
"It was a spectacular day, and we’re so proud of the team," beamed Coach Richards. "This team of kids is truly a special group. Everyone contributed toward a balanced, team victory."
Earning 47 points, EA ran away with the day. "Every boy on this team played a part in the 18-point commanding victory. We scored points in all three of our relays and five of our individual events," said Coach Richards. The second place finisher, Coatesville Area Senior High School, tallied 29 points.
The Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association hosted the indoor state championship meet at Penn State University on Sunday, Feb. 25. The event is open to all schools in Pennsylvania and does not separate schools based on size or whether they are public or private.
"It is a true state championship event," said Coach Richards. "More than 250 schools are represented state-wide."
The 4x800 Relay (Eli Engelman, Curtis Conner, Dawson French, and Michael Woolery) ran an impressive 7:48.50 to win the day. The relay is currently ranked #1 in Pennsylvania and #3 in the nation. Read more coverage of the 4x800 Relay, including video interviews, with PA Mile Split.
The 4x400 Relay (Abaas Hunter, Jahmir Brown, Anik Vossschulte, and Michael Woolery) placed 5th with a time of 3:22.62 and is ranked #5 in the state.
The DMR Relay (Eli Engelman, Jackson Orcutt, Curtis Conner, and Dawson French) came in 7th and is currently #7 in Pennsylvania. The squad notched a time of 10:25.64.
Sophomore Abaas Hunter set two school records. In the 400m, he ran a spectacular time of 49.10, placing 6th overall and is now #8 in the state. Abaas ran to 5th place in the 200m with a time of 21.71 and is #5 in Pennsylvania. His current time is the all-time best for a sophomore sprinter in the state.
Junior jumper YaYa Johnson leaped an astounding 6'6" in the High Jump to take second place. He then set a school record in the Triple Jump, where he placed second with a mark of 47'11.5". Yaya is ranked #2 in the state, #9 in the country, and is the #1 junior triple jumper in the country.
Senior AJ Koukou threw to second place (56' 11.75") in the Shot Put. AJ set the school record in the Shot Put this season with a throw of 59' 8".
"We won this championship for the first time last year by a margin of just two points. This year, we won by a much greater margin of 18," shared Coach Richards. "That speaks to not just the talent of the team, but also how well they executed. It’s one thing to just qualify for an event; it’s another thing to score in that event against the best competition in the state!"
The girls' track & field team also put on a top performance, placing 7th overall out of a field of 65 teams statewide.