For Central Bucks West head girls coach Kiki Bell, it was another surreal feeling.
She watched as the girls 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams continued to dominate, this time at the District One Class 3A Championship at Coatesville. The Bucks were among several local teams that posted stellar individual and team results in district events.
However, this time around, it was a little bit more special as the CB West girls captured their first district team title.
Now, the highly successful relay teams will look to elevate their status at states in Shippensburg this weekend.
“This was special,” stated Bell. “It was great to win a district title. We won leagues, but never a district title.
“It is always great to see how four to six people come together and play their roles. It really comes down to love, and how they love each other to do the best they can.”
The Bucks’ 4x400 relay team of Claire Dalsass, Justine Maraska, Carlin McFadden and Kate Edenson captured the gold in 3:54.27.Their 4x800 relay team of Dalsass, Julia Flood, Emmi Simon and Carlin McFadden captured the district title in 9:15.90. Both are regarded as top units in the state in their respective categories.
“It was a great meet for us,” said Edenson. “We all worked our hardest to score the most amount of points we could for our team. We don’t usually run open events at districts, so it was a fun experience that really paid off.”
McFadden capped her day with a gold in the 800 (2:13.78) followed on her heels by Edenson (2:14.48) and Emmi Simon (2:16.31), who finished second and fifth respectively.
The unit of Katie Finnan, Maraska, Chloe Timberg and Mimi Duffy combined for a bronze medal in the 4x100. Timberg set a new district mark in the pole vault with a 13-6 clip.
“Winning at districts was an awesome accomplishment for me and the team,” gushed McFadden. “I am so proud to be part of the first West girls team to win a district championship.
“I started the day with the 4x800 where me and the girls swept the competition, and I later competed in the 800, taking first place backed by my teammate Kate Edenson who finished a close second.
“We finished the day by winning the 4x400. We’re all super proud and ready to show up for states Saturday.”
Bell always has had a simple approach to her teams.
“They have to go for broke and they can sit on their couch later,” she offered. “This was different because it was a one-day district meet, and it will be a one-day state meet. They ran well on a humid day, and they should have an ideal weather day Saturday.”
The Bucks’ boys 4x400 (3:22.29) and 4x800 (7:53.09) relay teams also will make the trip to Shippensburg this weekend.
Central Bucks South’s Siniru Iheoma was a double winner in the girls shot put (47-7.75) and discus (155-10). Pennridge’s Joey Gant raced to the top time in the boys 200 (21.58).
Faith Christian’s Izabella Forker won the high jump (4-10) and New Hope-Solebury’s Thomas Warren took the 300 hurdles (42.5) at the Class 2A meet.
Palisades’ Trinity Williams was first in the high jump (5-2), as was Sydney Odle in the 100 (13:09), Kayla Walker in the 300 hurdles (49.33) and Thomas Smigo in the 1,600 (4:36.71) at the District 11 Class 2A meet.
The Pirates’ girls 4x100 and boys 4x400 relay teams both crossed the finish lines ahead of their packs in their respective races.
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