Ashley Landis admittedly was tentative about running the 800 meter last year.
However, it didn’t show on the surface as she advanced to the PIAA state meet and placed 15th in the event in a time of 2:18.79. She was a part of the state’s second-best 4x800 team last season, and has played a pivotal role on the team 4x400 team this season.
“I did run scared last year,” said the Pennridge sophomore. “I was holding back a lot and not just letting myself go. I started to feel more confident this year.”
Landis has the results to prove her elevated state, as she is among the top performers in the 800 in the state. She recently helped lead her Rams teammates to a successful showing at their home-based Helman-Hosier Invitational. Landis ran the 800 in a time of 2:14.83.
Along with Pennridge, Central Bucks East’s squad had an auspicious afternoon, as several Patriots garnered gold. Senior Joe Sims captured the boys 800 in a personal record (PR) time of 1:56.87.
One key for Landis this season has been not looking over her shoulder in a race. She is hoping to be around the 2:10 mark in the event at the end of the season.
“I always like to be able to try and catch someone,” she noted. “If I wasn’t at the front, I knew I had to have something at the end. I never felt that comfortable being at the front, but this year is different.
“I can get out front, and be able to hold it there until the end. I know I can keep working to lower my time. I feel really confident now in what I am able to do.”
Head girls track coach Bill Smith has been appreciative of Landis’ efforts.
“She has had an excellent season,” said Smith of Landis. “Ashley is one of the leaders of our team. She also is the anchor of our 4x400 team that has greatly improved.”
Smith noted that the team received “a big boost” from fellow sophomore Tori Angelo, who captured the 300 hurdles in 46.05 in her first attempt at it this season. Senior Peyton Meenan won the shot put (35-10.50) and junior Nicole Rindone took top honors in the discus (103-09) and was second in the javelin (110-09). Junior Lindsey Balmer took gold in the high jump (5-04).
“Our throwers had a good day,” added Smith. “We had some girls who qualified for districts, and Lindsey Balmer is among the best in the state right now with her marks.”
On the boys side, senior Jared Hess topped the field in the triple jump (46-01), senior Chase Marshall outran the field in the 100 (11:12) and junior Dominic Santos had the top time in the 200 (22.19).
CB East also had an impressive day, receiving firsts, along with Sims, in their respective fields: junior Ava DePrizio, triple jump, 34.11; senior Jillian Thorning, 400, 59.77; junior Melayna Pettigrew, 100 hurdles, 16:38; senior Devon Sutton, 1,600, 5:05.30; senior Aleta Lyzinski, 3,200, 11:45.24; and junior Jacob Tannenbaum, shot put, 49-08.50.
Head coach Chris Pierangeli anticipated some positive outcomes and was pleased with others. At this point of the season, it is all about peaking at the right time.
“We expected some of our older athletes to do well,” he said. “We had some of our young athletes do well, and they have stayed motivated. Jacob Tannenbaum qualified for districts in the shot, and Devon Sutton has been running really well and lowering her times.
“Joe Sims has been running very confidently and aggressively .We had a freshman, Alexander White, who broke 20 feet in the long jump, and he is getting better each week. We’re growing as a team at the right time of the year.”
Sims also sees his season staying on track.
“I think my season is going according to plan,” he said. “Taking 20 seconds from my 800 time last season has been great. I had a PR by about a half a second at the Helman.
“The tough part about running track sometimes is going 90% of the season with only a few PRs here and there, but it’s the trust you have in your coaches, trainers and most important yourself that will give you the motivation to keep pushing because these are the last few weeks when the major PRs come.”
Other local teams with top performances in their respective events were Central Bucks South junior Lucas Knappenberger, pole vault, 13-06; Council Rock North freshman Matt Gosling, 3,200, 9:57.23, the boys 4x800, 9:01.40, and senior Matt Henricksen, discus, 146-10; Central Bucks West junior Nate Fehrman, 400, 50:43, and senior Connor Salmon, 110 hurdles, 15.82; and New Hope-Solebury senior Marco Demeo, who took firsts in the high jump (6-02) and long jump (22-02).
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