Penn Relays PA History

Now the Penntrack databases don't go back forever, but I will do my best to lay out for you some of the PA highlights at Penn over the last decade or so.

2001
The boys from Butler finished 3rd in the Championship of America 4x800m Championships with a time of 7:48.76. Alan Webb's squad took home the gold and a Jamaican squad took second. Butler was the tops of 5 PA teams that qualified for the COA that year.
2002
The North Penn boys were back in the COA for the second straight year and ran their way to a 7:49.67 clocking to take down 3rd in the finals. The 7:49 clocking came despite a lead of leg of 2:05 for North Penn. NP was also the top non-Jamaican squad in the race. North Penn also were champions in the DMR clocking a 10:17.47 victory. Steve Craig anchored both squads.
2003
O'Hara highlighted the boys Distance relays with their 3rd place finish in the DMR. The relay clocked a 10:21.14 to earn the bronze. In the 3k Ian Fitzgerald mixed it up out front and came up just short, crossing the line in 8:30.16 for second place. He led the way for the 4 PA qualifiers in the event.
2004
North Penn ran 7:50 in qualifying but had an unfortunate display in the finals as the only team representing PA in a deep Penn Relays 4x8. Also highlighting the prelims was the 1:52.6 split of PA's Chris Spooner, as Lewisburg just missed qualifying for the COA. Cumberland Valley raced their way to an impressive 10:12.03 to snag third in a fast race in the DMR. O'Hara also ran under 10:20 in the race, their 10:18 landed them 6th. Hallinan anchored in 4:15. Spooner would be back again for the individual mile at Penn where he won the individual championship in a very quick time of 4:09.91. In the 3k, 2003 runner up Ian Fitzgerald of North Hills found himself in first place on the podium, racing his was to an 8:22.42 victory. Again PA was well represented with 5 qualifiers.
2005
North Penn and Conestoga Valley ran their way into the COA, but failed to have their best day once they made it there. Conestoga Valley clocked a 7:51.92 and North Penn ran 7:49.09. North Penn did it with almost perfectly even splits. In the DMR CR North managed to snag 4th place with a 10:15.98. Pomerantz anchored the team in 4:15. North Penn's lead off leg Sean Doyle was 5th in the individual mile in 4:15.83, while Emmaus's Sam Luff ran his way to second in the 3k with an 8:33.45. Behind him were Jeff Weiss and Colin Leak who both cracked 8:40 and took 5th and 6th. 8 PA runners represented the state well in the 3000m.
2006
5 PA team's qualified for the Championship of America in the DMR highlighted out front by North Penn and Simon Gratz. Gratz's balanced attack and anchor Khaliff Featherstone brought home the silver and a 7:45.66 clocking. North Penn was just off the pace with a 7:46.38. Wissahickon was 6th in the DMR after a great top 3 legs the team fell of a bit on anchor Paul Thistle's 4:23.1, but the team still ran a very quick 10:15.19. Henderson's 10:17 took them to 9th in the race. In the 3k Championship PA gave it their best against future world medalist Matt Centrowitz and came away with 3rd, 4th, and 5th with Jake Walker leading the way in 8:21.94 and Kieth Capecci following 8:27.22. Paul Springer rounded out the group with his 8:28.65. Curtis Bixler was also under 8:35 for PA and 6 total PA boys raced in the championship.
2007
North Penn's 7:50.77 was the lone PA rep in the COA, taking down 4th place. Coatesville behind Kyle Dawson's hard fought anchor leg win over Craig Forys's 4:04 led Coatesville to a 10:08.51 and Championship plaque. Paul Springer's 4:10.98 was a brilliant race that had him crossing the line second to only Matt Centrowitz's 4:08.38 record push. Jason Weller and Rob Speare took 4th and 5th in the 3k respectively.

Unfortunately I have to go to a group meeting for econ right now, but I hope you enjoyed this little trip into the history books.