Indoor Track Team To Compete In PIAA State Championshps
The Track Team will compete in the PIAA State Championships, February 28th at Penn State University. Article By Kellen Reiche '19
JohnsonR@LSCHS.ORG
An incredible 2015-2016 La Salle College High School Indoor Track season will be coming to an end February 28th at Penn State University in the PIAA State Championships. 13 La Salle athletes, including distance runners, sprinters, and one jumper, will compete against the best athletes in Pennsylvania. From months of hard workouts and "commitment to the process," the Explorers look to take home a top five team performance at the state championship meet this weekend at Penn State University.
"So far this season," says Coach Greg Bielecki, in his 9th season as head coach with La Salle, "we have seen a phenomenal and full team effort. Guys in every event have bought into our team mission of being dedicated, disciplined, and hard working with the goal of individual and team improvement. Each day at practice, guys have committed themselves to the process and to the program, and the results are showing." Coach Bielecki and his assistant coaches have developed a training regimen and team philosophy (the process) that has enabled La Salle to build upon its long history of running success.
The team's commitment was in evidence at the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) championship on Saturday February 14, 2016. La Salle cruised to victory with an 88 point victory over second place Saint Joseph's Prep. With nine first place finishes, LaS alle was able to capture their second consecutive PCL championship.
A remarkable 4 school records were broken this season all coming from the Ocean Breese Invitational in Staten Island New York on January 30, 2016. Charles Headen broke the school record in the 60m as well as the 200m. Winston Eubanks also broke that old school record in the 200m in same heat. Peter Nelson broke the school 400m record and the 4x200m relay of seniors Winston Eubanks, Kyle Johnson, Chris Della Donna, and Charles Headen broke the school record in both the preliminary race and the finals race at Ocean Breeze. This same relay team also broke the PCL record from 2011 at the PCL Championship.
At the state championship meet this Saturday, La Salle's indoor track team will be well represented. Our strong distance squad of Patrick Grant, Peter Nelson, Brendan Price, and Evan Addison looks to medal in the Distance Medley Relay as does the 4x800m relay team of Brendan Price, Evan Addison, and seniors Frank Livolsi, and Patrick Grant. In the sprint events, the record-breaking 4x200m relay team also looks to make its way onto the medal stand. Ryan O'Neill, Greg Sywulak, Kyle Johnson, and Chris Della Donna will compete in the 4x400m relay.
In the individual events, third-seeded Charles Headen will challenge in the 60m, Winston Eubanks will race in the 200m, and Peter Nelson will compete in the 400m. Alex Sislo, our lone qualifier in the field events, will compete in the long jump. We should see some outstanding performances from La Salle's competitors.
Regardless of the outcome at this weekend's meet, one thing is certain: it is team's "commitment to the process" that has gotten La Salle this far.
Stay up to date on the PIAA State Championships at www.twitter.com/LaSalle_Sports.
-Article By Kellen Reiche '16