By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
05/12/2002

WILMINGTON -- William Penn overcame a talented field to win the 60th annual New Castle County High School Boys Track and Field Championships at Baynard Stadium on Saturday.

It was the Colonials' first county title since 1996 and fourth overall.

William Penn built its edge behind strong throwers and a strong effort throughout the track events - seven top-six individuals and finishes no worse than fourth in each of four relays.

The Colonials' 96 points surpassed Salesianum (82) and Newark (79).

Christiana senior Matt Johnson cleared 14 feet, 6 1/2 inches to break the state pole vault record, and Newark senior Louis Broyles won four gold medals and became the first to win all three jumping events.

In the 100-meter dash, William Penn junior Akeem Pierce won in 11.11 seconds to nip Delcastle junior Mike Downs by .02 seconds. Pierce was fifth in the 200.

In the shot put, seniors Carlton Rose and William Brown repeated their 1-2 finish from Thursday's discus. Rose also ran fourth in the 100.

"That's 36 points, and that's the difference right there," said Colonials senior Julian Walker.

William Penn's best relay finish came in Friday's 3,200, with Carl Alleyne, Jonathan Fletcher and brothers Julian Walker and Chris Walker.

"Getting second in that, and [Thursday's] discus, really gave us confidence coming into the last day," Alleyne said.

Johnson's state record pole vault of 14-6 1/2 surpassed the 14-6 by Concord's Bill Bryan in 1971 and Delcastle's Phil Prang in 1976. He's the first to win the event three times, clearing 14-0 on his second try. Johnson then had the bar set at 14-6 1/2 .

"I didn't want to tie the record. I wanted it for my own. I just got a nice lift-off, swung and held on," said Johnson, headed to Rider University on a pole vault scholarship.

Broyles swept the long jump, (22-10 3/4 ), high jump (6-4) and Friday's triple jump (46-8 1/2 ).

"It's just natural, a natural [jumping] ability, but I am surprised at how well I am doing," said Broyles, in just his second season of competitive track.

Broyles also ran with Newark's first-place 400 relay team, as Newark also won the 800 and 1,600 relays. Newark sophomore Brandon Reeves won the 400.

Salesianum was paced by junior winners Ryan Hamill (1,600) and P.J. Meany (3,200). Sallies won Friday's 3,200 relay.

In the 300 hurdles, Glasgow senior Laurens Maliepaard beat Concord sophomore John Carter by a margin of .03 seconds.

Delcastle had two winners, senior Tyrine Reams (110 hurdles) and junior Michael Downs (200). St. Mark's senior Jason Justison won the 800.

The News Journal/WILLIAM BRETZGER

William Penn's Carlton Rose puts the shot on his way to victory in the event at the New Castle County Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Baynard Stadium.

 

The News Journal/WILLIAM BRETZGER

William Penn's Akeem Pierce (right) outleans Delcastle's Michael Downs to win the 100-meter dash at the New Castle County Track and Field Championships.