By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
05/21/2002

FELTON -- The William Penn boys track and field season got off to a sour start when the Colonials failed to defend their 2001 indoor track and field state title.

But the Colonials' season ended with a gleeful victory romp Monday.

William Penn edged defending champion Salesianum to win the Division I boys team title at the Delaware High School Track and Field Championship at Lake Forest High.

The Colonials won 110-105 to earn their sixth title, but first since 1996.

"We had a big disappointment by not winning indoors. So we doubted ourselves, but after [winning] counties we realized that we had the talent," said William Penn junior Carl Alleyne, who ran in two relays.

Dover placed third behind senior Jason Lilly, who won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races. He also anchored the Senators' winning 4x400 relay team.

Sallies finished 1-2-3 in both the 1,600 and 3,200. That caught the Colonials' attention.

"Scary," senior Julian Walker said of the close winning margin. "That did get me nervous. That's amazing, and Sallies is a great team."

The Colonials won with their strengths and a few surprise performances.

Seniors Carlton Rose and William Brown were first and second in the shot put, as expected.

The surprises came when Walker leapt to second place and senior Johnathan Fletcher was fourth in the triple jump. Fletcher came into the event as the last seed.

"I just felt any place I could get points, I tried," said Walker, who also finished third in the 800.

The Colonials won the 4x100 relay with juniors Richard Edwards and Akeem Pierce and seniors Rose and Robert Edwards.

Pierce added a second-place finish in the 100, where Rose was fourth. Pierce was sixth in the 200. Lawrence DeShields was second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in 110 hurdles.

The Colonials also took second in the 4x200 relay.

The Dover High senior swept the 100, 200 and 400 Division I boys races and anchored the Senators' winning 4x400 relay.