Here we go:
The dream of a state individual championship was there, but the the road to the championship was not what we expected! After jumping 14 feet indoors in the Lehigh meet, the idea of jumping 15 feet & possibly winning the state outdoor pole vault title was possible. Especially, if David could jump on the new 15 foot pole!!
Season started out fine, bad weather & one or two nights a week we could jump and not freeze or be blown off the pit! The meets started & David was our top sprinter. The plan was to pole vault & run the 100 meters & 400 relay. Winning the McCaskey meet was key in winning the section one title. David finished second in the 100 meters & ran the 400 relay. We won the meet, but David had pain in the groin area. Not good. He was out indefinitely and the long wait started! One week, two weeks, therapy & doctor visits was the new schedule not vaulting into the pole vault pit!
After 30 days off, David took one jump against Penn Manor and won the meet at 12'6". Then 5 jumps in the Blue Streak Relays and 13 feet added to 12'6", won the relay at 25'6"! Next the quad meet against Donegal, Annville-Cleona & Lancaster Mennonite. It rained Monday, pole vault was canceled & we finished at Annville-Cleona. Still on 13 feet & districts may need a higher height to get in. One more meet to do it - the League Meet.
The boys pole vault started at 4 PM with 33 competitors! At 6:30 Dave finally strted to jump! And around 8:15(with the lights on) it was down to two jumpers - David & the McCaskey jumper. The good news David made 14 feet which secured a district spot, but lost to Harbuck from McCaskey on misses - 2nd place at leagues. We will take it!
Districts - now the goal is to qualify for states! Competition was great & we were ready - David jumps 13'9", finishes fouth & qualifies for states - top 5 in district 3 automatically go to states!
States - The State Meet is always a goal for any successful track athlete! Just getting there is very, very difficult! The competition was amazing! We started with 23 jumpers, all made openning height of 12'6". All jumpers made 13', 17 made 13'6" and 12 jumpers cleared 14'! David was still in it - 12 jumpers left for 8 state medals! The bar is now at 14'6", this would be a school record for David! Six jumpers cleared 14'6" AND DAVID WAS ONE OF THE JUMPERS! School record 14'6"!!!!!
Ok, 6 left to jump at 15', David already has a state medal! One of the jumpers was Olover Harbuck, from McCaskey. He beat David at leagues and at Districts. Also, Chris Dodd from Wilson, a 15 foot jumper. And the other three were also great jumpers! Well, EVERYONE missed their first two attempts! Six on the last attempt. First jumper missed, he is out, now it's David's turn. Last attempt at 15 feet. He races down the runway, drives & rocks back like never before - gets vertical and flies over 15!!! He is in the lead!! Four more jumpers at 15'! They all miss - David is the PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!! I repeat:
David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!
David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!
David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!
Hempfield's first ever Pole Vault State Champ!!!
What a day for David & Hempfield Track & Field!!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
STATE CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the email that was sent out by Coach Bradley:
David Patzer earned state gold in the Pole Vault with a school record jump of 15' 0".
Kevin Hull put on a clinic for the state as he placed 2nd in the 800, 3rd in the 1600, and ran fast relay legs on the 6th place 4 x 400 Relay team.
Kori Meshaw earned a 3rd place in the 300 Intermediate hurdles and ran a pair of 49s on the relay.
Steve Feister earned a sixth place in the javelin with a nice toss of 189' 9".
Hansel picked up seventh in a lightning fast 400 m. His time of 48.62 sets a new school record for Hempfield. Hansel ran 48.3 and 48.5 as anchor on the 4 x 400 Relay.
Forrest Moul, Kori Meshaw, Kevin Hull, and Hansel set the 4 x 400 school record in the trials and then broke it again in the finals on Saturday to place 6th in the state.
Here are a few tidbits:
Yesterday at the state meet, the Hempfield boys (and girls) performed like champions. This meet demonstrated that track and field is a game of inches. Our 4 x 400 qualified for the finals by 0.01 seconds. They scored 3 points in the finals. Hansel Akers ran 48.62, and qualified for the finals by 0.02. He scored two points in the finals. Steve Feister threw the javelin the same distance as the athlete from Altoona, but had a better second throw - +2. Kevin Hull who barely qualified for the 800 race, created a masterpiece on the Shippensburg track as he took charge of the race from the beginning, strung out the field and held on for the silver medal. Dave Patzer, who only began vaulting again four weeks ago, realized his great potential as he mastered his "big pole" to vault to a new school record by 9 inches and claim gold. He is the first state champ for us in 10 years. And Forrest, who likes to make us laugh, was nothing but business on the track and ran a superb set of 51's. We needed consistency and he did just that. Kori, just did his thing. And we won by two. Everything that could go right did.
I could not have scripted a better way to conclude my career as a head coach.
By the way, PCN did not know what they were talking about - The DQ of Abington hurt us - Altoona picked up 2 points by moving from 2nd to 1st, and we only picked up one point by moving from 7th to 6th (Scoring: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).
Monday, May 18, 2009
District Champs
What a day! It comes down to the 4 X 400! For you old guys out there, just like 1986 League meet - McCaskey & Hempfield tied - and we win it!
Here are the comments from Coach Bradley:
Coach’s Comments:
"It came down to the 4 x 400 Relay. The team score was tied: Wilson 54, Hempfield 54; 41 other teams trailed. Forrest Moul was running the event for the first time in big meet competition. Anticipation in Seth Grove Stadium was high. Kori Meshaw started strongly and gave the Knights a lead with a solid 49.8 split. Forrest fell behind on the backstretch and around the final turn. But, coming onto the final straight, he surged and almost pulled even with first place Wilson. Kevin Hull, who already had a gold medal 1600 and 800 meters in his legs, held his position and put anchor runner Hansel Akers three meters behind the first place Wilson team with 400 meters remaining. The 400-meter School Record Holder ran even with the Wilson team until the 200 meter mark and then exploded around the turn to open up a 10 meter lead which he held until the end. Hempfield won the 4 x 400 Relay and its first ever District 3 team title in school history. Score Hempfield 64, Wilson 62. And the celebration began!!
There were many story lines behind the victory. The Javelin throwers started it off on Friday by scoring 11 big points with a 3-4 finish. Alec Bleacher set the school record on his first throw of the competition. Sophomore Steve Feister improved on every toss. David Patzer looked like his sprained his ankle on his first attempt, but was able to come back strong and make 13’ 9” on his first attempt. We thank Oliver Harbuck of McCaskey who beat Wilson’s top-seeded vaulter. Kori Meshaw was not a top 8 seed in the 110 HH, but was able to come up big and place 7th in the event. He then chased the defending state champ in the 300 IH to place 2nd and set the Hempfield school record. Hansel Akers soared from the moment the gun went off and chased the top seed all the way to the finish and placed 2nd, and he too set a new school record. And, of course, Kevin Hull had his way with the field in the 800 and 1600 as he controlled these races from the beginning. Kevin becomes Hempfield’s first time three-time District gold medal winner."
Another one of those great days in the history of Hempfield Track & Field! 50 years & the stories keep coming!!!!
Here are the comments from Coach Bradley:
Coach’s Comments:
"It came down to the 4 x 400 Relay. The team score was tied: Wilson 54, Hempfield 54; 41 other teams trailed. Forrest Moul was running the event for the first time in big meet competition. Anticipation in Seth Grove Stadium was high. Kori Meshaw started strongly and gave the Knights a lead with a solid 49.8 split. Forrest fell behind on the backstretch and around the final turn. But, coming onto the final straight, he surged and almost pulled even with first place Wilson. Kevin Hull, who already had a gold medal 1600 and 800 meters in his legs, held his position and put anchor runner Hansel Akers three meters behind the first place Wilson team with 400 meters remaining. The 400-meter School Record Holder ran even with the Wilson team until the 200 meter mark and then exploded around the turn to open up a 10 meter lead which he held until the end. Hempfield won the 4 x 400 Relay and its first ever District 3 team title in school history. Score Hempfield 64, Wilson 62. And the celebration began!!
There were many story lines behind the victory. The Javelin throwers started it off on Friday by scoring 11 big points with a 3-4 finish. Alec Bleacher set the school record on his first throw of the competition. Sophomore Steve Feister improved on every toss. David Patzer looked like his sprained his ankle on his first attempt, but was able to come back strong and make 13’ 9” on his first attempt. We thank Oliver Harbuck of McCaskey who beat Wilson’s top-seeded vaulter. Kori Meshaw was not a top 8 seed in the 110 HH, but was able to come up big and place 7th in the event. He then chased the defending state champ in the 300 IH to place 2nd and set the Hempfield school record. Hansel Akers soared from the moment the gun went off and chased the top seed all the way to the finish and placed 2nd, and he too set a new school record. And, of course, Kevin Hull had his way with the field in the 800 and 1600 as he controlled these races from the beginning. Kevin becomes Hempfield’s first time three-time District gold medal winner."
Another one of those great days in the history of Hempfield Track & Field! 50 years & the stories keep coming!!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
League Champions!!!!
League Champions!!!!
This is a quick look at the Boys & Girls wins this weekend! It was amazing!
League titles are always special, but the double (boys & girls) is even better! The Boys were the favorites going in. Last year there was no pressure; we pulled a huge upset to come away with the title! This year we were expected to win & that brings added pressure!
The boy’s team was lead by the captains: Hull, Bleacher, Cummings, Meshaw & Patzer! Let’s begin with Dave Patzer.
Injured for 30 days with a groin pull, David’s comeback was slow & tedious. He did all the physical therapy, visited the trainer religiously & slowly started to jump. In his first meet back, David took one jump at Penn Manor to win the meet at 12’6, 3-4 jumps at the Blue Streaks relays to team with Caleb Harper to win the pole vault relay, and 3-4 jumps in a crazy rain delayed meet with Lancaster, Mennonite, Annville-Cleona, & Donegal to win the last meet of the year. With a best of 13’ going into Leagues, he needed a 13’6 or 14’ to safely qualify for Districts.
The league meet vaulting was Friday night – 33 jumpers & a 5-HOUR pole vaulting marathon!!!! Somewhere, around 7-8 PM, with the sun setting and the stadium lights turned on, David finally started & finished tied with the McCaskey jumper at 14’. David took second on misses. What a comeback! His perseverance & effort was amazing! This effort, plus Caleb Harper at 13’, gave the team big points toward a league title!
Here are the people that scored in the League Meet:
100 meters – Brian Mannino – 6th
110 Hurdles – Kori Meshaw – 4th
200 meters – Hansel Akers – 4th
3200 meters – Matt Groff – 1st
4 X 800 – Moul, Garcia, Cox & Brown – 8th
1600 meters – Kevin Hull – 1st
400 meters – Hansel Akers 1st
4 X 100 – Santos, Cummings, Mannino, & Akers – 2nd
300 Hurdles – Kori Meshaw – 1st
800 meters – Kevin Hull 1st and Corey Brown 8th
4 X 400 – Hull, Santos, Meshaw & Akers
Discus – Alec Bleacher – 3rd
Javelin – Steve Feister – 2nd and Alec Bleacher – 3rd
Pole Vault – David Patzer – 2nd & Caleb Harper – 7th
Great meet! Hansel Akers did his thing and scored big points! Was dominant in the 400 meters all season as he was anchoring two relays. Kori Meshaw, also fighting injuries this spring, came back to blitz the field in the 300 hurdles and claim a league championship! Kevin Hull did just what he needed to do to cruise to wins in the 800 & 1600 meters – League champ in 3 events, including a great leg in the 1600 relay! A total team effort and looking forward to another weekend – DISTRICTS HERE WE COME!!!
This is a quick look at the Boys & Girls wins this weekend! It was amazing!
League titles are always special, but the double (boys & girls) is even better! The Boys were the favorites going in. Last year there was no pressure; we pulled a huge upset to come away with the title! This year we were expected to win & that brings added pressure!
The boy’s team was lead by the captains: Hull, Bleacher, Cummings, Meshaw & Patzer! Let’s begin with Dave Patzer.
Injured for 30 days with a groin pull, David’s comeback was slow & tedious. He did all the physical therapy, visited the trainer religiously & slowly started to jump. In his first meet back, David took one jump at Penn Manor to win the meet at 12’6, 3-4 jumps at the Blue Streaks relays to team with Caleb Harper to win the pole vault relay, and 3-4 jumps in a crazy rain delayed meet with Lancaster, Mennonite, Annville-Cleona, & Donegal to win the last meet of the year. With a best of 13’ going into Leagues, he needed a 13’6 or 14’ to safely qualify for Districts.
The league meet vaulting was Friday night – 33 jumpers & a 5-HOUR pole vaulting marathon!!!! Somewhere, around 7-8 PM, with the sun setting and the stadium lights turned on, David finally started & finished tied with the McCaskey jumper at 14’. David took second on misses. What a comeback! His perseverance & effort was amazing! This effort, plus Caleb Harper at 13’, gave the team big points toward a league title!
Here are the people that scored in the League Meet:
100 meters – Brian Mannino – 6th
110 Hurdles – Kori Meshaw – 4th
200 meters – Hansel Akers – 4th
3200 meters – Matt Groff – 1st
4 X 800 – Moul, Garcia, Cox & Brown – 8th
1600 meters – Kevin Hull – 1st
400 meters – Hansel Akers 1st
4 X 100 – Santos, Cummings, Mannino, & Akers – 2nd
300 Hurdles – Kori Meshaw – 1st
800 meters – Kevin Hull 1st and Corey Brown 8th
4 X 400 – Hull, Santos, Meshaw & Akers
Discus – Alec Bleacher – 3rd
Javelin – Steve Feister – 2nd and Alec Bleacher – 3rd
Pole Vault – David Patzer – 2nd & Caleb Harper – 7th
Great meet! Hansel Akers did his thing and scored big points! Was dominant in the 400 meters all season as he was anchoring two relays. Kori Meshaw, also fighting injuries this spring, came back to blitz the field in the 300 hurdles and claim a league championship! Kevin Hull did just what he needed to do to cruise to wins in the 800 & 1600 meters – League champ in 3 events, including a great leg in the 1600 relay! A total team effort and looking forward to another weekend – DISTRICTS HERE WE COME!!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Catching up on the Team
Been very busy, so this is a quick update to the season. And what a season!
When the season began we new we had something special! So far so good! We are Sections One Champs! We just won the Blue-Streak relays & we had an incredible day at Penn Relays! Still on the list:
Leagues
Districts
States!
In the last two weeks we have knocked off our rivals from Manheim Township - 95 to 46. Some of the highlights:
Meshaw: 110H-14.7 - 1st Place
Mannino: 100m - 11.3 - 1st Place
Akers: 400m - 50.9 & 200m - 23.7 - both 1st Place
Groff: 1600m - 4:34 - 1st Place
Bleacher - Discus - 147' & Jav - 177-5 - both 1st Place
Davis - Long - 19-3 & Triple 38-6 - both 1st Place
It is always great to BEAT TOWNSHIP!!!
And the Penn Relays was AWESOME! To see the race go to:
flotrack.com and search for the video for Event 202
Here is the direct website:
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234918-2009-penn-relays/173846-b-4x400-h29-event-202
What a race - Akers anchor was unreal! Meshaw-Santos-Hull-Akers!!!!!!
BEST EVER in the past 50 YEARS!!!
Check it out. One of the best races in Hempfield History!!
The highlight for me(of course) was the return of David Patzer in the pole vault! After 30 days off with a groin pull, David jumped for the first time against Penn Manor. Took one jump at 12'6 and won the event. At Blue-Streak, Dave came in at 13' and made 13' to team up with Caleb Harper, who went 12'6 to win the event going away! Their total of 25'6" was 2 and 1/2 feet higher then 2nd place!!! Great to have David back!!!!!
Senior Night - Monday Night - 6:30! Weather does not look good!
The "Dream Season" continiues!!
When the season began we new we had something special! So far so good! We are Sections One Champs! We just won the Blue-Streak relays & we had an incredible day at Penn Relays! Still on the list:
Leagues
Districts
States!
In the last two weeks we have knocked off our rivals from Manheim Township - 95 to 46. Some of the highlights:
Meshaw: 110H-14.7 - 1st Place
Mannino: 100m - 11.3 - 1st Place
Akers: 400m - 50.9 & 200m - 23.7 - both 1st Place
Groff: 1600m - 4:34 - 1st Place
Bleacher - Discus - 147' & Jav - 177-5 - both 1st Place
Davis - Long - 19-3 & Triple 38-6 - both 1st Place
It is always great to BEAT TOWNSHIP!!!
And the Penn Relays was AWESOME! To see the race go to:
flotrack.com and search for the video for Event 202
Here is the direct website:
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234918-2009-penn-relays/173846-b-4x400-h29-event-202
What a race - Akers anchor was unreal! Meshaw-Santos-Hull-Akers!!!!!!
BEST EVER in the past 50 YEARS!!!
| 1 | Hempfield (Landisville, PA) | 3:20.56 | Kori Meshaw, Joe Santos, Kevin Hull, Hansel Akers |
Check it out. One of the best races in Hempfield History!!
The highlight for me(of course) was the return of David Patzer in the pole vault! After 30 days off with a groin pull, David jumped for the first time against Penn Manor. Took one jump at 12'6 and won the event. At Blue-Streak, Dave came in at 13' and made 13' to team up with Caleb Harper, who went 12'6 to win the event going away! Their total of 25'6" was 2 and 1/2 feet higher then 2nd place!!! Great to have David back!!!!!
Senior Night - Monday Night - 6:30! Weather does not look good!
The "Dream Season" continiues!!
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