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).

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!!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!

Team Keeps Rolling!!!

The Black Knight Invitational was a wet one! The team stayed focus & had some outstanding performances:

Hansel Akers 400m - 1st - 49.60 anchored 4x400 to victory!
Kevin Hull 1600m - 1st - 4:21.20!!
Frank Lee - 3200m - 1st - 10:24
Kori Meshaw - 2nd - 300H 39.30
4x100 relay 1st - 44.80 (Bechtel, Cummings, Mannino, Santos)
Alec Bleacher - 1st - Jav - 174-11

Go to our website to see all the results:
Hempfield Boys Track Website

Monday we had Warwick & rolled to a 95-55 victory. Hansel Akers ran the 100m for the first time in 11.0! Kori Meshaw won the 100H in 15.0. Joe Santos ran his first 400m in 51.4! Cory Brown ran a great 800m in 2:01.2. The pole vaulters were flying, Caleb Harper jumped a PR of 12'6" & Greg Schimmel also jumped a PR of 12'!

The depth is continuing to improve. Mannino in the 100 & 200, the Jav throwers - Feister, Bleacher, Cummings, Munro. Discus - Bleacher, Haldeman, & Forgrave. The jumps - Davis, Oblender & Enoch.

The only problem the next few weeks is the injury bug. Kori Meshaw got the clearance from hos doctor - so lookout 300 hurdles. Dave Patzer is still fighting a groin injury & should find out soon when he can come back in the pole vault. And, Joel Ladson is fighting his bad back to get back to dominate the jumps!

Next up - Shippensburg Invitational - Saturday, April 18!!

Team "Takes it to Another Level!" Crushed Cedar Crest!!

Okay. Imagine this! The team has a big meet against long time rival Cedar Crest! Before the team enters the bus, we are missing Joel Ladson, he in injured with a bad back (He was the favorite to win the high jump, long, jump, & triple jump). Our top pole vaulter & sprinter, Dave Patzer, is out with a muscle pull! Cummings and Meshaw are sick, but on the bus. How will the team react.....

AWESOME! Final score 110 to 40!!! We sweep the 100 meters, and the 800, discus & jav! Des Davis fills in with a long jump over 20' & triple jump over 40', places 2nd in the long & wins the triple! The throwers, led by Alec Bleecher, 1st in Discus & Jav outscore the Falcons 22-5! Akers wins the 200 & 400 and anchors the 4x400 to victory! Hull wins the 1600 & runs great legs in the 4x800 & 4x400. Harper wins the pole vault, Santos the 100, Grasso the 300 hurdles, Groff the 3200, and many points are scored in the second & third places!!!

Great team effort! Great Focus! Keep it rolling till Warwick next Monday!

Hempfield over McCaskey!

Over the past 30 years, before the McCaskey meet begins a plan is made. The points are checked and the magic number of 76 (what it takes to win a meet) is squeezed out of all 18 events. Well this year, the numbers seemed to work out & guess what? Hempfield 89.5 & McCaskey 60.5!

The sprinters did the job, taking 2-3 in the 1oom & 2nd in the 200 & sweeping the 400!!! David Patzer, Joe Santos, Hansel Akers, Kori Meshaw, & Justin Fuhrman scored big points in the sprints! Distance runners, Kevin, Forrest, Matt, Brad & Frank outscored McCaskey 29-3!

And the throws, the jav crew went crazy! Bleacher, Feister, Cummings! 1-2-3. Forgraves in the shot & Bleacher & Haldeman in the Discus! 20-7!

The jumpers also did well! With Patzer nursing a slight injury, Caleb Harper & Greg Schimmel took 2-3 (a Harper best of 12'3"!), and Ladson led the way in the jumps!

Great victory! Great team! Great Expectations for more to come!

Next Monday is Cedar Crest! At Cedar Crest!