'Epic Moment' for CB West Track Team

Shippensburg - The Indianapolis 500 is one American tradition seen every year on Memorial Day weekend; another is the annual trek made by the finest track and field performers that the Keystone state has to offer.

They converge on the tiny college town of Shippensburg in search of something that is not available in the Wal Mart that welcomes visitors to town as they trickle off the interstate.

What they are all in search of is a PIAA State championship gold medal.

Thousands of track fans and hundreds of athletes make their way over the turnpike and crossroads to have an opportunity to etch their names into the rich history of the championships.

’s 4 x 800 boys relay team has battled in some pretty intense races over the past two years, but nothing compared to the drama that unfolded in the PIAA state championship final.

The Bucks fantastic foursome of Nico Metzler, Matt McGarvey, Matt Bee and Connor Manley, who qualified for the finale with a time of 7:50.38, started the race as many before it, with Metzler trying to work through traffic to give his teammates some breathing room. With an elite field, that in itself can be a daunting task.

When the sophomore finished his second circuit, putting the medal hopes in the hands, or feet, as it would be, of his senior relay mates, the Bucks found themselves in third place behind Abington and Mitlon Hershey.

“I just had to focus on hearing the gun through all of the crowd cheering,” said Metzler. “When guys bump around like that at the start and try to block it up, it just adds fuel to me and helps me kick it up.”

The senior tandem of McGarvey and Bee handled the middle portions of the race in an effortless looking fashion, always staying within touch of Abington, who qualified with the top prelim time, besting CB West by .10 seconds. 

After three flawless exchanges, it was Connor Manley who found himself about three seconds behind the Ghosts' anchor man.

“It was awesome to be in a position to go for gold like that,” said Bee. “It’s the kind of finish that you dream about. I saw the Abington guy was running out of gas and all I could do is cheer Connor on and hope he was able to catch him.” 

Manley stalked Abington’s anchor runner for the last 400 meters, finally pushing past him at the finish line giving the Bucks the state championship with a blistering time of 7:41.51. The Ghosts finished at 7:41.57, claiming the silver medal.

“It was an epic moment,” said McGarvey. “To win the state championship like that is something you dream about, but nether imagine could happen. This is unbelievable; our goal all year has been to win the gold medal.”

“I saw him slowing a little and just knew I had to go all out that last 100,” said Manley. “We are all best friends, so to win this with these guys in our last time here at states together means more to me than I can put into words.” 

The boys' 4 x 100 meter relay also claimed the bronze medal in the final, finishing behind Susquehana and Strath Haven.

The Bucks made their presence know throughout the championships. The CB West ladies, who snared a bronze medal in the 4 x 800 meter relay, stepped to the front with their performance in the 4 x 400 meter final. It was the highlight of the day for freshman Jamilla Branch, who also qualified in the 400 meter dash but missed the final by less than a second.

The group of Branch, Lizanne Furst, Alex Gervais and Sherry Ben-Joseph have been running at the top of their game since winning the Suburban One heat at the Penn Relays with a time of 3:56.88, before finishing third in the Philadelphia final, behind Delsea Regional and Abington.

In the final, Abington got out quickly with Furst right in their shadow, and following the exchange to youngster Branch, it was the senior combination of Gervais and Ben-Joseph that proved lethal to rest of the field. In the final 100 meters, the only two in contention for the gold medal were Ben-Joseph and Abington anchor Nicole Grasty, who crossed the line first for gold medallist Abington, setting a new PIAA record with a time of 3:46.20.

The Bucks finished at 3:50.83, more than three seconds ahead of third place finisher Upper Darby.

“Wow, what a race, they are such a good team, it feels like we have been racing against them forever,” said Gervais. “I am so excited to win the silver medal in my last time here at states; we finished just behind the team that set a time that no one is the state has ever run before.” 

Continuing what seems to be a growing tradition at CB West, the relays again were the highlight of the show as they claimed hardware in three events.

“We have really focused on our relays,” said Ben-Joseph. “We really love each other and it was so much fun to run together this year. I am extremely happy with how well we did and will miss this next year.”

“I am ready to do it again,” said an enthusiastic Lizanne Furst. “I can’t wait for next year all ready, this has been amazing.”

100 meters boys - CB West Rashaad Williams ran 11.19, which missed qualifying for the finals by .01

3200-meter run boys - 15th  Izewski, Alex  (senior)  CB East      9:24.36    9:34.15 

1600-meter run boys - 11th Gregor, Austin  (senior) CB South     4:18.02    4:26.06

400- meter run - Branch, Jamila, CB West              56.66      57.30                                Stranix, Michelle          CB East             57.86      58.90   

800 meter run-  11th  Manley, Connor       CB West 01           1:55.43    2:00.97

 300 meter hurdles- Hynes, Ryan        CB Sourh  39.05               39.22                               Knauer, Kelly               CB East         46.03               46.14 

Shot put AAA girls - 13 Broglie, Devon            CB East       36-01.25   35-10.50 

 200 meter dash- prelims Ernst, Dan                 CB West             22.40      22.63

 Boys 4 x 400 meter Relay AAA –prelims

Central Bucks West                              3:21.23    3:20.25

Girls Javelin AAA23rd- Comfort, Jen               CB West             128-10     114-03   

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay AAA    School                   Prelims     Finals 

1 West Chester Henderson 01                                 9:13.22    8:55.43R     

2 Strath Haven 01                                                          9:16.08    9:02.36#        

3 Central Bucks West 01                                              9:22.40    9:06.25   

4 Downingtown East 01                                                  9:17.55    9:06.83#     

5 North Allegheny 07                                                   9:23.99    9:09.99#       

6 Cardinal O'Hara 12                                                     9:14.69    9:15.57#       

7 Central Bucks South 01                                             9:23.16    9:18.60   

Boys 4x100 Meter Relay AAA  

School                                                           Prelims     Finals    

1 Susquehanna Township 03                     41.82      41.74        

2 Strath Haven 01                                       41.94      41.81         

3 Central Bucks West 01                               42.37      41.97    

Girls 4x400 Meter Relay AAA  

School                                                           Prelims     Finals   

1 Abington 01                                               3:47.41    3:46.20R      

2 Central Bucks West 01                         3:52.80    3:50.83         

3 Upper Darby 01                                    3:52.70    3:53.99