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Indoor Track & Field: Patriots Compete at PTFCA Indoor States

By: Joe Cicchino - Sports Information Assistant

STATE COLLEGE -- Germantown Academy sent a program record seven athletes to the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) Indoor State Championship on Feb. 24 and came away with excellent results. While the season the may be close to over, the performances will be hard to forget. 

"What an exciting day," Head Coach Dion Lehman said. "GA was everywhere, from sprints and distance events on the track, to the pole vault runways, to the shot put circle. I'm so proud of all seven athletes who competed today."

After having missed a majority of the indoor season due to injury, Caleb Johnson '19 returned in style. The senior cleared 15' 6" in the boys pole vault and took first in the event. Earlier in the week, Lehman said that they were not sure if Johnson would be available for the event. 

Lehman said he was especially happy for Johnson, since he knew how much hard work he put into being ready for the competition. While his finish was strong, the senior said he was nervous leading up to the meet, but after clearing 15' on his first attempt, he was relieved. 

He added that he had vaulted twice last week, but outside of that had not since before January. Johnson said that the plan was to clear each bar on the first attempt so he did not have to push himself more than necessary. 

"Placing third and second the past years set me up to want nothing but first this year," Johnson said. "It didn’t hit me that I had won until they began to hand out the medals and announce the places. It feels incredible to finally be able to say I am the PA State Champ, and not necessarily because I felt like I deserved it but because it is a testimony to this gift God has given me and to the work my coaches, teammates, and family have put into me and all they’ve sacrificed for me."

A pair of GA runners took second place in their respective events by very slim margins. Issy Goldstein '20 finished the girls one mile in 4:56.64, while Fore Abinusawa '22 ran 7.32 in the 60 meters. Goldstein finished three seconds behind the top runner, while Abinusawa was .01 shy of the top spot. Both runners helped power GA to a third-place finish among girls' teams.

Goldstein had plenty to worry about in her run, having to fight through a pack of runners early on. While she finished near the top, she was not content with the time.

"The mile had a pretty strange breakdown because Taryn Parks (Greencastle-Antrim), Jess Schneider (Notre Dame) and I got stuck behind the rest of the pack at the point when we could cut in," Goldstein said. "Trying to come back from that was pretty difficult and messed with the rhythm of the race, but I think that my last 600 was when I started to feel most comfortable and started to make up a little bit of the time I had lost. I’m really happy that I placed second, but I’m still a bit disappointed with the time." 

The junior also ran in the 3,000 meters, taking seventh with a personal-best time of 10:02.39. Goldstein said that she knew would be tired going into the event, but just wanted to try and put herself in the race and not count herself out. 

Abinusawa went into the finals of the 60 meter dash as the only freshman among the racers and showed that she belongs. Abinusawa's time in the 60 meters was faster than any Pennsylvania athlete had ever run prior to today. She also ran the 200 meters, placing third with a time of 24.47. The top spot may have eluded the freshman, but she is not too torn up about it.

"Although I placed second, I’m still very proud of my performance as it was a PR and I know that I still have room for improvement," Abinusawa said. "The same thing goes for the 200. It may not have been an indoor PR but it was a nice time considering that I had ran multiple events prior to it. In all I’m really happy about how I did at states today. I’m glad I was able to race against some amazing competitors and run some great times."

Lehman was impressed by the day put together by both girls. He said that Goldstein "should be really pleased with her day," and that Abinusawa impressed him with her composure.

"Issy and Fore both had the tough task of running multiple events," Lehman said. "For Issy, that meant coming back and running the 3,000 meters a few hours after finishing second in the mile. For Fore, two events actually ended up being four races when you include prelims and semis in the 60. She hardly had time to catch her breath."

In the girls pole vault, Lily Cohen '20 took third place with a 12' jump. The junior said she felt good in warmups and started out strong. However, despite having a lot of height going over the bar on the next attempt, "it didn't quite come together."

"The Indoor State Meet was really fun and I’m glad our whole team did well," Cohen said.
"Overall, I’m happy with third place and it was a valuable learning experience. This meet was a great team event. Each athlete on our team brought energy and excitement which was key to motivating and pushing each other."

GA had a pair of throwers compete at the meet in Ola Abinusawa '19 and Meaghan Toscano '20. Abinusawa took 13th in the boys shot put with a throw of 50' 3.75" while Toscano finished 10th after throwing 39' 7.25". Robert DiDonato '21 ran the boys one mile in 4:36.16 for a 17th-place finish. He was the youngest runner in the event.