SFA Sets New Patriot Games Records in Relays and 100m

We signed our name in the history books at the Patriot Games Championships, hosted by John Carroll, in Bel Air MD yesterday. The Panthers Gold (Diggs, Bell, Williams, Jackson) 4x200m Relay set a new Championship record of 1:32.9. The Panthers Gold (Bell, Williams, Felder, Diggs) 4x100m Relay followed suit and set a new Championship record of 43.9 in that event. Michael Bell tied the 100m Championship record at 10.8, a personal record for him. Bell is is now co-owner of the Championship and school 100m record also held by Tyrus Costly '12. In his first year on the team, Sophomore, Noah Turley improved his seasonal 200m time by 1 full second, running a 23.5. Panthers Black 4x100m is showing great consistency, running 44.7 again, we look forward to moving them up to the Gold Team as our Seniors head off to college. Captains, Jawanza Diggs and Jared Jackson, ran seasonal personal bests in the 200m dash at 22.4 and 22.9 respectively. Jackson, the anchor leg of the national qualifier Panthers Gold 4x200m, is out in rest this week due to a minor injury. He will return for the MIAA Conference Championships next week. Congratulations SFA Panthers, see you this weekend at the Clash of the Titans Invitational @ New Town HS, Owings Mills MD.

Why is this day different from all the other days?

At passover there are 4 questions, but let's answer the first one, why was this day different from all the other days?
On this day, our team showed up to the track, not just in body but in true spirit of competition. They shed the chained fear and robed the courage. They enjoyed the taste of a chase for a nationals bid, and savored it like from Manna from Heaven. The football coaches and I could not have been prouder! As a coach, I don't often get everything I want. Today, I think I got it all. Our kids did it all, they ran it all, and they won it all... well, almost all, there was a 3rd place or 5th place here and there, but I'll take it! :) They won our first track trophies for the school trophy case!
The Baltimore City Invitational was today, and the team was very excited to put some work in. It was an impressive day, they went all the way in. Teamwork, Courage and Strategy were demonstrated over and over again. The team I knew they always were, showed up today. I was admittedly concerned going into this meet, but they showed heart. Our national qualifier Panthers Gold 4x200m team (Diggs, Williams, Bell, Jackson) is starting to peak again, they pulled off 1:32.70 with a good wind blowing in the faces of the 1st and 3rd runners, and a surprise meet schedule change. Panthers Black (Lowery, Dingle, Turley, Christian) and Panthers Gold 4x100m put it all in and came out victorious. Both teams earned a spot on the podium. Panthers Gold (Diggs, Felder, Williams, Bell) took the overall race in a impressive 44.29. The new long jumper (Dingle) PRd today and won the event jumping over 19 ft. He will be dangerous when he gets to practice LJ, right now it's just unchained ability. Our new 400m runner (Felder) destroyed his heat, and cruised down the straightaway to an easy victory; as if saying "Coach, really!?". I will do my part and challenge him now. He earned it. The 4x200m and the 4x100m were only separated by heats of the 800m run, that is a tough recovery schedule. They all earned it today, and I am happy to take them to Penn Relays next week.