Tatnall, Salesianum take DIAA indoor track titles

Salesianum Track and Field Team posing after winning the 2023 DIAA state championship, Photo courtesy of Salesianum Twitter page

The 2022-23 Delaware high school indoor track and field season came to a close Saturday in Landover, Maryland.

The true 200 meter oval at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex was the perfect site as the Tatnall girls and Salesianum boys secured the team titles. Tatnall accumulated 131 points to finish ahead of Padua with 107 points while Smyrna and St. Mark’s tied for third place with 39 points each. The Sals recorded 98 points to win the boys championship. Alexis I. duPont took 2nd with 58 points and Cape Henlopen was a close third with 57. 

One of the closest races of the day was the girls 4 x 800m relay as Padua and Conrad battled neck-and-neck until the Pandas pulled away down the final straight to win in a time of 9:41.96, just three seconds ahead of the Conrad team (9:44.78). The winning foursome for Padua were: Anna Bockius, Katherine Bockius, Alessandra DeAscanis and Teresina DeAscanis. The Conrad team consisted of Jordan Blanck, Karen Tanner, Mallory Holloway and Alyssia Napier. 

Tatnall girls track and field team posing after winning the 2023 DIAA state championship, photo courtesy of DIAA

Not to be outdone, the boys 4 x 800 race was equally exciting as the Caesar Rodney team of Maddox Downs, Patrick Craig, Evan Easton and Ian Cain ran a “blistering” 8:23.25 four and a half seconds faster than Archmere Academy. The Auks time of 8:28.00 was turned in by Julain Facciolo, Nicholas Donelson, Camilo Alvarez and Richie Angiullo.

Salesianum edged Sussex Central in the 4 x 200 relay with a time of 1:31.05 to the Golden Knights’ time of 1:31.07. The Spartans from St. Mark’s took 1st in the girls 4 x 200 relay.

In the sprint events, Juliana Balon from Padua won the 55m dash while Tatnall’s Adrianna Montgomery finished first in the 55m hurdles. On the boys side, Yougendy Mauricette from Sussex Tech won the 55m hurdles and Sussex Central’s Timothy Wright took first in the 55m dash. 

Archmere 4 x 200 relay team. left to right, Clara Korley, Ryan Vitola, Icyss Hitchens and Gabby Henry, photo by Glenn Frazer

Cape Henlopen swept the top three spots in the “pole vault” with Bailey Fletcher (13′) taking first, Edward Houck (12′) was second and their teammate Brady Mauro (11′-6″) vaulted into the 3rd position. 

Here are some of the other winners from Saturday’s finals:

Shot put – Girls, Gabriella Paolella-Ursuline / Boy’s, Courtney McDermott – Mount Pleasant

High Jump – Girl’s, Brooke Duke – Smyrna / Boy’s, Dallas Parker – A I DuPont

Long Jump – Girl’s, Juliana Balon – Padua / Boy’s, Makhi Scott – Smyrna

Triple Jump – Girl’s, Danni McGonigle – St. Marks / Boy’s, Donte Dockery – A I DuPont

Pole Vault – Girl’s, Elce Walsh – Padua

1600m – Girl’s, Katie Payne – Tatnall / Boy’s, Ethan Walther – DMA

400m – Girl’s, Kennedy Smith – Caravel / Boy’s, Yougendy Mauricette – Sussex Tech

800m – Girl’s, Mary Flanagan – Padua / Boy’s, Ian Cain – CR

200m – Girl’s, Juliana Balon – Padua / Boy’s, Jasyn Truitt – Sals

3200m – Girl’s, Lily Murphy – St. Andrews / Boy’s, Ryan Baker – Cape

4 x 400 relay – Girl’s, Padua / Boy’s, A I DuPont

For a complete list of all events and results, visit https://de.milesplit.com

Glenn Frazer