Anxious McDonnell staves off Forward at All-Star Meet

(Pub May 15)
Broken record: Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.

Fraction does it: Junior Xavier Fraction (1:56.67), whose status was in question after pulling his right hamstring during a recent practice, won the 800 in 1:56.67 with an impressive finish, blowing by the lead runner convincingly with 200 to go.

Quote: "I thought he had it but then I saw his arms and legs give, you know, body language," Fraction said. "He spent himself the first 600 meters and slowed down. I said to myself 'Why wait to move with 150 [meters] left?' so I just went then."

PENNSAUKEN—Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell's heart was racing hours before the Olympic Conference All-Star Meet.
The anticipation of running possibly his last high school 1,600, coupled with the anxiety of going toe-to-toe with Shawnee super sophomore David Forward, had the Saint Joseph University-bound senior squirming in his chair, looking to the skies – or up at the classroom ceiling -- when taking a religion test Wednesday.
"I just looked at the paper and it'd be like 'What does Pentecost mean?'" McDonnell said, "and I'm like 'I got to race Forward today.'"
McDonnell doesn't know how he scored on the test, but, if nothing else, McDonnell passed his competition the moment he left the line, blitzing the field in a 61-second opening lap.
Thanks to a 20 meter lead and a 62-second final lap, McDonnell was able to stave off a closing Forward and avoid déjà vu of his South Jersey Open meltdown, finishing in a personal-best 4:19.13. Forward placed second, but can leave Pennsauken High knowing he achieved his sophomore goal of breaking 4:20 by finishing in 4:19.77.
"Kevin just went for it in the beginning," Forward said. "It was a really gutsy race. I'm glad he did because he pulled a lot of guys to a fast time."
"I really wanted this one today and to really get a 'W' in the mile too," said McDonnell, who is considering forgoing the 1,600 for the 3,200 at sectionals. "It's definitely a confidence booster."
In the girls' 1,600, Shawnee freshman Casey Doyle outlasted Seneca's Nicole McGrainer (5:09.18), winning in 5:08.4.
Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.
As well as she ran, Brown is kicking herself for her kick, one in which the clock –yes, the ol' distracting clock -- might have slowed her down.
I was looking at the clock, and was like 'OK, I'm going to get a good time' but I really wasn't finishing through," Brown said. "I'm still happy with it."
The unbeaten-in-New Jersey streak of Winslow Township's 4x400 relay team of Gerald Stephens-Holland, Davis McNeil, Barry Cephas and Eric Smith was in jeopardy heading into the bell lap.
Smith, who was substituting in for Darin Washington -- who was busy competing at the conflicting long jump – handed the baton to Cephas in a distant fifth place.
It was a strange spot for the Eagles to be, but Cephas was not rattled, splitting a 48.2 anchor lap to keep the streak alive with a 3:22.9 finish.
Although Cherokee senior Chris Steliga had cameras flashing with his final lap, which pulled the Chiefs to second in a season-best 4:23.14, Cephas was more concerned with Camden's closer during the top of the straightaway
"I know I had it in me," said the senior, who finished second to teammate Washington (10.91) in the 100. "But I thought he had me when we pulled up even at the curve."
No matter the gender competing, Washington Township owned the 400 intermediate hurdles with junior Tim Carey winning in 56.44 and senior Jackie Dim winning in 62.47.
Senior thrower Kwabena Keene won the shot put with a toss of 58-1 and placed second to Timber Creek sophomore Matt Huckabee (143-6) in the discus, something the sophomore conceived was possible only until the final throw.
"I didn't think I could do it at first, but during the last flight I knew I won," he said.
Teammate Montez Blair was the meet's only double male champion, winning the high jump (6-6) and the triple jump in a personal-best 43-8.5, outrulering Camden's Wayne Walls (43-8.25).
While that was the closest jump, Cherry Hill East senior Chantz Powell won the meet's closest race, edging Camden sophomore Syteek Farrington (14.61) in the 110 hurdles by one hundredth of a second, finishing in 14.60.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.