Penn Charter Sprinters Race to Victory in State Championships

Kashif Smith, a Penn Charter junior, defeated a number of nationally ranked sprinters in the 60-meter dash to claim the state title at the recent Pennsylvania Indoor Track and Field State Championships. In the 4x200, Dareem David, Shawn David, Je'Ron Stokes and Smith raced to a seasonal best and school record for that relay - strong enough for a fourth place overall finish in the relay.

After cruising through qualifying rounds, Smith put it all out on the track in the 60-meter dash and, in the blink of an eye, broke the finish tape before a number of nationally ranked rivals. Smith claimed the individual state title in the dash with his 6.96 second clocking. Smith was the sole independent school champion in a meet that pulled in more than 100 competing schools.

"Though the competition was strong and the expectations were high," Smith said, "I think I was able to focus and run well because of the weeks of preparation and a year of experience after last year's mishap." In last year's race, Smith false started in the semifinals.

The relay team also sought to overcome some past history: In the previous week's Meet of Champions, the anchor runner fell in the closing meters of the race. Running in a slow heat at the state meet, though, the foursome ran much of the race alone in finishing in a seasonal best and school record 1:30.6. That time was good enough for a strong fourth place overall finish.

Head coach Steve Bonnie was pleased with the Quakers' performance and how it highlighted the school's core of talented sprinters. "We are delighted that Kashif was able to win the individual title, pleased that the relay bounced back, and look forward to nationals with great anticipation," Bonnie said.

The 4x200 meter relay team, along with Smith and sophomore Dareem David in the dash, next move on to the prestigious Nike Indoor National Meet in Landover, Md., on March 10-11.