Girard College's Thelma Davies dominates again at Pa. state track meet
She won golds in the 100 and 200.
There isn't necessarily a "correct" way to handle being an exceptional athlete, but few parents would have any qualms about their children emulating Girard College sophomore track star Thelma Davies.
Davies, who again won gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters at the PIAA track and field championships Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg, conducts herself with a refreshingly genuine blend of sweetness, humility and fierce competitiveness.
After she set a new PIAA record in the 100 meters last season, her name rang out across Philadelphia to young girls and their parents.
In fact, about two weeks ago, her coach, Diamond Woolford, was at his cousin's college graduation at Gwynedd Mercy when his two young nieces, 10 and 11, asked about Davies.
At their request, Woolford used his iPhone to connect via FaceTime with his humble pupil.
"They were shell-shocked, almost star-struck, sitting there with their mouths open," Woolford said, smiling. "It's a good thing that she is inspiring younger kids already. I couldn't imagine going through that when I was a sophomore."
It's a role Davies relishes, one with which she has already grown accustomed because she is a committed older sister to Anna Davies, who is 12.
"Before track started, I had to be a role model from a younger age because I'm four years older than her," Davies said. "Everything I do, she's going to follow. If I'm a bad role model, she'll be one, too. I just try to look out for her as much as possible."
Davies said her parents, Eliza and Emmanuel, instilled that mindset in her because of their strong "African-Christian" background.
On Wednesday, Woolford, who ran at Penn State, said a young girl came to watch Davies practice for the upcoming state finale. Other parents, he said, have also sought his coaching services and hope their daughters will be inspired by Davies.
Woolford, though, says he often encourages parents to let their daughters be children first, especially at young ages.
He has also employed that type of patience with Davies, while still pushing her toward success. Despite her advanced speed, he has yet to introduce weight lifting to her regimen.
"I wanted to make sure we got her acclimated with her body before we added more strength," he said.
Beneath Saturday's dreary, drizzly ash-colored sky, Davies narrowly missed her record of 11.58 seconds in the 100 meters by finishing at 11.62.
In the 200 meters, Davies finished at 24.15 and tweaked her hamstring near the finish line. Last year, she tied the PIAA record of 23.85 seconds.
The national high school record is owned by Team USA star and former Los Angeles Baptist High (Calif.) standout Allyson Felix (22.52 in 2003), whom Davies has looked up to for years.
"It's really awesome to me because I want to be that type of role model and that type of image for other little girls to follow and also for the ones who have a passion for track," Davies said.
With a shy smile, she added, "It's a blessing. I'm just blessed, and I'm just trying to make the best of it and trying to help other people and, with the little popularity I have, trying to make something of it."
Mind over weather
La Salle junior high jumper Jonathon Squadrito experienced a brief moment of fear when he saw a few competitors slip just before taking flight.
But Squadrito, ranked in the middle of the pack before the event began, didn't let a little thing like drizzle stop him.
"You just put it to the back of your mind," said the 6-foot-5 jumper. "You try to think, 'Get that foot down. Get up and over and just snap.' "
That mindset helped him score something of an upset: a first-place finish with a winning height of 6-6, his personal record.
"It feels amazing," said Squadrito, whose best as a freshman was just 5-2. "I would have been happy with fifth or sixth with my friend, Alex Sislo. He's a really good jumper. But getting first was just outstanding."
Sislo finished ninth at 6-4. Penn Wood's Dennis Manyeah, the top qualifier going into the weekend at 6-8, finished second, also at 6-6 but needed more jumps than Squadrito to lose the tie breaker.
Football finish
Downingtown East senior Jeremy Jennings might see a lot of Meadville senior Journey Brown in the next few seasons.
Brown, who set a PIAA record in the 100 on Saturday, will play running back at Penn State next season, while Jennings will play defensive back at Temple.
"If I happen to tackle him I'll make some jokes or whatever and just keep it going," said Jennings, who finished second.
Brown finished in 10.43, besting the mark of Penn Wood's Leroy Burrell, who finished in 10.44 back in 1985.
"Journey is a good runner, and I'll see him next year at Penn State," Jennings said, "so we'll be playing each other, and hopefully we'll build a good friendship and keep it going."
Jennings didn't make the semifinals as a sophomore and also finished second to Brown as a junior. That matters very little, however, because he knows he made someone special very proud.
"Since I'm going to school for football, this was my last race," he said. "I just wanted to go 100 percent and make my mom happy by bringing home a medal."
Not just about first place
Del-Val Charter senior Marcus Giddings had never tried track and field before when a girls' basketball coach at the school, Stan Alston, suggested he try the high jump.
Friday afternoon, Giddings, who also played basketball for the Warriors, finished 10th and left with ice on his left ankle and pride in his heart.
"I had never done track in my life, so when I found out I made states it was an honor to be here amongst all the best," said Giddings, who injured his ankle on his final attempt.
Before he finished, however, he cleared a personal best, 6 feet. The winner was Notre Dame-Green Pond's Greg Lauray, who cleared 6-11. Motivation's Nafese Mack finished eighth at 6-2.
Giddings said he will attend West Chester next season, where his older brother DaShon, plays basketball.
"I fouled out at 6-2, but I'm still proud of myself, knowing that I made it here without all the practice that everyone else had," he said.
"Honestly, this taught me that you just have to go for stuff sometimes. Nobody can tell you that you can't do it. You just have to go out and do it and see how good you are. And if you're not that good the first time, you just have to keep going until you are."
Overall, the North Penn girls' narrowly edged Cheltenham, 51-50.5, to win the 3A team championship. In 2A, Neumann-Goretti girls bested District 10 Hickory, 56-51, for the top spot.