Let's Explore

In Spring 2004, the Felix family was represented at the Penn Relays for possibly the first time. Running on a 4x100m relay squad for the St. Alphonsus CYO team, my brother Luke Felix, ran the lead off leg for both the trials and finals squad while I sat in the stands watching, no idea that 6 years later I'd get my chance to run there as well.

At the time, I was in 6th grade trying CYO track, but not really committing all the way and only kind of enjoying it. But my first teammates ever were a bunch of guys who filtered right into the LaSalle High School program and many of them ended becoming guys I mentioned a time or two on penntrack or on my blog.

Later on in my career, I witnessed my first state meet record in person thanks to Dan Lowry's 4:12 DMR anchor. My only chance for a gold medal at a TFCAofGP was taken away when our anchor got out kicked by the boys from LaSalle. At my house we had a Upper Dublin vs LaSalle vs North Penn volleyball match with a bunch of runners. After Upper Dublin won the Penn Relays DMR title in 2009, LaSalle took the title back for PA in 2013.

My family has always had a connection to LaSalle. My brother and I through running, a few of my cousins have either graduated from there or are heading that way in the next couple years. In some type of weird parallel universe, maybe I even could have ended up attending school there.

So naturally, I pay a little extra attention to LaSalle (as well as my alma mater Upper Dublin and the Suburban One American League) whenever I'm skipping through results. And frankly, it's been hard not to notice them.

Already state meet record holders in the DMR, LaSalle added another indoor state title in 2013. After graduating Coyle, Stone and Magee, three outdoor state finalists in their respective events, the 2014 LaSalle team continued the legacy with a virtually new squad, grabbing silver behind West Chester Henderson. 

As 2015 begins, LaSalle finds themselves reloading a bit again, losing Brendan Billotta, their state medalist in the mile from last indoors and leader of that silver medalist squad a year ago. 

This year's LaSalle squad was a force during cross country, riding a tight pack to a district championship and top 10 finish at states. The team was known for their incredible depth and absurd spreads, but also struggled to find a true front runner, a fact that may have been their undoing at the very difficult state championship.

However, LaSalle has come blazing out the gates on the track with a few runners showing signs they may be poised to develop into the star the team needs. At the Haverford Holiday meet the boys packed a slew of runners in at times that would currently place them in the trenches of state qualifying. Patrick Grant rocketed to 2nd in 4:34.56, while Brendan Price and Ryan Mitchell ran 4:40.08 and 4:40.36. Price is just a sophomore. Sean Princivalle was next for the squad in 4:42, followed by Stephen Paul (4:43) and Eddie Goebel (4:44). Throw in Evan Addison's strong 4:48 and LaSalle boasts 7 sub 4:50 men during the same indoor race in just January. That's impressive.

In the 800m, Stefan Sutton ran 2:02.78 to go toe to toe with John Daly for St Joe's Prep, who has been one of the state's early break out stars this season. Sutton ran 1:58 for LaSalle a year ago in the open 800m.

LaSalle has a ton of depth to work with, including 2:05 man from December Ian Challingsworth, 9:24 3k runner Stephen Paul and other top returners like Corey Driscoll and Michael Phayre.

LaSalle ran a strong early season 4x8 (8:23) which puts them in the mix for a state spot, but it's clear (to me at least) this team appears more likely to end up back in the DMR at states, fighting for yet another top finish. That will be especially true if one of their 7 milers can make another leap into the low 4:30s and join Grant, giving Sutton the ability to stay in his sweet spot at 800m. They also have a quality sprinter in Charles Headen who there is always a chance they could convince to move up.

LaSalle has quite a history in the relays. Here is there last 8 seasons:

2nd 4x8

1st DMR

8th 4x8 

4th 4x8

3rd 4x8

6th 4x8

1st DMR 

2nd DMR

That's a state medal in one distance relay ever single season. I'm honestly not sure any other team can boast that type of resume over that stretch. 2 state titles, 3 sub 8 relays, a meet record and no down years. 

That's the kind of history this year's LaSalle squad is competing with. That's no easy task, but it can also be confidence building. 

As of now, it's unclear exactly who this team will lean on for their relays. It has to be a hard job narrowing this team with double digit quality runners down to 3 or 4 to put a relay on the track. That's a decision I don't envy.

Hopefully that intersquad competition pushes these runners to their best. In the mean time, LaSalle will be chasing medals in both relays at the TFCAofGP meets thanks to their incredible depth.

It appears they have a knack for grabbing medals indoors ....