By Andre Brown

Photo Credit: Trackdaypix

If the last meet didn’t grab your attention, the Philadelphia Public League made sure to command the spotlight again on the evening of December 19th at the Ott Center. It was a night filled with record-breaking performances, intense rivalries, and state-qualifying times.

The action kicked off with the 60-meter dash, where Anaiya Holley of Gratz set the tone. She not only dominated her race but also broke the meet record with a blazing time of 7.78 seconds. On the boys’ side, Shaun McCoullum took home the win with an impressive 6.85 seconds, narrowly beating rival James King, who finished second in 6.98 seconds.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Engineering and Science stood out in the girls’ competition, claiming the top two spots. Payton Drumwright ran 9.41 seconds for the win, followed closely by teammate Ciana Brown, who clocked 9.58 seconds. For the boys, it was all about Corey Demas of Archbishop Ryan, who secured a decisive victory with a time of 8.43 seconds.

The meet then transitioned to longer distances, with the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) replacing last week’s 4×800. Central’s girls’ team took first with a time of 14:32.83, while Saint Joseph’s Prep cruised to victory in the boys’ race with an outstanding time of 11:17.48, finishing 26 seconds ahead of the field.

Next up was the high-energy 4×200 relay. West Catholic’s girls’ team continued their dominance, finishing in 1:45.43, while Cardinal O’Hara’s boys’ team took the crown with a winning time of 1:32.60.

The individual 200-meter sprints were a highlight of the night. On the girls’ side, Daijah Lopez narrowly missed breaking 26 seconds, crossing the line in 26.07. The boys’ race was a showdown of speed, with Shaun McCoullum running a phenomenal 21.60 seconds, one of the fastest times in the country. Logan Maloney, McCoullum’s rival, wasn’t far behind, finishing in 21.97 seconds. The stage is set for a thrilling rivalry as the season progresses to states and possibly nationals.

The 800-meter races saw Hana Nelson of Central take the girls’ title in 2:31.68, while Noah Popp of St. Joseph’s Prep claimed the boys’ victory in 2:02.85.

Holley continued to shine, adding another win to her night by dominating the 400-meter race in 58.05 seconds, a time that broke the meet record and qualified her for states. Shymir Bevins of West Catholic took the boys’ 400-meter title with a time of 51.27 seconds.

The 4×400 relays closed out the track events with exciting finishes. Little Flower won the girls’ relay in 4:31.50, while Imhotep Institute Charter captured the boys’ title with a time of 3:38.40.

For full results, including field events, check out PA Mile Split. The Ott Center continues to host these electrifying Thursday night meets, showcasing the talent and competitive spirit of Philadelphia’s Public, Catholic, and Charter schools. Don’t miss the action!