Penn Relays 2025 Recap
Girls set a new school record in the 4x800
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Headed across the bridge to West Philly—Penn Relays weekend was finally here.
This year, our events were scheduled for both Friday and Saturday. Friday started with the 4x800m relay in the Large School race, followed by our 4x100m relay around lunchtime. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect—sunny and in the low 60s for the 4x8, climbing to the mid-70s by midday. A welcome change from the tough weather we’d battled earlier in the season.
We were in the last of four qualifying heats for the 4x800m relay. A total of 81 teams had been accepted, with only the top 12 advancing to the Championship of America race on Saturday. While the girls went out to warm up, I stayed inside to watch the first three heats. As usual with Penn, things moved quickly—they were even ahead of schedule. The girls returned, grabbed uniforms and spikes, and headed off to check in. Naturally, they were "late" according to the clerks—but we’ve been there before.
Watching the earlier heats, I saw five teams in Heat 1 run faster than our indoor time. Heat 2 added three more to that list, and Heat 3 had four more faster than we’d run this season. Going into our heat, the cutoff for top 12 was 9:21—we needed something special to break through. Seeded fourth in our heat, we had to race like never before.
And we did.
Alyssa Suriano got us going, settling into fourth place after lap one and moving up to third. With 200m to go, she unleashed a monster kick, flying past second place and then into the lead. She handed off to Megan Niglio in first. What more could you ask from your leadoff? When they announced her split—2:16.32—I knew we were on pace for something big.
Megan ran a clean first lap and tucked in behind the leader, losing only 6–8 meters before handing off to Sofia Recinto with a 2:22.76 split. Not her fastest, but a solid leg nonetheless. Sofia started closing the gap steadily and battled the leader throughout her second lap. They were neck and neck at the exchange, where Maddie Meder lost just a step but settled in right behind. Sofia, whose previous best was 2:20.20 from Indoor Nationals, ran a lifetime PR of 2:18.95—her first time under 2:20.
Maddie held back for about 220m, then made her move on the back stretch. She surged into the lead and never looked back. When the dust settled, the clock read 9:15.02—Maddie had split 2:17.00. We had secured the 11th seed for Saturday’s Championship of America final. It was the second-fastest outdoor 4x800m in school history, just off our record of 9:14.25 set at last year’s Penn Relays COA race. Three girls ran lifetime PRs. One of the best reactions? When the newer runners realized they had just won a Penn Relays wheel. Their splits now rank #3, #4, and #6 all-time at Cherokee.
Next up: the 4x100m relay.
This was only the second time this group had run together. Three of the girls were on last year’s record-setting relay, but replacing Maddie Van Haren is no small task. Rylan Cieslik, Ajane Hill, Veronica Ashcraft, and Morgan Shank ran 49.67, placing 5th in their heat. It was the fastest time Cherokee has ever run in the 4x100 at Penn Relays—and with a few exchanges to clean up, the ceiling is even higher.
Saturday brought a new challenge—and new weather.
The 4x400m relay was set for 12:20, with the 4x800m COA race at 4:45. The wind picked up, and rain threatened all day. We didn’t have our top lineup for the 4x400m, but we still fielded a strong squad for the South Jersey Large School Division.
As the meet ran ahead of schedule (likely to beat the rain), I started to worry—we were down to the final heats, and the girls still hadn’t returned from the warm-up area. Once again, they checked in just in time. Veronica Ashcraft led off and handed to Rylan Cieslik, who was running her first-ever 400m. Veronica split 1:03.80, Rylan 1:01.79. Grace Wojciechowski followed with a lifetime best of 1:05.8, and freshman Erin Healy anchored in 1:02.9. The team ran 4:14.32, finishing 9th and posting our fastest 4x400m of the season.
Then came the big one: the Championship of America 4x800m.
While the girls warmed up, the skies opened. They returned from the warm-up area soaked, but by check-in time, the rain had stopped. You could just imagine what Coach Jarvis was thinking—how do you recreate Friday’s magic under these conditions?
We kept the same lineup.
The gun went off. Alyssa was in 11th at 400m (66.2 split, nearly identical to Friday). She stayed patient and surged in the final 200m, moving up to 7th with a 2:17.61 split. Megan got out faster than Friday and held between 6th and 9th in a tight pack. She split 2:20.77, handing off to Sofia in 9th.
Sofia fell back to 10th, then battled back. She went out hard with a 65.0 first lap and powered her way into 7th, handing off to Maddie. Sofia split a lifetime best of 2:17.13. Maddie opened in 65.9 and held 7th before slipping one spot down the stretch. She split 2:17.99.
The clock stopped at 9:13.67—a new outdoor school record and 8th overall in the Championship of America final. The smiles said it all. That time now ranks #7 in South Jersey history.
What a weekend. The magic of Penn Relays continues.
Next up: the South Jersey Elite Meet on May 1st.
Fundraising Goals
It is the mission of the Cherokee XCTF Alumni Association to support the current crop of track and field and cross country athletes.
We are focusing on 5 major areas that we feel, with the support of the coaches, are important for this generation of student-athletes:
Offset or completely cover the cost of post-season events not sponsored by the school. This includes National Meets (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) and invitationals (Oregon, etc).
Award scholarships for deserving seniors.
Provide State Champions and School Record holders with gifts.
Support families with athletes who would like to attend a cross country camp but cannot afford it.
Provide funding for athletes needing physiotherapy who cannot afford it.
We currently have the availability to collect funds via Venmo, cash and checks, and credit card. You also can become a paid subscriber.
During the months of April, May & June, we will be collecting funds that will directly contribute to funding for spring track post-season meets. Please consider donating to help fund our scholarship money.
Venmo: @ Cherokee4xalumni
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About Cherokee XCTF Alumni Association
We are a non-profit organization with volunteer board members that seek to help provide funds that go directly to the current team. Our mission is:
to provide funding for travel and lodging to championship meets not covered by the school.
to provide scholarships to graduating seniors.
to provide recognition and awards to State Champion winners and new School Record holders.
to provide funding for current athletes who need assistance attending cross country camp.
to provide funding for current athletes who need assistance seeking treatment from injuries related to track/cross country.
Our Board
President: Jeff Storch 1998
Vice President: Michelle (Bilicki) Wolosky 2001
Treasurer: Caitlin (O’Malley) Bertheaud 2005
Secretary: Mike Gavio 2020
Marketing Director: Marc Pelerin 2002
Event Coordinator: Tim Haggerty 1996
Alumni Liaison Director: Chase Miller 2020
Fundraising Director: Caitlin (McDonnell) Heitman 2007