anyone to ever catch. Despite the overwhelming difficult task, Matt Bee put a dent in the gap, splitting 1:55. Bee handed off to Connor Manley, six seconds behind Abington. Just about everyone had given up on CB West's chances of winning the 4x800 - everyone except for Manley. Connor never took his eyes off of Will Taylor, Abington's anchor leg, and ran his first lap in a blistering 53
seconds - a pace that would be too fast for most runners, but not Manley. He kept charging after Abington and closing the gap. What looked impossible slowly turned to possible as Manley rapidly closed in on Abington. In the final stretch, with the crowd roaring on its feet, Connor passed Abington in the final meter of the race and Central Bucks West had won its first outdoor 4x800 state championship.
The excitment continued for CB West as the 4x100 took to finals on the track. Dan Ernst led off for the bucks with a powerful start, making up the stagger in the opening leg. Ernst handed the baton off to Bill Bell and Bell maintained the Bucks good position. Bell than passed the baton to Greg Branch, who ran an excellent turn, making up even more of the stagger. Branch handed off to Rashaad Williams right with the leaders. Rashaad ran a brilliant final leg down the stretch and cross the finish line in third with an amazing time of 41.97 seconds. That time marks the first time the relay dipped under 42 seconds and was good for another school record and state bronze medal.
Intelligencer:
"IMPOSSIBLE DREAM"
"CB West 4x800 Relay Earns Dramatic Gold Medal"
"CB West's Connor Manley Provided Moment to Remember"
"Athlete of the Week - Connor Manley"