Ritchie’s final sprint breaks new ground for Marple Newtown

HAVERFORD — As she entered the final 100 meters of her anchor leg in the southern sprint medley relay Saturday at the Girls Delco Relays, Marple Newtown’s Rebecca Ritchie was not thinking of winning the race.

“I wanted to pass the runner in front of me so my team would finish third and medal,” Ritchie said.

Once she moved into third place, however, Ritchie had a change of heart.

“I realized I could take first,” Ritchie said. “I was like, ‘Wow, they’re slowing down and I have more in me.’”

Julia Fallows, who ran the leadoff leg, realized something special was about to happen, too.

“When she came around (PA announcer Bill Coren of Strath Haven) kept saying the two teams in front of her, but she just kept going,” Fallows said. “We were screaming for her.”

With Fallows and teammates Piper Walton and Donna Holt offering words of encouragement down the stretch, Ritchie passed the anchor runners from Springfield and Ridley to give the Tigers the victory in the event that consists of legs of 100-, 100-, 200- and 400-meters.

The victory touched off a wild celebration among the runners and coaches Robin McNally and Nancy McNally, because it was believed to be Marple’s first victory at the Delco Relays.

“Most of us PR’d in our splits so they were absolutely thrilled for us,” Holt said. “We haven’t won in a long time, especially at a big meet like this so this really means a lot.”

Holt had enough energy in reserve from her 200 meter leg that she sprinted across the turf at Haverford’s A.G. Cornog field twice to urge Ritchie on.

“I had just finished passing off to her and I immediately ran to the other side of the track,” Holt said. “I thought the girl in fifth was going to pass her, but then I saw her speed up and knew she had more in her. I ran back to the other straightaway to watch her finish and when I got there she was passing everyone. We were just screaming. We were all together and we knew she was going to win.”

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From left, Marple Newtown’s Julia Fallows, Piper Walton, Donna Holt and Rebecca Ritchie show off the gold medals they won in the southern sprint medley relay at the Girls Delco Relays Saturday