2006 Larry Simmons Invitational

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Robert W. Denney Jr

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Sun Shining on Simmons' Track & Field Invitational and Legacy

By Bob Denney Jr

            The sun was shining and every where in and around Louis Scott Field at Penncrest High School there were pockets of activity – fans in the stands sunning themselves and cheering for friends and family members, coaches huddled with members of their teams in brightly colored tents set up around the edges of the athletic complex, runners circling the track warming up for their events, athletes stretching on the field, jumpers and pole vaulters hurdling their bodies through the air and throwers tossing the javelin, discus and shot put in selected spaces outside the stadium. The occasion was the Larry Simmons Track & Field Invitational, formerly known as the Lions Invitational but renamed two years ago in honor of the former great head coach of the Penncrest girls' track and field program after he suddenly passed away on October 14, 2004. Now in its second year under Simmons's name, the man who organized the event back in 1999 so that the high school track and field athletes in the area would have something to do during spring break would have loved it!

           Coach Simmons was indeed a special man. A tireless educator on and off the oval for over 40 years at Ben Franklin High School, Cheyney University, Norristown Area High School, Central High School, Penncrest and numerous organizations, he never missed an opportunity to help or encourage a student-athlete, a friend or a peer regardless of the color of the uniform or the color of their skin. No matter what their affiliation, their talent level or their specialty, Larry would give them helpful suggestions or cheer them on. With his own athletes, Coach Simmons treated them all with equal interest, whether they were a budding star or a deep reserve. I remember one time back in the late 1990's when he excitedly called this reporter late one night to give me the news that while his squad had lost a Central League meet, a number of his girls had achieved personal bests in their events. The warmth and excitement in his voice, despite the fact that they had lost by 30 points, was vintage Larry Simmons. 

          So it should come as no surprise that the Simmons Invitational has become a very special, early season track & field affair, complete with a 1500 meter race walk, an event that is rarely held at high school meets but one that Coach Simmons had a special affinity for. Christine Montgomery of Haverford High School and Joseph Farr of Glen Mills motored their feet – never leaving the ground - around the track fastest to capture the gold medals in the walk while Shannon Murphy and Kelly Reid of Springfield and Mike Doherty and Erik Virbitsky of Penncrest placed second and third in the girls and boys competitions respectively.

          Some of the other top performances by local athletes included Penncrest's Karen Shump, who set yet another school record, this time in the discus, breaking her previous best with a toss of 122 feet, 10 inches en route to winning the discus as well as the shot put while Tim Ohm and Tori Kennedy of the home team Lions soared to firsts in the boys and girls pole vault. In addition, O'Hara's women had a strong afternoon as Nailah Smith scooted to the gold in the 100 meter dash, Katie Kelly to the silver in the 1600 and their 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay squads featuring Sarah Houtman sped to the top spots in those races while Springfield's Jessie Furia garnered the gold in the javelin, Colleen Rutecki scored silver in the long jump and bronze in the 300 hurdles, Steph Mechell tossed a two spot in the discus and a third in the shot and Shannon Kane threw to silver in the javelin and  Haverford's Kelly Reed and Jessica Chen went two, three in the 100 hurdles. For the guys, Marple's John Humenick hovered to the silver in the long jump and bronze in the high jump and Jason Rowles ran to third in the 300 hurdles, Springfield's Steve Gualberti bagged bronze in both the 110 hurdles and the triple jump and Ryan Feehery flew to the three spot in the 3200, Haverford's Sam Stuart scored the silver in the 3200 and Penncrest's 4 x 1 relay rallied for silver and their 4 x 8 squad teamed up for third.

          All in all, the event was exactly what Coach Simmons would have wanted. Local track and field athletes taking a break from their break to do what they loved best – compete on and off the big oval. Somewhere up above, he had to be smiling.

Note: Their also is a memorial scholarship fund established to honor the life and accomplishments of Larry Simmons. For more information contact "The Larry Simmons Scholarship Fund" at The Education Foundation, 308 N Olive Street Media, Pa 19063.