The Parkland boys track and field team went into the 2019 District 11 Class 3A Track and Field Championships with a few goals. One involved the 4x800 relay team and its expected battles with Emmaus and Liberty.

The foursome of Nate Reimer, Riley Williamson, Ben Esquires and Mustapha Salau have been brilliant individually and collectively all season. The storyline continued May 16 as they claimed first place with a time of 8:06.86.The victory qualifies them for a trip to PIAA Track and Field Championships on May 24 and 25 at Shippensburg University.

“We knew that if we were able to stay with them first leg and then I could get us a little further the second leg and then just keep staying there and hand it off to Mustapha,” Williamson said. “He has a very good kick at the end.”

Williamson was pleased with the team’s output.

“I thought the team performed pretty well,” said Williamson. “We had a little bit of a gap handing off to me, but it worked out. I’m always looking to win the 4x800. It’s probably my favorite event.”

Williamson, a senior, also was successful individually, easily winning the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:24.62. Salau won the 400-meter dash in 50.09. Other track standouts included Nicholas Bower, who took sixth in the 3200 in 9:53.14

Teammate Adam Klinger also registered a solid showing, finishing third in the triple jump at 44-5 1/4 to earn a district medal, which went to the top four finishers in each event.

All three Parkland boys relay teams recorded top-three finishes as the 4x100 team took second place behind Wilson. The Trojan foursome ran a time of 3:26.36 to earn a trip to states, which went to the top two finishers in each event. Parkland’s boys 4x100 relay team also earned medals, finishing third at districts with a time of 43.41.