It was an unmatched year for the Marlington High School distance runners in track and field this spring.

Led by Colin Cernansky, the state champion in the 1600 meters, and the 4x800 relay which also placed first, the Dukes amassed 27 points in the Division II boys meet, finishing in a tie for third place with Toledo Central Catholic.

"It was remarkable witnessing what those guys did," Marlington coach Bob Dagenhardt said.

The groundwork for that effort in the spring was laid during the winter indoor season at a meet in New York in March, when the 4x1600 relay recorded a first-place finish.

"That relay team set a new school record in that 4x1600," Dagenhardt said. "We also had the luxury of having five to seven guys run very well."

Their high school season ended June 4, but the Marlington distance runners will head to Philadelphia to face elite competition from multiple states at the New Balance Nationals Thursday and Friday.

The event is scheduled to be held at historic Franklin Field, a 30,000-seat facility which was constructed in 1895, the home venue of the University of Pennsylvania. The facility has been renovated several times and consists of a Rekortan track surface and features a unique configuration where the 400-meter circumference occurs in lane four, instead of lane one.

"There is a lot of history there," Dagenhardt said. "It's an excellent opportunity for our guys to compete one more time."

The Dukes are expected to run the 4x1600 and the distance relays. During the spring season, they got a refresher course in the 4x1600 when they competed at the Berea Kiwanis Relays at Baldwin-Wallace. Boyce, Blake, Cernansky and Graham won that event with a time of 18 minutes, 12.65 seconds.

"Our guys showed something going to a meet with a lot of quality Division I distance runners and winning that relay," Dagenhardt said. 

That was a more significant test than what Marlington faced in the 4x1600 at the winter indoor meet in New York.

"Our training was different in the winter," Dagnehardt said. "We weren't as intense with our training. The runners were only about three-fourths trained, but they faced several good teams and gained a lot of confidence heading into the spring."

Graduated seniors Noah Graham and Liam Blake, and returners Cernansky, Nash Minor and Cohen Boyce head the list of Marlington competitors. Cernansky not only won the 1600 but anchored the first-place 4x800 relay that included Blake, Boyce and Graham.

Blake placed sixth in the 1600, Graham finished sixth in the 3200, and Minor ended his junior year with an eighth-place finish in the 3200.

"Everyone who competed placed; everyone medaled," Dagenhardt said. "What made it special was we had two placers in two different events."

The Marlington girls team will also be represented in Philadelphia. Bella Graham, who finished third in the Division II 3200-meter run and was a state qualifier in the 1600 but didn't compete, is expected to run at Franklin Field.

Dagenhardt, who also trains Bella Graham during the spring track season, says all of the Marlington distance runners possess similar positive qualities.

"They all have good work ethics and they're all good students, both in the classroom and the way [they approach] running," he said. "They also love to compete and I think they'll face some outstanding competition in Philadelphia."