Saturday 4/9: South Hills Classic (@ Baldwin HS)
Burrell's Elizabeth Weimer will be one to watch in the throws at South Hills (Photo by Don Rich)
GIRLS: There should be a good compeititon in the throws at Baldwin with a handful of quality competitors making up a nice field. Hickory's Tori McKinley and Cailen Blaire, along with Burrell's Elizabeth Weimer will be the favorites in the shout put and discus. McKinley currently sits at PA#1 in the shot and PA#3 in the discus.
Chandler Killins of West Mifflin will definitely be one to watch in the jumps, particularly the triple. She makes her invitational debut on Saturday. McDowell's Nada Buntic and Bryanna Burns will be the top seeds in the pole vault.
In the sprints, Seton-LaSalle's Raja Rutherford and Bradford's Ashton McGriff will matchup in both the 100 and 200 meters. They each have the potential to make a big impact on the state rankings. Rutherford will also be in the long jump, where she's the top seed.
Hickory's Heather Grober, Bradford's Brooke McGriff and Ringgold's Bailey Cooper will be ones to keep an eye on in the hurdles. Grober and McGrifff will be doubling in the 100 and 300 hurdles, while Cooper will contest only 100 hurdles.
Lexi Bible of Hickory is entered in both the 800 and 1600. Peters Township's Chloe Grzyb will contest the 1600 and 3200, while her teammate Laura Ehrenberger will double in the 800 and 1600.
Micah Watts of West Mifflin returns to the runway after a state title indoors (Photo by Greg Wilkinson)
BOYS: Fresh off a huge indoor season that culminated with a state championship, McDowell's Caleb Sanford is back and ready for more. Sanford headlines the pole vault where he's a pretty clear favorite. This will be the start of what should be an exciting season from the vaulter.
Speaking of state champs, one of the surprise champs from indoors returns this weekend. Micah Watts of West Mifflin is entered in the event he won at indoor states, the long jump. He'll also be the top seed in the 100 and 200
Hickory's Evan Blaire will look to build off a huge first week that saw him win two events and set two new outdoor PRs in the process in the shot and disc. Blaire will contest both on Saturday and he'll go for another double win meet.
Peters Township's Nick Wolk is entered in both the 1600 and 3200. Wolk has improved greatly since a year ago and should be one of the big names to watch this season. Indoors, Wolk took fifth in the 3000 at states. Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe is entered in the 800 and 3200 and we'll see if he goes for the speed and strength double.