Saturday (4/30): High School Field Preview
Williamsport's Qayyim Ali will be one PA high jumper to watch on Saturday (Photo by Patty Morgan)
High School Boys' High Jump Championship - Event 803 (Saturday, 10:00 AM)
Five PA boys will represent PA in the boys' high jump. The indoor champion Qayyim Ali is the top threat. He's been quiet in the invitational realm this season so far, only competing (and winning) at Selinsgrove. But Ali cleared 6-9 and is primed for a big outing on Saturday.
Then there's the PA#1---Greg Lauray of Notre Dame Green Pond. The track and field newcomer emerged onto the scene in the beginning of the outdoor season when he cleared 6-10 at a dual meet. He also cleared 6-8 this season, but hasn't gotten back to those heights since. Saturday will be our first good look at Lauray.
Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland should be a factor, too. Garland cleared 6-8.75 indoors, but has had a relatively low-key outdoor season thus far and we'll see what Penn has in store.
Shamokin's Chris Petraskie (6-7 PR) and Coatesville's Dondre Pittman (6-7 PR) round out the field of PA entries. With a good day, one of these boys could walk away a Penn relays champ!
Hatboro-Horsham's Nick Marino will look to ride the momentum of his big PR from Ship into Penn (Photo by Don Rich)
High School Boys' Pole Vault Championship - Event 804 (Saturday, 10:00 AM)
A strong contingent of contenders will come into Penn flying the colors of PA. The two leaders are Griffin Thompson of State College and Nicholas Marino of Hatboro-Horsham. The two battled last weekend at Shippensburg with Marino edging out Thompson. For Marino, it was a foot PR as he cleared 15-6 for the win. Thompson tied his PR that day. The two are vaulting the best of their respective careers and Penn could be a big day for either or both.
Then there is Red Lion's Greg Potter, who has familiarity with performing on the big stage. Potter claimed a huge signature win at the Millrose Games indoors. Potter PR'd in a big way on that day in New York going over 14-10. Last week, he cleared 14-0 in his first invite of the season.
Lucas Gray of State College, who was fifth at indoor states, will be another one to watch. He has a PR of 14-8. Richard Iovanisci of Rustin (14-0 PR) rounds out the PA field.
High School Boys' Long Jump Championship Presented by Team Jamaica Bickle - Event 806 (Saturday, noon)
There are no PA entries in this event (sad face), but that doesn't mean that this won't be an event worth checking out. Look out for a fantastic battle between a pair of incredible athletes: Grant Holloway (25-11.5 PR) of Grassfield in Virginia and Rayvon Grey (26-0.25 PR) of Beacon in New York. It's going to be a fun one!
Darian Alston of Downingtown West will be the lone PA boys representative in the horizontal jumps (Photo by Greg Wilkinson)
High School Boys' Triple Jump Championship - Event 807 (Saturday, noon)
Downingtown West's Darian Alston will close out the weekend of field events involving PA athletes in the boys' triple jump. Alston sits at PA#3 right now, appearing only at the Bullis Invite in Maryland where he won with a jump of 46-10. Indoors, Alston soared to a PR of 48-9, which stood at the end of the season as the nation's seventh best jump. He completed that season with a state title indoors. The Penn State-signee will be one to watch on Saturday!