AAA Girls' 1600 meters
Wilson's Alison Willingmyre nipped Cumberland Valley's Mady Clahane in the 1600 last week and they'll face off again this week (Photo by Ethan Rissell)
Perhaps the most wide-open girls' event of states weekend is the 1600 meters. We have a few entries with sub-5 credentials and a few near sub-5, and it may just all come down to who is the most ready on race day.
The favorite seems to be Cumberland Valley's Mady Clahane. Clahane ran a PA#1 of 10:24 in the 3200 meters his past Friday before taking second at District 3 in the 1600. But Clahane has run 4:49.48 this season in the event at Stan Morgan. That's the fastest time of any entry in the field by over six seconds. Clahane, a senior, has had a successful career and is yet to capture a state championship. This is her final and quite possibly her best opportunity to tie up that loose end.
Wilson's Alison Willingmyre ran a season best of 4:56.81 to beat Clahane at districts and she will enter this race as the top seed. It's been a great season thus far for the junior and she'll be shooting for the state crown in this packed field.
Abington Heights' Katie Dammer posted a huge PR to take the District 2 title AFTER running the 4x800 earlier in the meet. Dammer continues to impress and we'll see if she can keep that going on the big stage.
Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis is fresh off a District 7 win in a 5:01 and she should be in contention. So should Downingtown West's Emma Planck, who took home the District 1 crown. Planck went under five minutes to take seventh a year ago. Olivia Sargent of Pennsbury is also in the field. Despite running the 3200 meters beforehand, Sargent is one you can't count out.
State College's Natasha Fedkina, the District 6 champion could be an interesting sleeper pick in this field.