Photo by Phil Grove
TSTCA Indoor Meet #2 Preview
The western PA squads return to action on Saturday back at Edinboro University for the second TSTCA meet of the season. Most notably, we'll see another appearance from a state record holder:
BOYS: Another week, another state record attempt. At least that's what you get whenever Jordan Geist is on the list of entries for a meet. The Knoch senior will take to the circle yet again, a week after breaking his own state record and taking over as US#1 in the shot put.
Geist threw 72-9.75 last week in Ohio, but Geist will look to bring that record back to Pennsylvania soil up at Edinboro. The field doesn't lack talent outside of Geist. Hickory's Evan Blaire, Hempfield's Alex Murray, Cathedral Prep brother Nolan and Cameron Landis, South Fayette's Sam Mastro and Penn Trafford's Cam Elma are all entered for Saturday.
Photo by Abby Huber
Ambridge Area's Isaac Elliott returns to the the track a week after a big day at the Kevin Dare Invitational, where he set PA#1s in the 60 meters and 400 meters. This week he'll contest the 60 meters again, but he'll trade out the 400 for the 200 meters.
In the 60-meter hurdles, we'll see a duel between PA#1 and PA#2 for a second straight week, as North Allegheny's Ayden Owens will race Taylor Allderdice's Noah Swaby. Owens is the state leader with an 8.08. Owens will return later for the 200 meters, where he'll race Elliott and Shenango's Dom Data. Data is also running the 400 meters, where he'll be favored.
The distance events should produce some fast times, particularly the 800 meters. Brookville's Ryan Thrush, Penn Hills' Isaiah Bailey and Seneca's Donovan Myers will square off. Those three should pull each other to some quick times. Bailey is also entered in the mile, in a race that includes Seneca's Phoenix Myers. In the 3000 meters, Butler's Noah Beveridge will race again in the event where he a PA#3 9:04 last week. Also in that field is Winchester Thurston's Ben Littman and Seneca Valley's Trey Razanauskas.
Moving to the field, the boys pole vault will feature Hempfield's Hayden Fox and Baldwin's Dave Johnston in what should be a good showdown. In the high jump, watch out for PA#3 Emmanuel Mitchell of Penn Hills.
Photo by Don Rich
GIRLS: There's plenty of good action on the girls' side set for Saturday.
Jayla Ellis of Oakland Catholic (formerly of Penn Hills) is entered in the 60-meter hurdles and the long jump. The sophomore opened her season at YSU last weekend with a 9.10 in the event for the win and a 17-0 in the long jump for second place. Bentworth's Brenna Cavanaugh and Hempfield's Bailey Traczynski are also in the hurdles field.
We should see some good races in the distance events. In the mile, we've got a loaded field that includes North Allegheny's Clara Savchik, Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw, Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's Rylee Kopchak, Greater Latrobe Maria Cawoski, and Fox Chapel's Caelen Miller. Savchik, fresh off a dramatic win at Kevin Dare, is also entered in the 3000 meters, along with Fox Chapel's Sarena Seeger.
Shaw, Kopchak, and Abdalah are also entered in the 800 meters with Hempfield's Megan Powell, Greater Latrobe's Anna Ramsey, and West Allegheny's Maddie Salek.
Gabby Holmberg of Hempfield Area will be the one to watch in both the 200 meters and triple jump, while Molly DeBone will look for a big day in the pole vault.
The shot put should be a great matchup between Burrell's Elizabeth Weimer, Hempfield's Samantha Orie, and Penn Hills' Lillia Allen.