Photo by Howard Anderson
While there was no shortage of big meets going on out-of-state whether in New York, Connecticut, or Ohio, there was still some great action occurring on Saturday on Pennsylvania soil. Teams from PA, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey converged on Kutztown for the Douglas Wesner Memorial Invitational, a meet that was cancelled last year.
We've seen some great career indoor debuts this season by some veterans to the PA scene. Pocono Mountain East's Khyasi Caldwell-Adams made her indoor debut on Saturday. The two-time outdoor state champ in the long jump didn't disappoint despite never competing indoors before. Caldwell-Adams jumped 19-2 and US#6. What a start to her indoor career!
Daija Lampkin of Middletown (DE) came to PA a week after winning down south at the VA Showcase. Lampkin picked up the win in the 400 meters, running 59.08.
Watch Lampkins' win below:
In a great 55 meters battle, Liberty's Jaylyn Aminu squared off once again with Phillipsburg (NJ)'s Sydney Hawkins. It was a close one, just like last month's Burdette Classic. Hawkins took the win in 7.14, while Aminu placed second in 7.16, a PA#3. Hawkins also won the 200 meters, narrowly beating out Cedar Cliff's Grace Gillsepie.
Watch the girls' 55 meter finals below:
Grabbing a huge PR and making a big statement on Saturday was Twin Valley's Kayla Gillen. Gillen cleared 5-6 in the girls' high jump for the win, which matches the PA#2 height. In a great competition, Pottsgrove's Miazziah Rose took second and Warwick's Trinity Bitting-Ellis was third, both clearing 5-4, both PA#6 heights.
Coughlin's Madisyn Hawkins cleared 12-0 to win the girls' pole vault. Hawkins is fresh off a trip to Reno for the Pole Vault Summit, where she cleared 12-8, a PA#2.
Fleetwood's Sarah Crissman ran away with the win in the 800 meters. The junior ran a PA#11 2:20.82 for the win.
The girls' shot put had a great battle between two of the state's best. Liberty's Jocebed Arthur out-dueled Lake Lehman's Emily Johns. Arthur threw a PA#4 40-1.25 for the win, while Johns took second with a PA#6 39-2.
Bensalem's Aqeel Bacchus picked up the win in the boys' 800 meters, just missing the two minute barrier. Bacchus clocked a 2:00.04 for the half mile win. Watch that race below:
One of the more exciting boys races of the day came early in the day in the boys' DMR. Spring Ford and Warwick were dueling for the lead, heading into the anchor leg, until J.P. McCaskey's Nathan Henderson ran them both down quickly and raced to win in a time of 11:08.41. Henderson, who was second in the state in XC and a Foot Locker Nationals qualifier, was making his indoor season debut.
Watch that race below:
