Breana Gambrell (Athens Area) / Photo by Mary Ann Magnant
Susquehanna University Indoor Classic
Susquehanna is usually home to some great performances and Sunday should be no different, as a some strong teams to head to District 4 country for some big marks. Let's delve into our preview:
GIRLS
We should get a good showdown in the girls' long jump between Athens Area's Breana Gambrell and State College's Taylor Givens. Last year, Gambrell didn't jump indoors until New Balance Nationals Indoor where she launched a PA#1 19-5.5, so it looks like the junior will aim for indoor states glory in the event this year. Givens, meanwhile, is at PA#6 currently in the long, and she'll also compete in the triple jump.
Look for some good action in the pole vault as well. Coughlin's Madisyn Hawkins has been on a tear this season. She cleared a PR of 12-8 in Reno, Nevada a few weeks ago and has been picking up wins all season. The PA#2 will battle the PA#3, Abby Norwillo of Pittston Area. Also in the field is PA#8 Lyndsey Reed of State College.
In the shot put, watch for State College's Jordan Bair (PA#8) and Shamokin's Alyssa Lahr. Wyoming Area's Shelby Stackhouse is the top seed in the high jump.
Grace Gillespie (Cedar Cliff) / Photo by Howard Anderson
In the 60 meter dash, Givens will race Grace Gillespie of Cedar Cliff. Gillespie is also the top seed in the 200 meters. Then in the 60-meter hurdles, Harrisburg's Aalexis Berry is the top seed and she'll look to drop a good time. The 400 meters should be an interesting race as Harrisburg's Ty'Asia Dansbury will face off with McConnellsburg's Mackenzie Gelvin and Millville's Morgan Bower.
In the mile, Carlisle's Meg Lebo is entered along with State College's Catherine Curtin, among others. Then in the 800, Lebo and Gelvin will return in what should be a great race that also includes State College's Jordan Rohrbach and Fleetwood's Sarah Crissman. Selinsgrove's Brittany Carnathan, State College's Cailin Saylor, Dallas' Rebecca Balara, and Loyalsock's Isabel Sagar are among the entries in the 3000 meters.
In the relays, watch for the State College girls 4x800 early in the day. Then the Harrisburg 4x200 should have the pieces to put together a quick race.
Qayyim Ali (Williamsport) / Photo by Patty Morgan
BOYS
Williamsport's Qayyim Ali, the reigning state champion in the high jump, will hit Susquehanna on Sunday. He's competed just once in the event this winter when he jumped a PA#3 6-5 at State College. Ali will look to make a move up the rankings with a big effort this weekend. In the pole vault, watch for Cumberland Valley's Zach Austen, who currently sits at PA#4. He'll be favored to win.
North Schulykill's Bobby Wagner is the top seed in the long jump. He was fourth in the state outdoors, but is yet to compete indoors, so we'll see what Wagner can put down on Sunday. In the triple jump, State College's Stanley Hamilton and Williamsport's Keith Jason will both be looking for jumps to solidify a spot in the state meet.
Selinsgrove's Keith Dreese will be the one to watch in the boys' shot put. He sits at PA#8 and he'll look to improve upon that at Susquehanna.
Nick Feffer (State College) / Photo by Don Rich
The reigning state champs in the 4x800 from State College look like they'll go after the event again on Sunday. They put down a PA#9 time in the 4x8 at Dickinson a few weeks back and they'll look to climb up the state rankings even more. Cumberland Valley should also be able to drop a fast time in the 4x8.
The 60 meter dash should be a very exciting race. Williamsport's Dante Wright ran a fast hand-time in the event at State College and he'll matchup with Harrisburg's Ronald Kent and James M. Coughlin's Vincent Todd. That should be a close one if they all qualify through to the finals. Kent and Wright return later for the 200 meters, along with Central Dauphin East's Aaron Arp and State College's Tanner Reed and Cohen Russell.
Sam Affolder (Carlisle) / Photo by Steven Pisano
Possibly the biggest event of the day will be the boys' 800 meters, which will feature plenty of firepower. Carlisle's Sam Affolder will take to the track, but he'll face off with Pottsville's Colin Ebling and State Collge's Nick Feffer. Ebling sits at PA#8, while Feffer is at PA#11. With Cumberland Valley's Josh Higgins and Yahya Soliman and State College's Joey Feffer also in the field, this has the potential to be a very quick race with a bunch of possible state qualifying times to come. State College's Owen Wing is the top seed in the mile, which also includes Juniata freshman Garrett Baublitz, Abington Heights' Kyle Burke, and Western Wayne's Jacob Pasake.