Photo by Patty Morgan
Girls' 60 Meter Dash Preview
Last year, when Girard College's Thelma Davies crossed the finish line first in the finals of 60 meters, it was hailed as one of the meet's biggest upsets. Flash forward to now, and Davies enters State College as the state record holder and strong favorite for the title in the dash.
Now a sophomore, Davies is more experienced and confident. She's conquered every obstacle in her way en route to an undefeated season thus far. She won the 55 meters at Millrose in a US#1 6.82 and then she won at the Meet of Champs in a PA#1 7.43. She'll likely be gunning for Rayiana Johnson's state meet record of 7.45.
Davies top challenge will come from Cheltenham's Chanel Brissett. Brissett, like last year, will be doubling back from the hurdles. The prelims, semis, and finals of the hurdles and dash run back-to-back with little rest of the USC recruit. A year ago, she won the hurdles before taking a narrow second to Davies in the dash. Brissett ran an SB of 7.61 last week at MOCs.
One to watch for is Liberty's Jaylyn Aminu. She's a clutch performer as we saw last spring when she pulled off the win in the AAA 100 meters. Aminu beat Brissett at the Carnival a few weeks ago, running 7.67, which stands at PA#3. She was seventh in the finals here last year.
The South Fayette duo of Amanda Oliver and Rachel Schumann will look to get in the mix. The pair both ran season bests of 7.73 at SPIRE earlier this season. Oliver picked up a notable win at Kevin Dare this season as well. Norristown's Jonae Cook has been strong all season. She's consistently been under 8 seconds and just keeps getting better. She took third at the Meet of Champs in a PR and PA#6 of 7.74.
Bentworth's Brenna Cavanaugh will also be attempting the hurdles/dash double. She's PA#9 in the dash. E.L. Meyers' Nalasjia Harris Johnson (PA#10), Conestoga's Grace Lanouette, Penn Wood's Tatiyana Laylor, Villa Maria's Style Henry, and Whitehall's Amanda Crooks are among the others names that could be in contention for medals after a number of girls opted not to run the dash.
Girls' 60m Dash Entries:
Event 5 Girls 60 Meter Dash (24) Prelims
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State Meet: 7.45 2/21/2009 Rayiana Johnson, Chester
Name Year School
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1 Aminu, Jaylyn 12 Liberty
2 Berry, Aalexis 12 Harrisburg
3 Brissett, Chanel 12 Cheltenham
4 Cavanaugh, Brenna 11 Bentworth
5 Cook, Jonae 11 Norristown
6 Crooks, Amanda 11 Whitehall
7 Davies, Thelma 10 Girard College
8 Davis, Aja 10 Lower Merion
9 Domenick, Amy 11 Methacton
10 Ford, Jewel 12 Bonner/Prendie
11 Gillespie, Grace 12 Cedar Cliff
12 Harris-Johnson, Nalasjia 12 Elmer L Meyers
13 Henry, Style 12 Villa Maria Acad
14 Lanouette, Grace 11 Conestoga
15 Laylor, Tatiyana 11 Penn Wood
16 Oliver, Amanda 12 South Fayette
17 Palacio-Lewis, Lily 9 Warwick
18 Peace, Kouri 10 Pennridge
19 Peyton, Danielle 12 Springfield Delc
20 Schuman, Rachel 12 South Fayette
21 Shewbrooks, Meaghan 12 CB East
22 Stahl, Alina 11 Baldwin
23 VonColln, Jasmine 11 Altoona