Photo by Don Rich
Girls' 200 Meters Preview
It's hard to forget the magic of 2016, as we watched freshman Kouri Peace absolutely dominate a strong field in the fast heat of the 200 meters on Penn State's Ashenfelter Track. Peace ran an all-time PA state record of 23.74 to take the win.
As we prepare for the state meet this year, it's going to be a different experience for the Pennridge sophomore, but nonetheless, she hopes to leave with another state crown. But Peace has been recovering from a brutal soccer injury this year. She hasn't raced as much this winter, but did run a PA#224.62 at Ocean Breeze and then a 24.88 flat-track time at MOCs. A new state record may not come, but she'll definitely be in the mix up front.
Her top challenger will be Girard College's Thelma Davies. Davies won the 60 meters at states last year and holds the state record in that event. Davies showed off her 200 speed earlier this season, running a still PA#1 of 24.39 at the Hispanic Games to win. She's focused on the shorter sprint (her specialty) since then, but she certainly has it in her to take on the champ.
Norristown's Jayana Webb can't be ignored, either. Webb has run a wind-aided 23.37 outdoors, and this year ran a 25.17 on the flat-track at Lehigh. Webb will be in the mix on Saturday in her only open event, and this race to the line will be mighty interesting.
Burrell's Nicole Scherer should be up there as well. She's also racing the 400, but she did blast a 24.87 to win the TSTCA title this past week. Scherer looks ready for a big final indoor state meet.
Saucon Valley freshman Talitha Diggs is one to watch. We know about freshman stepping up at the state meet (see above) and Diggs has looked strong all season, showing that she has the talent to really make some noise on Saturday.
Neumann Goretti's Sydni Townsend ran 25.34 on a flat track at PCLs and she should contend as well. Look for a pair of seniors---Paul Robeson's Tikki Wise and Central Bucks East's Meaghan Shewbrooks---to do everything they can to get onto the medal stand in this one.
Girls' 200m Entries:
Event 13 Girls 200 Meter Dash (25)
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State Meet: 23.74 2/28/2016 Kouri Peace, Pennridge
Name Year School
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1 Beck, Chyna 12 Canon-McMill
2 Berry, Aalexis 12 Harrisburg
3 Dansbury, Ty'Asia 12 Harrisburg
4 Davies, Thelma 10 Girard College
5 Davis, Aja 10 Lower Merion
6 Diggs, Talitha 9 Saucon Valley
7 Fielding, Lydia 12 CB South
8 Fleming, Ciani 10 Cheltenham
9 Gillespie, Grace 12 Cedar Cliff
10 Graybill, Leah 10 Warwick
11 Lanouette, Grace 11 Conestoga
12 Madson, Jane 10 Upper St Clair
13 Mangan, Molly 10 Mount Lebanon
14 Myers, Teneisha 12 O J Roberts
15 Peace, Kouri 10 Pennridge
16 Perry, Mykala 9 Neumann Gore
17 Sanders, Siani 10 Norristown
18 Scherer, Nicole 12 Burrell
19 Shewbrooks, Meaghan 12 CB East
20 Smith, Jada 10 Swenson
21 Stahl, Alina 11 Baldwin
22 Townsend, Sydni 11 Neumann Gore
23 Webb, Jayana 11 Norristown
24 Williams, Ni'Asia 11 Girls' High
25 Wise, Tikki 12 Paul Robeson