Alexa Parks (Palisades) / Photo by Patty Morgan
Girls' High Jump Preview
Perhaps no event requires having your 'A' game on the right day than the high jump. This year, with a state leader, an indoor champ from last year and an outdoor champ from last year, that could ring more true.
But the favorite entering Saturday, is Palisades' Alexa Parks. The senior had never competed indoors before this season. In her first meet at The Armory, Parks cleared a then-US#1 5-8, which has put her atop the PA leaderboard for the whole season. Since then, Parks has cleared 5-7, 5-8, and 5-7 in her next three meets leading up to Saturday, which is all better than any other high jumper this season in the state. She'll be going to Penn State next fall and she'd love to make her first time jumping in that facility a victory.
However, we also have the indoor state champ from last season returning. Souderton's Moira O'Malley certainly possesses the clutch gene, as she pulled out a big season best to win last year. She's PA#6 this season, but she's proven she can't be counting out.
Central Bucks South's Valerie Przekop has had an up-and-down senior season. The AAA outdoor state champ did clear a best of 5-6 (T-PA#2) at Ocean Breeze. If she can channel that kind of performance, she could be looking at another special state meet.
Brianna Smith (Cheltenham) / Photo by Patty Morgan
Looking to spoil the party for the upperclassmen is a freshman. Cheltenham's Brianna Smith has displayed good consistency all season, winning six of the eight meets where she competed. Her best came at the Varsity Classic, a T-PA#2 5-6. Don't count out the frosh.
Easton's Kate Willshaw is a sophomore that will be one to watch. She's cleared that 5-6 height twice this season (and another meet at 5-5). On a good day, we could see a big effort from Willshaw to compete for the title. Twin valley's Kayla Gillen cleared that T-PA#2 with a big performance at Kutztown this season. She hasn't competed since then, but a repeat performance at states could be in order.
Lydia Bottelier of Palisades has only competed once this season---a 5-5 clearance at Ursinus to take second to her teammates Parks--- but the sophomore can also contend. She was fourth in AA outdoors last spring and has proven she has the talent to grab a high place at indoor states.
A number of girls enter with season bests of 5-4 and that should set up a great battle for those coveted top eight medals. Parks is the top seed, but many girls are in the hunt for the state title.
Girls' High Jump Entries:
Event 25 Girls High Jump (16)
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Starting Ht. 4' 10" Increase 2"
State Meet: 6-00 2/27/1999 Hyleas Fountain, Central Dauphin East
Name Year School
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1 Bitting-Ellis, Trinity 10 Warwick
2 Bottelier, Lydia 10 Palisades
3 Dairo, Taye 11 Cent Dauphin
4 Eburuoh, Schola 12 Card O'Hara
5 Gillen, Kayla 10 Twin Valley
6 Handra, Jaime 11 Trinity (7)
7 O'Malley, Moira 12 Souderton
8 Parks, Alexa 12 Palisades
9 Phoennik, Courtney 12 South Fayette
10 Przekop, Valerie 12 CB South
11 Rose, Miazziah 11 Pottsgrove
12 Smith, Brianna 9 Cheltenham
13 Stackhouse, Shelby 11 Wyoming Area
14 Stembridge, Tori 12 Wyomissing
15 Willshaw, Kate 10 Easton
16 Zahner, Carlye 11 North East