Grace Gillespie (Cedar Cliff) / Photo by Bill Shearn
Tim Cook Memorial Invitational Preview
Chambersburg will be the site of the first big central PA meet of the season. Expect some PA#1 performances to come from Tim Cook in a meet that always brings out some strong talent.
GIRLS
In the sprints, Cedar Cliff's Grace Gillespie will look for a good start to her season. The senior, who was fifth in the 60 meters at indoor states last month, will be the top seed in the 100 and 200 meters. Mercersburg Academy's Finley Stewart is also in both races, looking to challenge Gillespie. McConnellsburg's McKenzie Gelvin will be one to watch in the 400 meters.
Abby Yourkavitch (Chambersburg) / Photo by Ethan Rissell
Some big names will open up their seasons in the distance events. In the 1600 meters, indoor state medalist Meg Lebo of Carlisle will face off with Eastern York's Maddie McLain, Chambersburg's Kaylee Mowery, Greencastle-Antrim's Lauren Hirneisen, and East Pennsboro's Lauren Margraf. In the 800 meters, Greencastle-Antrim's star freshman Taryn Parks will start off her season as the top seed. We'll also see an interesting early-season matchup in the 3200 meters as Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch will race Cocalico's Jamie Zamrin.
In the discus we'll get an exciting competition with three top 11 returnees. Those include Lewisburg's Kate Allred, Mercersburg Academy's Isiuwa Oghagbon, and Red Lion's Madisen Kling. Oghagbon will return for the shot put, but the top seed there i Greencastle-Antrim's Jenay Faulkner.
Kelton Chastulik (Chambersburg) / Photo by Abby Huber
BOYS
The throws will be exciting this Saturday at Chambersburg. The host team's Kelton Chastulik will be looking to defend his home turf in the shot put and discus, but he'll be challenged. Greencastle-Antrim's Campbell Parker, the Selinsgrove duo of Keith Dreese and Brennen Wolf, and Chambersburg's Myles Braxton will be among the other throwers to watch in both events this weekend.
Williamsport's Qayyim Ali will begin his final season on Saturday. The multi-time high jump state champ cleared 6-9 and took second at indoor states. He'll be the strong favorite this weekend to take the early PA#1.
Milton Hershey's Treyvon Ferguson will be the one to watch in the triple jump. Ferguson was third in the event at last month's indoor state meet and will be one of the contenders this spring for a state title.
Sam Affolder (Carlisle) / Photo by Ethan Rissell
The 100 meters should be a good race featuring Carlisle's Prince Gaye, Williamsport's Dante Wright, and Susquehanna Township's Jalik Smith. Gaye will return for the 200 meters. The top seed there is Central Dauphin East's Aaron Arp. Mychael Thomas of Carlisle is also entered in the 200 meters. In the 400 meters, CD East's Luke Everidge will race Carlisle's Jared Griffie. Griffie was part of the national record-setting DMR team from indoor nationals.
In the 1600 meters, Sam Affolder (also apart of that Carlisle DMR) will open up. Affolder, who went 4:09.89 this indoor season, will be the heavy favorite there. In the 800, Carlisle's Isaac Kole (the 800 leg on that DMR) is seeded first.