Photo by Don Rich
Lenape Girls Invitational (NJ) - Meet Preview
The Cheltenham girls are set to open up their season with a full squad at Saturday's Lenape Invitational for girls across state lines in New Jersey.
Leading the way is Chanel Brissett, who opened up her season a week earlier at the Florida Relays, where she ran a US#1 in the 100 meter hurdles. No hurdling for Brissett this weekend, though. The senior and USC signee is entered in the 100 meters and 200 meters as the top seed, so look for some fast times there.
Brissett will be joined by a pair of fast teammates in the 200. Alexis Crosby and Bria Barnes are also in the field.
The Cheltenham girls will also team up for the 4x100 as well. Last year, they went 45.78 and return ALL FOUR members of that relay. If they decide to load it up, we could see a fast time on Saturday from the Panthers.
The most interesting matchup of the day may come in the 3200 meters. From New Jersey, Howell's Niamh Hayes and Haddonfield's Briana Gess will race Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler. Rittler continued to progress through the indoor season, so expect her to hang with these Garden State standouts and we could see a PA#1 here.
In the hurdles, watch for Cheltenham's freshman star Brianna Smith. She had a strong indoor season and she'll look to keep it rolling into the outdoor season. Smith is also entered in the high jump, where she earned a state medal this winter.
Cheltenham's Arianna Wallace is entered in the 800 meters and she will likely get pushed by Lenape standout Megan Quimby and Friends' Central's Emily Burd. There could be some good times dropped there.