Photo by Kathy Leister
Abington Armstrong Invitational - Meet Preview
***This preview is based off entries as of 10am on 4/20***
GIRLS' PREVIEW
Friday will bring us the next showing of Cheltenham's Chanel Brissett in the hurdles. The co-state record holder and current US#2 will look to improve upon her season best of 13.27 in the 100 hurdles from the Florida Relays to start her season. She's coming off a strong meet at Hatboro where she won the 100 and 200 dashes.
Also in the 100 meter hurdles, we'll see MLK's Nissa Martinez and Cheltenham's Brianna Smith.
In the 100 meters, watch for Girard College's Thelma Davies. She was runner-up to Brissett last week in the 200 meters. What does the indoor 60 meter state champ have in store for this week. Her PR in the 100 is 11.58.
In the 200 meters, watch for Brissett, Cheltenham's Bria Barnes, Paul Robeson's Tikki Wise, and Swenson's Jada Smith. Smith is also entered in the 300 meter hurdles, where she's really broken out this season. Plymouth Whitemarsh's Taylor O'Brien is also entered in that hurdles field. O'Brien is also the favorite in the high jump, but Bishop McDevitt's Blair Knuckle will be in the mix there as well.
The 400 meters, too, is loaded. Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby is the top seed, but she'll see a challenge from Springfield-Montco's Sydni Stovall, Abington's Rorie Spencer, O'Hara's Olivia Arizin, and Springside Chestnut Hill's Alexandria Kitchell and Haley Unthank.
After starting her season with a sub-5 1600 meter performance at the PA Track Classic, Abington's Kelly Jawork will look for a quick time in the event at her home invite. Lansdale Catholic's Kayla Connelly will look to challenge her. The 800 meters will be one of the evening's premiere events. Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson is in the field, but so are other strong half milers like Cardinal O'Hara's Christine Mancini, Friends' Central's Emily Burd, Stovall, Kitchell, Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler and Arianna Wallace. The top seed, however, is Megan Quimby of Lenape Regional in NJ.
Abington's Sianni McLeod will look to continue her strong season in the throws. She'll be going for wins in th shot put and discus on her home turf. Springside Chestnut Hill has the top seeds in both the long jump and pole vault. In the long jump, watch for Olabisi Adams, while Elizabeth Jefferson will be looking to soar in the pole vault.
Photo by Patty Morgan
BOYS' PREVIEW
In the 100 meters, South Philadelphia's Gunell Vaughn-Jackson will be one to watch, but Norristown's Austin Montgomery will also be up there. In the 400 meters, look for a good matchup between Overbrook's Quincy Fairy, Abington's Aaron Sooknanan, and Penn Wood's Dennis Manyeah. Manyeah is also the one to watch in the high jump. He's currently PA#5.
Haverford's James Abrahams is the top seed in the 1600 meters, but Roman Catholic's Sean Brown, North Penn's Brendan O'Toole and Daniel Santiago, Council Rock North's Ethan Koza, Holy Ghost's Kevin Dineen, and Cardinal O'Hara's Gavin Inglis make up a deep field.
In the 800 meters, CR North's Bryan Keller will go for the win, but Neshaminy's Rusty Kujdych, and the Abington duo of Cameron Mitchell and Josh Coleman are also entered. Cheltenham's Will Griffen looks to be the one to beat in the 3200 meters.
Penn Charter's Dylan Burnett is the top seed in the 110 meter hurdles, while Holy Ghost Prep's Samuel Huslin will look to make his way up the state leaderboard in the 300 meter hurdles.