Aislinn Devlin (Downingtown West) / Photo by Howard Anderson
Henderson Invitational - Girls' Distance Preview
The distance events on the girls' side are absolutely stacked to the brim and we should walk away from West Chester with a number of state leaders.
The day's premiere event will come later in the day with the 3200 meters. The reigning Class AAA state champ in PA, Aislinn Devlin of Downingtown West will toe the line along with one of Delaware's brightest stars, Lydia Olivere of Padua and PA indoor 3000 meter state champ Abbe Goldstein of Germantown Academy. Devlin battled an injury all winter, but we saw her debut at Rustin last month. Is she ready for a fast time? Goldstein, meanwhile, ran a PA#1 mile at Penn last week and seems primed for a quick 3200.
Abbe Goldstein (Germantown Academy) / Photo by Photo Run
Bay Shore (NY)'s Bridget Kanaley, Perkiomen Valley's Annie Glodek, JP MCCaskey's Lianna Tirado, Conestoga's Dominique Shultz, and Oley Valley's Rebecca Snyder are also in this field that could produce a number of top state times.
In the 1600 meters, DE#2 Keelin Hays of Tatnall and MD#4 Maria Coffin make up some talented out-of-state entries in the field. Both qualified for nationals during XC--Hays to NXN and Coffin to Foot Lockers--but have yet to run a sub-5 time this season in the 1600. With a good pace that should happen on Saturday. Downingtown West's Emma Planck, the reigning District 1 champ and an indoor bronze medalist in the mile, is the top PA entry. Planck is fresh off an appearance at Penn last week. Pennsbury's Lizzy Kirk, Hershey's Andrea Demko and Taylor Mortensen are among the other top entries.
Leading the way in the 800 meters will be Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson. The junior had a quiet indoor season and we haven't seen much of the 2:06 half miler yet this outdoor season. Saturday may be an opportunity for Wilkinson to break out a really fast time. Abington's Kelly Jawork, the Tatnall duo of Hays and Savannah Pankow, Coffin, Hersehy's Hannah Jones, Owen J. Roberts' Ally Brunton, and Great Valley's Amy Willig will be in the mix as well.