Gabrielle Wilkinson (Friends' Central) / Photo by Howard Anderson
Hoka One One Henderson Invitational - GIRLS' RECAP
The 12th Henderson Invitational brought some strong performances across the board despite a change from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon. What were some of the top performances?
Track Events
The distance events took centerstage for the girls, producing some state leaders.
Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson took the win in the 800 meters in a new PA#1. Wilkinson held off Abington's Kelly Jawork, who stuck on her throughout the opening 600 meters. In the end, Wilkinson took the victory in the state leading 2:11.03. Jawork still ran a 2:12.13, which puts her at PA#3. Hershey's Hannah Jones took third in an impressive PA#10 2:15.30.
The girls' 1600 was one of the day's most exciting race. It was a battle up front between a pair of out-of-staters. Maria Coffin of Annapolis (MD) made a push in the final 300 meters, gapping the field, but Keelin Hays of Tatnall (DE) summoned a great kick to take the win in 4:55.89. Coffin took second in 4:56.26. Hersehy's Andrea Demko ran a strong race to place third in a PA#10 5:03.81.
In a great 3200 meters, Padua Academy (DE)'s Lydia Olivere outkicked Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein in the thrilling closing laps. Olivere's time was 10:30.47, but Goldstein still wound up with a PA#1 10:31.85. Goldstein's future Harvard teammate Aislinn Devlin of Downingtown West showed she's still ready to try and defend her AAA state title in the event this season. She was third in 10:46.93. Oley Valley's Rebecca Snyder (PA#11 10:55.29) and West Chester East freshman Allyson Clarke (PA#13 10:59.19) also broke the 11 minute barrier.
In the sprints, Conestoga's Grace Lanouette claimed a pair of wins. The junior ran 12.50 to take the 100 meters and came back not long after to win the 200 meters in a time of 25.36. Lanouette held off Warwick's Leah Graybill for the win in the 200 meters, but Graybill came back later to win the 400 meters in 57.47.
Christina Warren of Perkiomen Valley ran 14.84 to win the 100 meter hurdles. In the 300 meter hurdles, Padua's Taliah Cintron improved on her own DE#1, winning in 43.85.
Field Events
Lake Lehman's Emily Johns posted a big result in the discus, claiming the win with a toss of 144-1, which moves her up to PA#3. She edged out Avon Grove's Chloee Kleespies, who threw 140-3 for a PA#5. Kleespies did get the better of Johns in the shot put, with the Avon Grove senior throwing 41-8 for the win.
Perkiomen Valley's Rebekah Bondi jumped 17-5.75 to win the long jump, while Downingtown East's Evelyn Berecz took first in the triple jump with a jump of 38-10.75.