Photo by Don Rich
AAA Girls' 1600m Preview
Two superstar freshman distance runners have been battling it out all year in District 3 and they will meet again this weekend to face off in what will be a fantastic 1600 meters race.
In two weekends, Northern's Marlee Starliper ran 4:50.78 in the 1600 and 10:31.09 (PA #2) in 3200. Her 1600 time was no fluke as she repeated a similar time to land her the top seed going into the race. Close behind her in both events was freshman Taryn Parks of Greencastle Antrim, running 4:55.64 last weekend. Parks definitely has some leg speed having crushed a 2:13.00 in the 800m a few weeks ago. Both girls will need all the leg speed they have in this loaded field.
Last year's runner up, Katie Dammer of Abington Heights is seeded second overall going into the weekend after her 4:55.35 last weekend at District 2, which came after an epic 4x800 anchor leg. She'll be fresh this weekend, hoping to claim her first state title.
Two District 7 girls will be up near the front with Savannah Shaw of Upper Saint Clair (PA #4) and Lauren Finikiotis of Oakland Catholic (PA #6), who placed 4th last year. Finikiotis is among many returning medalists from last year's 1600m race. Also returning to claim more medals are senior Kelly Jawork of Abington (PA #5), senior Emma Planck of Downingtown West, and Emily Bonaventure of Souderton Area. Jawork is coming off a nice win at District 1, but she is not the only senior looking to end her season with a personal best and medal. OJR's Allison Brunton looked strong, taking second in the 1600 at District 1.
Also hunting a medal will be freshman Katie Locker of Elizabethtown, who had a break out meet last weekend almost breaking 5 minutes at the District 3 meet.Entries:
Event 304 Girls 1600 Meter Run AAA (27) Prelims
===============================================================================
NFHS Record: 4:33.29 2014 Alex Afraimson, Camas HS, WA
PIAA Record: 4:41.08 1981 Kim Gallagher, Upper Dublin 1
NFHS Hnr Rol: 4:50.00
5:10.00 SQS
Name Year School Seed relim Time
===============================================================================
1 Starliper, Marlee 9 Northern 03 4:52.80 SQS
2 Dammer, Katie 11 Abington Hts 02 4:55.35 SQS
3 Parks, Taryn 9 Grncstl-Antrm 03 4:55.64 SQS
4 Shaw, Savannah 11 Uppr St Clair 07 4:57.96 SQS
5 Jawork, Kelly 12 Abington 01 4:59.47 SQS
6 Finikiotis, Lauren 12 Oakland Cath 07 4:59.82 SQS
7 Brunton, Allison 12 OJ Roberts 01 5:00.44 SQS
8 Planck, Emma 12 D-Town West 01 5:00.77 SQS
9 Locker, Katie 9 Elizabethtown 03 5:01.49 SQS
10 Bonaventure, Emily 11 Souderton 01 5:01.85 SQS
11 Kasitz, Gillian 12 Boyertown 01 5:02.00 SQS
12 Royds, Miranda 12 Hat Horsham 01 5:02.22 SQS
13 Bernotas, Mary 11 OJ Roberts 01 5:04.30 SQS
14 Tirado, Lianna 11 J.P. McCaskey 03 5:05.95 SQS
15 Brill, Monika 12 Pennridge 01 5:06.49 SQS
16 Lloyd, Kiersten 9 Red Lion 03 5:07.93 SQS
17 Ehrenberger, Laura 12 Peters Twp 07 5:08.01 SQS
18 Powlette, Allana 12 Stroudsburg 11 5:08.06 SQS
19 Gallagher, Lyndsey 12 Northampton 11 5:08.87 SQS
20 Constable, Carlee 12 Villa Maria 10 5:09.42 SQS
21 Demko, Andrea 11 Hershey 03 5:10.01
22 Miller, Caelan 11 Fox Chapel 07 5:10.35
23 Blair, Ashley 12 Selinsgrove 04 5:11.10
24 Curtin, Catherine 12 State College 06 5:15.00
25 Foster, Amanda 11 Saint Marys 09 5:16.95
26 Helstrom, Emma 11 Central 12 5:31.34
27 Rastatter, Jenna 11 BonnerPrendie 12 5:39.00