Photo by Phil Grove
AAA Girls' Javelin Preview
Connellsville's Madison Wiltrout will have one more go of it in her illustrious career in the javelin. Wiltrout, who broke the national record as a sophomore, will contest her final meet on PA turf this weekend, looking for her historic fourth straight AAA state title. Wiltrout comes in with a season best of 173-10 from a dual meet earlier this season. She will come in as the #2 seed to Ship after a 154-10 for the WPIAL title.
That #1 seed is Villa Maria's Erin Zimmerman. She's come a long way in her senior season since an eighth place finish in 2016. At the District 1 Championships, Zimmerman tossed it 154-11 for a new PR. Could she pull of the upset this weekend? Mifflin County's Skylar Ciccolini is another one capable of an upset this weekend. The sophomore also threw a PR at her district meet---a 154-4 to win District 6. She's talented and certainly capable of taking the title.
Hazleton Area's Kayla Merkel threw 147-1 to win another District 2 title last week. The senior took second to Wiltrout last year and would love to close out her career with a victory at the state meet.
Four others come in with season bests over 140 feet. Lampeter Strasburg's Kristen Herr, New Oxford's Madison Smith, Corry Area's Ryann Brundage, and Palmyra's Kirstin West will be looking to get up on the podium this weekend at Shippensburg and challenge for the win.
There's a national record holder in the field, but this is a stacked competition overall.
Entries:
Event 318 Girls Javelin Throw AAA (30)
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NFHS Record: 185-08 2015 Madison Wiltrout, Connellsville HS, PA
PIAA Record: 182-08 2015 Madison Wiltrout, Connellsville 7
NFHS Hnr Rol: 140-00
122-00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
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1 Zimmerman, Erin 12 Villa Maria 01 154-11 SQS
2 Wiltrout, Madison 12 Connellsville 07 154-10 SQS
3 Ciccolini, Skylar 10 Mifflin Cnty 06 154-04 SQS
4 Merkel, Kayla 12 Hazleton Area 02 147-01 SQS
5 Brundage, Ryann 11 Corry Area 10 142-10 SQS
6 West, Kirstin 11 Palmyra 03 140-09 SQS
7 Smith, Madison 12 New Oxford 03 139-07 SQS
8 Ashby, Taryn 12 Pittston Area 02 138-10 SQS
9 Spirnak, Brianna 10 Elzbth Forwrd 07 137-11 SQS
10 McCluskey, Ashley 12 DuBois Area 09 136-04 SQS
11 Herr, Kristen 10 Lmptr Strsbrg 03 133-03 SQS
12 Wanbaugh, Brianna 12 Red Lion 03 130-05 SQS
13 Faulkner, Jenay 12 Grncstl-Antrm 03 130-01 SQS
14 Meisse, Becca 12 Stroudsburg 11 129-05 SQS
15 Eckel, Blair 11 Exeter 03 128-09 SQS
16 D'Amore, Gabbie 12 Honesdale 02 128-03 SQS
17 Blum, Casey 12 Strath Haven 01 128-01 SQS
18 Hainley, Mackenzie 11 Cocalico 03 128-00 SQS
19 Kirn, Megan 12 Arch Ryan 12 127-11 SQS
20 Higgins, Tara 11 Penncrest 01 126-01 SQS
21 Kishel, Shelby 11 Neshaminy 01 125-07 SQS
22 Zamolyi, Quintessa 12 Bethlehm Cath 11 125-04 SQS
23 Taylor, Rae Rae 12 OJ Roberts 01 124-11 SQS
24 Fry, Megan 11 Cntrl Dauphin 03 124-03 SQS
25 Bonin, Paige 11 Hazleton Area 02 124-02 SQS
26 Danik, Erin 12 Seneca Valley 07 124-01 SQS
27 Arthur, Jochebed 12 Liberty 11 123-05 SQS
28 Greggerson, Kristen 12 Gateway 07 122-07 SQS
29 Marinero, JayCee 11 Shikellamy 04 120-10
30 Mast, Madolin 10 Central 12 96-02