Photo by Kathy Leister
AAA Girls' High Jump Preview
Central Bucks South senior Valerie Przekop pulled off a narrow win at indoor states this past winter. Will she pull off another win at Shippensburg this weekend? Przekop is also the returning state champion after jumping 5-9 last year. She does not come in as the No. 1 seed, however, having already seen some tough competition last weekend in District 1.
The District 1 champion, Taylor O'Brien of Plymouth Whitemarsh, will definitely be gunning for gold this weekend. O'Brien is the top seed going into the weekend, after a T-PA#1 5-8 clearance at Coatesville. O'Brien is also not a stranger to the state meet having placed sixth last year.
Other District 1 jumpers in the mix will be freshman Brianna Smith of Cheltenham and Kristi Boyd of Council Rock South. Moira O'Malley of Souderton Area, a former indoor state champ, was third here last year and will look to place well again this weekend.
District 3 champion and returning medalist, Cedar Crest's Ariel Jones, has previously jumped 5-7.5 this year (PA #3). Jones will look for a top performance on what will be her home track next year when she attends Shippensburg University.
Parkland senior Morgan Sherwin, will be looking to end her career on a high note as well. She is among 5 other girls who have jumped 5-6 this season. With so many girls with similar personal bests, it will most likely come down to who clears heights first for medals.
Entries:
Event 312 Girls High Jump AAA (31) =============================================================================== NFHS Record: 6-04 2009 Toni Young, Del City HS, OK PIAA Record: 5-11.25 2013 Cyre Virgo, Fleetwood 3 NFHS Hnr Rol: 5-08 5-03.00 SQS Name Year School Seed Mark Finals =============================================================================== 1 O'Brien, Taylor 11 PlyWhitemarsh 01 5-08.00 SQS 2 Smith, Brianna 9 Cheltenham 01 5-05.00 SQS 3 Przekop, Valerie 12 CB South 01 5-05.00 SQS 4 Boyd, Kristi 11 CR South 01 5-05.00 SQS 5 Jones, Ariel 12 Cedar Crest 03 5-04.00 SQS 6 Rowe, Hannah 9 Knoch 07 5-04.00 SQS 7 Stembridge, Tori 12 Wyomissing 03 5-04.00 SQS 8 Bitting-Ellis, Trinity 10 Warwick 03 5-03.00 SQS 9 Gillen, Kayla 10 Twin Valley 03 5-03.00 SQS 10 Santoro, Maddie 12 Haverford Twp 01 5-03.00 SQS 11 James, Madison 12 York Suburban 03 5-03.00 SQS 12 Wadsworth, Taya 12 Miltn Hershey 03 5-03.00 SQS 13 Stephens, Emma 11 Carlisle 03 5-03.00 SQS 14 Dairo, Taye 11 Cntrl Dauphin 03 5-03.00 SQS 15 O'Malley, Moira 12 Souderton 01 5-03.00 SQS 16 Lewis, Caroline 12 WC East 01 5-03.00 SQS 17 Jodon, Paige 10 Hollidaysburg 06 5-03.00 SQS 18 Marzolino, Calista 10 Abington Hts 02 5-03.00 SQS 19 DeBone, Molly 11 Hempfield 07 5-03.00 SQS 20 Willshaw, Kate 10 Easton Area 11 5-03.00 SQS 21 Sherwin, Morgan 12 Parkland 11 5-03.00 SQS 22 Brozeski, Emily 10 Norwin 07 5-03.00 SQS 23 Donnelly, Kate 9 CR North 01 5-03.00 SQS 24 Baciak, Sydney 9 Belle Vernon 07 5-01.00 25 Latimer, Lydia 10 Warren Area 10 5-01.00 26 Heckman, Aleigh 11 Shikellamy 04 5-01.00 27 Wetzel, Sadie 9 Gr Latrobe 07 5-01.00 28 Natter, Rosina 12 Thom Jeffrsn 07 5-01.00 29 James, Alexis 11 Franklin 12 4-10.00 30 Fischer, Jerica 11 DuBois Area 09 4-09.00 31 Turner, Sydonia 9 Northeast 12 4-08.00