Bears High School Invitational - Meet Preview
BOYS' PREVIEW
TRACK
Dock Mennonite's Austin Kratz lost his PA#1 status in the 55 meters this past week. Imhotep's Kristian Marche blasted a 6.38 in New York. Kratz, who is back from a mission trip in Mexico, is the top seed and will look to take back the state-leading spot.
Kratz will also run the 400 meters, so it will be interesting to see how he stacks up there. Remember that he is US#1 in the 300 meters. He'll face a good test from Bishop Shanahan's Rick Zink. Zink is in the midst of a breakout winter and is PA#1 in the 500 meters.
Kratz' Dock teammate Nick Smith is the top PA athlete in the 55 meter hurdle field.
In the 200 meters, Westtown's Julian Klenner returns to the track. He ran a PA#6 in his indoor career debut earlier in the season. Now he drops down to the one-lapper. He'll be challenged by Zink and Conestoga's Lex Forge.
Connor Nisbet of Wilmington Friends (DE) is the top seed in the mile and 3,000 meters. Look for a good helping of New Jersey and Delaware distance boys to be up near the front in those race.
FIELD
Perkiomen Valley's Cole Peterlin started his season with a win and PR at Ursinus. He's back at Ursinus on Sunday to look to improve upon his best of 6-5 (PA#5).
In the pole vault, we'll see a good matchup in the between Westtown's Ethan Gadra and Bishop Shanahan's Michael Mullen. Both boys have season bests of 13-6 and sit at PA#7.
A trio of PA shot putters will push the 50-foot marker on Sunday. Dock's Alex Martin (PA#5) has already thrown over 50 this season. Shanahan's Matthew Murray (PA#14) and Germantown Academy's Olatide Abinusawa (PA#8) will also contend for the win.
GIRLS' PREVIEW
TRACK
The 55 meters will be a "can't miss" event on Sunday. Ursuline Academy (DE)'s Najiya Cornish (US#9) will go up against Conestoga's Grace Lanouette (PA#2 60m). Each will be looking to move up their state and national rankings. Cornish is also the top seed in the 200 meters. Lanouette, meanwhile, is also one of the top seeds in the 400 meters.
Christina Warren of Perkiomen Valley continues her busy season into Sunday. She's the one to beat in thr 55 meter hurdles. She's currently PA#1 and US#3 in the event.
We're expecting a good race in the 800 meters. Carlisle's Meg Lebo will race Academy of Notre Dame's Jessica Schneider. Both have the ability to move into the top ten of the state.
Sunday will be the indoor debut of Oley Valley's Rebecca Snyder. She's one to watch in the mile in her first career indoor race. Also in the field is Spring Ford's Gabriella Bamford and Perk Valley's Teagan Schein-Becker.
FIELD
Warren, the top seed in the hurdles, is also the top seed in the long jump. The junior enters Sunday at PA#3 in the event.
Germantown Academy's Meaghan Toscano will go up against Hodgson Vo-Tech (DE)'s Traunasha Burson in what should be a very competitive shot put. Toscano sits at PA#7.