Douglas Wesner Memorial Invitational - Meet Preview
Girls' Preview
FIELD
The pole vault will be a "can't miss" event on Saturday. Mackenzie Horn of Manheim Township is fresh off a hige performance last weekend that saw her jump 13-0 for a new PA#2 and US#6. Also in the field is PA#3 Carena Nottoli of Hempfield, Loyalsock's Hailey Zurich, Manheim Township's Sydney Horn, and Spring Ford's Melissa Israel.
Kayla Gillen of Twin Valley went into a tie for the PA#1 at Kutztown last week. Now she returns to KU this weekend looking to build off her 5-6 performance from last week. Wyoming Area's Shelby Stackhouse and Nazareth Area's Kristen Karavitch (both PA#5, along with Central Dauphin's Taye Dairo are also in this deep field.
The shot put is also stacked with talent. Reading's Keeley Suzenski, one of this season's breakthrough performers, comes in PA#2 and will be the top seed. But Greenwood's Mallory Kauffman (PA#3) and Selinsgrove's Piper Klinger (PA#5) will make this a very close competition.
TRACK
Spring Ford's Gabriella Bamford will look for a strong race in the 3K. Also in the field is Manheim Township's Kira Jenkins. Look for a fast DMR from Cardinal O'Hara. Behind the Mancini sisters, O'Hara could certainly drop a quick time that could shoot it up the state rankings. O'Hara's Christine Mancini is the top seed in the 800 meters, so we could see her run a fast time there, too.
In the sprints, look out for Selinsgrove's Megan Hoffman. She'll matchup with Caesar Rodney (DE)'s Destiny Bailey-Perkins in the 55 meters. In the 200 meters, Hoffman will go up against Lower Merion's Aja Davis.
Boys' Preview
FIELD
Keith Dreese of Selinsgrove, the state leader in the shot put, is back to work on Saturday. He's already earned a pair of wins on the season and he'll shoot for No. 3 at KU. His best competition will come from Fleetwood Area's Seth Wagner (PA#8).
In the pole vault, East Pennsboro's Payton Morris is another state leader back in action on Saturday. Morris jumped a PA#1 of 15-7 at the VaultWorX Facility this past weekend. That matched Morris' all-conditions PR.
The high jump will be a good matchup between a pair of 6-6 jumpers. Reading's Juan Mato-Segura and Salisbury Township's John Reichenbach. Both sit at PA#4, so this will be an interesting battle.
Lampeter Strasburg's Ezra Mellinger moved to PA#5 in the long jump after a big performance at Penn State. The 22+ foot jumper will be the heavy favorite to take the win.
TRACK
The 3K will be an interesting battle between three boys from different districts. Spring Ford's Jacob McKenna (1), Hempfield's Max Lessans (3), and Parkland's Nicholas Bower (11) are among the top seeds with some strong DE runners thrown in.
Spring Ford's Stephen Chapman will be worth watching for in the hurdles, as he'll go up against some DE talent, including Tayshaun Chisolm of Dover, who was impressive last week at Ursinus. Chapman is also entered in the 400 meters, along with Wyomissing's Austin Keim.
Lower Merion's Romaine Rhoden has been strong all season and he's one of the top seeds in the 55 meter dash. He'll return for the 200 meters later where he'll go against Cardinal O'Hara's Obinna Iherjirka.
In the 1,600 meters, Upper Dauphin's Brenden Miller, who clocked a PA#2 in the 3K a few weeks ago, will drop down in distance and aim for a fast time. Abington Heights' Dan Uhranowsky and Spring Ford's Zachary Smith are also in this solid field.