PTFCA Indoor States Preview: Boys' Sprints & Hurdles


Boys' 60-Meter Hurdles Preview

One of the state meets most anticipated matchups (basically since before the season started) was Ayden Owens against Kyle Garland in the high hurdles. Unfortunately, due to injury, we won't see Garland at Penn State this weekend, but perhaps we'll get a pentathlon showdown at nationals.

For now, though, we still get to see one of the nation's top hurdlers in the country and one of the best in PA state history (PA#2 all-time to be exact). Owens of North Allegheny is having a special season; one that comes on the heels of an outdoor season that saw him drop a 13.76 in the 110-meter hurdles at states. Owens went 7.70 this past weekend after already running sub-7.80 three other times. It's already well under Wellington Zaza's 2013 state meet best. He won't have Garland to his side pushing him, but Owens has shown he doesn't need the competition to drop crazy fast times.

A number of other talented hurdlers are set to toe the line besides Owens. Penn Manor's Taraje Whitfield was third last season, running 8.23, but he's been much faster this winter. The senior dropped a 8.06 (PA#3) at the PTFCA Carnival and has shown good improvement all season long.

Scott Honicker of Owen J. Roberts (PA#4, MOC champ), James Jackson of Chester (PA#5), Nasan Robbins of Pennsbury (PA#6), and Richard Gilchrist of Harrisburg (PA#7) are among the list of medal hopefuls for Sunday's race.

Boys' 60-Meter Hurdles Entries:

Event 4  Boys 60 Meter Hurdles (24) Prelims
===============================================================================
 Meet Record:   7.79  2/23/2013   Wellington Zaza, Garnet Valley               
     Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
  1  Anderson, C. j.               12 Del Valley                  
  2  Bannon, Jared                 11 Hempfield (7)               
  3  Booth, Josh                   12 McConnellsburg              
  4  Costantini, Sebastian         11 Malvern Prep                
  5  Elters, Jared                 12 Coatesville                 
  6  Franklin, John                12 Shaler Area                 
  7  Gilchrist, Richard            12 Harrisburg                  
  8  Hartman, Sam                  12 South Park                  
  9  Honicker, Scott               11 O J Roberts                 
 10  Jackson, James                12 Chester                     
 11  Johnson, Ahmir                12 Wissahickon                 
 12  Layton, Daniel                11 Waynesburg C                
 13  Longenecker, Chase            11 State College               
 14  Owens, Ayden                  12 North Allegh                
 15  Patton, Jacob                 12 Moniteau                    
 16  Rice, Donovan                 11 North Allegh                
 17  Robbins, Nasan                12 Pennsbury                   
 18  Thenga, Trevor                12 Wilson (3)                  
 19  Thompson, Katrell             12 Easton Area                 
 20  Toney, Treyvaun               12 Altoona                     
 21  Webb, Charlie                 11 W C East                    
 22  Whitfield, Taraje             12 Penn Manor                  
 23  Wiggins, Ramir                11 Norristown                  
 24  Young, Curtis                 11 North Penn