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By Don Rich
Sprints/Hurdles
The 100 Hurdles sees Swenson senior and defending state champ Anthonia "Mouse" Ballard among the top in the state seeded just .02 ahead of Montoursville senior Tesa McGibben. Ballard is also the top seed and defending champ in the 300 Meter Hurdles... with McKibben close behind.
All the top 100 Meter Dash sprinters hail from District 12, behind defending state champ Swenson junior Shanae Bailey with a seed of 11.74w - currently PA#1. Chasing her will be West Catholic sophomore Chante Moore, her teammate Jayee Wright, Engineering & Science soph Cierra White (3rd in 2008) and West Catholic frosh Jada Steward. Girard's Reagan Moore and Hanover Area's Amanda Kuhl have also run low 12's this season.
Bailey, Steward and White will also mix it up in the 200 Meter Dash along with half-lap and full-lap specialist Michelle Davis of West Catholic - a sophomore. Bailey is the defending champ in the 200 as well. Bailey and Davis have the top two marks in the state this season. White was the 2008 runner-up.
In the 400 Meter Dash, three sophomores lead the seeding behind Saucon Valley's Alyssa Lombard at 56.91, and West Catholic teammates Chante Moore and Michelle Davis. Moore and Davis are 2-3 in PA this season, behind only Penn Wood's Brittany Wallace, who competes in AAA. Watch for Hanover Area senior Amanda Kuhl and Villa Joseph Marie senior Shannon Geddes - the 2008 runner-up - to challenge. Defending champ Alexa Sarasfield of Springdale is also in the race.
Mid-Distance/Distance
Defending 800 Meter Run champ Kalyn Fisher of Lewisburg, a junior, is the top seed. There will be a real race in the 1600 Meter Run. The top seed is Harbor Creek senior Lauren Zarger - 9th in 2008. But she'll face stiff competition from Central Cambria junior Kelsey Seymour - who has excellent 800 speed - and Lewisburg's Sophia Ziemian, Ligonier Valley's Hannah Miller, and Forest Hills soph Leah Anne Wirfel. Zarger is also the top seed in the 3200 Meter Run and will repeat the challenges from the 1600 Trials against Wirfel and Ziemian. Ziemian has run under 10:57 this season, just three seconds better than Zarger's season-best. Joining that front pack will be Coudersport junior Emily Giannotti. Zarger was 3rd last year, behind only Carly Seymour and Kacey Gibson - both stars, and both graduated.
Relays
In the 4x100 Meter Relay, it's a District 1 affair for the top of the podium between sub-49ers West Catholic and defending champs Swenson. In the 4x400 Meter Relay - the final event of the meet will begin with a close battle between most of the district winners. Paul Robeson of 12 leads the seeds, with Springdale (7), Villa Joseph Marie (1), Lewisburg (4), Blue Ridge (2), Fairview (10), and Bethlehem Catholic (11), within a few seconds. The 4x800 Meter Relay has ten teams within 13 seconds, led by defending champ Lewisburg's 9:35.61. They're anchored by the defending AA 800 state champ Kalyn Fisher, who has gone 2:12.19 this season. Villa Joseph Marie (1), Milton (4), Seneca (10) and Union City (10), are all in the low-9:40's this year, and just need to pop one to challenge. The closest one to Lewisburg all season, Central Cambria (6), is concentrating on individual events.
Jumps
The High Jump will see Slippery Rock senior Angela Shaffer and Northern Cambria junior Janae Dunchack - the 2008 titleist. Three underclassmen are seeded above 11-0 in the Pole Vault, including Wilson Area junior Allison Vanek, Riverside (2) soph Vanessa Munley, and Conemaugh Township junior Kelly Vann. Vanek was 5th last year. Munley and Vann have improved by over 2-feet since their 2008 state efforts. The Long Jump is deep with 18-foot+ athletes, led by Union Area senior Cameron Lewis (2008 runner-up) and Lehighton junior Vanessa Rimbey. Lewis also leads the seeds in the Triple Jump with a huge 39-04.75. Right on her heels will be Montrose junior Julia Kolosi and Richland senior Calsie Boyd.
Throws
Freedom Area senior Ashley Adams is the top seed, by a lot, in both the Shot Put and Discus. In fact, she leads the state rankings in both events with a 47-03.50 shot and a 157-2 disc. She was runner-up in the shot last year and 5th in the discus. Lakeland's April Doyle has state experience and is over 40-feet in the shot, as is Elk County Catholic soph Megan Dornish. Emily Woods, Hickory junior, is seeded 2nd in the discus and 4th in the shot. She was 2nd in the discus in 2008. Middletown sophomore Aubree Ray is also over 131 feet in the discus. The state record holder in the Javelin is junior Fawn Miller of Lakeview. Blue Ridge junior Kaitchen Dearborn has thrown 142-1, but Miller launched a 157-08.50 this season. Her 167-2 from 2008 stands as the all-time state best.