PIAA District 6 Championships
- Meet Date: Tuesday, 5/15 (AA) & Thursday, 5/17 (AAA)
- District 6 Leaderboard Links: AA Girls | AAA Girls | AA Boys | AAA Boys
Who To Watch For: State College Area Boys' Jumpers
Why?: Few times, if ever, in PA state history have we seen a single team have so much talent and depth in one event. The State College Area boys have become a jumps factory. Lance Hamilton, Stanley Hamilton, Brandon Clark, and Jake Hefkin occupy the top four triple jump spots in the District 6-AAA rankings. Entering this week, Lance Hamilton sits at PA#2 (47-10.5), Stanley Hamilton is at PA#5 (46-10.5), Clark is PA#11 (45-10.75), and Hefkin is PA#25 (44-6). Hefkin, meanwhile, has a best of 23-01 in the long jump, a D6-AAA leader and PA#10.
What to expect: We'll see a lot of State College maroon on the podium at the District 6 Championships. The Little Lions should put some great spotlight on the runways on Thursday. A week later, we'll see how well those boys stack up against the rest of the state, but something tells us there will be more maroon on the podium at Ship.
Others to watch for: Garrett Baublitz (AA - Distance); Ethan Dabbs (AA - Javelin); Tyler Delozier (AAA - Pole Vault); Nick Hyde (AAA - Throws); Luke Knipe (AAA - Pole Vault/Sprints/Jumps); Kayden Kutchman (AA - Sprints); Chase Longenecker (AAA - Hurdles); Chayce Macknair (AAA - Distance); Seth Phillips (AAA- Mid-Distance); Andrew Stanley (AA - Distance); Cohen Russell (AAA - Sprints);
Who To Watch For: Skylar Ciccolini (Mifflin County)
Why?: Ciccolini is not only the top girls' javelin thrower in the nation, but she also owns the two best throws in the event so far this spring. The junior took over the nation lead in the javelin throw at the Penn Relays, winning with a toss of 172-02. Then at this past weekend's Mid-Penn Conference Championships, Ciccolini one-upped herself, throwing 173-11 and improving on her own US#1.
What to expect: Consistency has been the name of the game for Ciccolini this season. Two days after her Penn Relays win, she threw 165-04 at Lock Haven. She also has throws of 165-00 and 157-07 this season. She'll be heavily favored to take the District 6 title, but we'll be keeping our eyes on the distance. Remember that recent PA high school grad Madison Wiltrout holds the state and national records at 185-08.
Others to watch for: Michaela Bracken (AA - Hurdles); Elizabeth Close (AAA - Hurdles); Darcie Frazier (AAA - Jumps); Taylor Givens (AAA - Jumps/Sprints); Morgan Gossard (AA - Pole Vault); Kileigh Kane (AAA - Distance); Sera Mazza (AA - Distance); Amelia McCloy (AAA - High Jump); Lauren Michina (AA - Jumps); Zoe Roush (AA - Jumps); Esther Seeland (AAA - Mid-Distance)