PIAA States Preview: Boys' Sprints/Hurdles


AAA Boys' 100m Hurdles Preview

Ayden Owens of North Allegheny sent shockwaves through Shippensburg when he dropped a 13.76 to win the 110-meter hurdles state title last year, breaking the PIAA meet record in the process. Since then, he's taken down the state record in the 60-meter hurdles and won a national title indoors. He also popped a 13.68 at WPIALs last week, showing he's ahead of schedule from last season.

Owens could make a run at Wellington Zaza 13.54 overall state record, keep an eye on the clock come Saturday.

Catching Owens will be tough, but the rest of the field is solid. Penn Manor's Taraje Whitfield has seen some solid improvement in the high hurdles. He was fourth last year at states, but ran a nice PR of 14.13 to win the District 3 title last week. Along with Harrisburg's Richard Gilchrist and Wilson's Alex Cluff and Trevor Thenga, D3 will have a number of contenders toeing the line. Gilchrist was fifth last year at states.

Delaware Valley's CJ Anderson has really emerged this season. He ran 14.32 before rolling to the District 2 title. Watch for Anderson this weekend. Jared Elters of Coatesville went 14.55 to repeat as District 1 champ this past week. He was eighth a year ago and looks to have it in him to improve upon that this weekend.

State College Area's Chase Longenecker (District 6 champion), Hampton's Mike Yakich, Hempfield Area's Jared Bannon, and NA's Donovan Rice are the others in this field that will make a run for the final.

ENTRIES:

Event 702  Boys 110 Meter Hurdles AAA (26) Prelims
===============================================================================
 NFHS Record:  13.30  1990        Chris Nelloms, DaytonDunbarHS, OH            
 PIAA Record:  13.76  2017        Ayden Owens, North Allegheny 7               
NFHS Hnr Rol:  14.00                                                           
               15.10  SQS
           Name                        Year School                 Seed relim Time
===============================================================================
  1        Owens, Ayden                  12 No Allegheny 07       13.68  SQS   
  2        Whitfield, Taraje             12 Penn Manor 03         14.13  SQS   
  3        Gilchrist, Richard            12 Harrisburg 03         14.36  SQS   
  4        Anderson, C. J.               12 Delaware Vly 02       14.39  SQS   
  5        Cluff, Alex                   12 Wilson 03             14.39  SQS   
  6        Elters, Jared                 12 Coatesville 01        14.65  SQS   
  7        Yakich, Mike                  12 Hampton 07            14.73  SQS   
  8        Bannon, Jared                 11 Hempfield 07          14.80  SQS   
  9        Thenga, Trevor                12 Wilson 03             14.90  SQS   
 10        Rice, Donovan                 11 No Allegheny 07       14.90  SQS   
 11        Taylor, Allen                  9 Williamsport 04       14.93  SQS   
 12        Wiggins, Ramir                11 Norristown 01         14.96  SQS   
 13        Franklin, John                12 Shaler Area 07        15.05  SQS   
 14        Longenecker, Chase            11 State College 06      15.05  SQS   
 15        Vasquez, Andre                12 Woodlnd Hills 07      15.10  SQS   
 16        Gates, Brenden                12 Warwick 03            15.13        
 17        Young, Curtis                 11 North Penn 01         15.13        
 18        Posten, Powell                11 ES South 11           15.14        
 19        Thompson, Katrell             12 Easton Area 11        15.15        
 20        Robinson, Ethan               10 D-Town West 01        15.26        
 21        Graham, Tony                  11 Ridley 01             15.32        
 22        Willis, Taemar                12 Northeastern 03       15.36        
 23        McEwen, Connor                10 Grove City 10         15.44        
 24        Kromah, Lansana               11 Overbrook 12          15.63        
 25        Stafford, Matthew             11 Bradford Area 09      15.64        
 26        Harper, Thomas                10 Archbshp Ryan 12      16.16