By Lex Mercado
Sprints/hurdles
Perhaps a first for the PA Indoor State meet, there will be an event that will feature four athletes in the national top eleven! The top four 60 meter hurdlers hold that honor, led by defending champion and US#3 Chris Williams of Strath Haven. Williams ran 7.87 at the Kevin Dare Invitational on January 21 to earn US#1 honors at the time. Williams also won the hurdles at the PTFCA Carnival in 7.95. Williams has yet to taste defeat. The same can be said for PA#2 and US#5 Eric Futch of Penn Wood. Futch won the boys Meet of Champions over the weekend in 7.95, setting a new meet record. Aaron Willett of Coatesville finished 2nd to Williams at the Carnival, but recently ran a US#7 time of 7.96 out at Youngstown State on Saturday. Finally, Wellington Zaza of Strath Haven has a US#11 mark of 8.04 from the Burdette Classic in December, but has not competed in the event since. In the case of Zaza, Williams, and Futch, crucial team points will be at stake for their respective teams and their title challenge. The meet record is also a possibility for the champion, which is 7.86.
TJ Elliott of Central Dauphin East will be looking to successfully defend his 60 meter dash title on the inside of the Penn State oval on Saturday. His performances would indicate he is well on his way, as Elliott has consistently been under 7 seconds this season, including a T-US#8 time of 6.88 winning the PTFCA Carnival. Before states last year, he had never been under 7 seconds. His challengers include newcomer Niager Mathis of Swenson. Mathis was 2nd to Elliott at the Carnival in 6.94, but was the winner of the boys Meet of Champions in 6.98. Brandon Shippen of Norristown is the only other sub 7 dasher in the field, running 6.99 at the Burdette classic, finishing behind Elliott.
Elliott is also the top seed in the 200 meter dash, running 22.15 to complete the 60/200 double at the PTFCA Carnival. The sprinters looking to chase Elliott are clustered, as PA#2-PA#11 are separated by three tenths of a second. Nicholas Patton of Tyrone Area is PA#2 with a 22.17, which sat as PA#1 for three weeks. Eric Futch ran a PA#3 time of 22.27 to win the boys Meet of Champions, and his performance can mean big points for his team. Niager Mathis of Swenson finished 2nd to Elliott at the PTFCA Carnival in 22.30. Daryl Worley of Penn Charter is the only returning medalist in the event, finishing 7th last season.
With no returning medalists and only four sub 50 second performances, the 400 meter dash may be the most wide open event of the weekend. It took until January 21st to have a sub 50 second performance, and Lincoln Daniel of Strath Haven was the sprinter to provide it. His 49.97 at the Kevin Dare Invite spent three weeks at PA#1 until February 11, when three guys beat that mark. Tyler Ross of Greater Latrobe leads the state with his 49.04 performance at the SPIRE Invitational in Ohio, while Johnathan Stiles of Penn Wood ran 49.87 to win the PTFCA Carnival. PA#3 Oliver Philogene of Seneca Valley finished 2nd to Ross in the same race.
Distance
The 800 meter run at the state championship the past three years has dazzled and surprised many that have been in attendance. In 2009 and 2011, the meet and all time state records were set. In 2010, the champion did not come out of the seeded heat. In 2012, the current all time state record holder will not be on the track, leaving the event to be wide open! Top seed Haneef Hardy of Swenson brings a 1:55.50 from the Hispanic Games in early January to the race. The senior has had a strong past nine months and a state title would be icing on the cake. Hardy was 2nd at the PTFCA Carnival to Ryun Holder of Chambersburg. Ryan Horgan of Holy Ghost Prep won the boys Meet of Champions in a wire to wire performance, and is the only other sub 1:57 runner in the field. Andrew Stone of Lasalle will be a strong challenger to the title after his 1:55.2 split on Lasalle's meet record 4x800 meter relay at the boys Meet of Champions.
Instead of running the 800, Ned Willig of Great Valley will run the mile at states. Willig was the winner of the Hispanic Games mile in a state leading 4:15.61. Willig is the only miler to break 4:20 this season. Three others have sub 4:23 clockings led by Catholic League champion Tom Coyle of Lasalle. His PA#2 time of 4:21.98 is the fastest on a flat track this season. Coyle's speed is also sharp, splitting 1:54.9 over the weekend on Lasalle's 7:59.16 4x800. Jack Huemmler of Strath Haven was the top PA miler at the Kevin Dare Invite, running 4:22.26. Huemmler's points in this event could be vital in the team title race. Alex Moran of Mount Lebanon narrowly won the TSTCA Championship in the mile with a PA#4 time of 4:22.78. Moran is also the only returning medalist in the field, finishing 7th last season.
The 3000 meter run may have a clear favorite, but the field may be the absolute deepest this weekend. Dustin Wilson of Chestnut Hill Academy has been PA#1 since late December and slightly improved his time at the boys Meet of Champions with a US#11 time of 8:47.11. Wilson will be looking for his first indoor gold medal. As far as the quality of the field, seeds 2-8 in the race are all in the US top 50! Mike Bilotta of Cardinal O'Hara finished 2nd to Wilson at the Meet of Champions in a PA#2 8:53.24. Sam Hibbs of Hatboro Horsham won the Kevin Dare Invitational in January with a PA#3 8:53.72. AA cross country champion Brendan Shearn of North Schuylkill won the TSTCA meet on February 4th in 8:54.83.
Relays
Penn Wood has been the top sprint relay team since the beginning of the season. Penn Wood is the only sub 1:30 team in the field, bringing a US#4 time of 1:29.70 from the New Balance Games to the seeded heat. Even though they are the state leaders, the challengers are nearby. 2011 8th place finishers Neshaminy (1:30.62), 2011 silver medalists Strath Haven (1:30.79), Glen Mills (1:31.18), and 2011 5th place finishers Downingtown West (1:31.44) are all PA#2-5 from their head to head tilt at the Kevin Dare Invitational. 2011 bronze medalist Cardinal O'Hara bring a flat track time of 1:32.45 to the seeded heat.
With Strath Haven and Penn Wood the favorites for the team title, the 4x400 could crown the team champion. Penn Wood are the top seed with a US#2 and PA#2 All Time performance of 3:17.06 from the New Balance Collegiate meet, three tenths of a second off the state record. Strath Haven is the 3rd seed with a PA#3 time of 3:25.04. Strath Haven finished 3rd last season. Wissahickon finished 2nd to Penn Wood at the boys Meet of Champions with a PA#2 time of 3:25.02. Pennridge (PA#4 3:25.42) will look to make the medal stand after finishing 9th last year.
Strath Haven and Penncrest have been the top two 4x800 meter relay teams for most of the season. Penncrest (6th in 2011) defeated Strath Haven head to head at the New Balance Games on January 21. Penncrest increased their state lead at the New Balance Collegiate Invite with a US#10 time of 7:55.57. At the Millrose Games, Strath Haven took over the state lead with a US#9 time of 7:54.31. Saturday may determine which Delaware County school is better. Over the weekend, however, 2011 bronze medalists Lasalle put themselves into the mix with a PA#3 time of 7:59.16 to win the boys Meet of Champions, which included a 1:55.2 split and a 1:54.9 split. 5th place medalists Pennridge has run 8:00.82 for PA#4 honors and finished 2nd to Lasalle at Meet of Champions.
Great Valley has run two PA#1 times in the distance medley relay, with Ned Willig as the anchor leg on the first team and as the leadoff leg the 2nd time around. At the Yale Invite, Willig ran the anchor leg in 4:16.5 to run 10:27.56. On Saturday at the boys Meet of Champions, Willig ran the lead off leg in a blazing 3:01.2, and Great Valley improved their time to 10:26.51, good for US#12. Holy Ghost Prep was PA#1 earlier in the season, running 10:33.11 at the Marine Corps Games. Altoona Area won the TSTCA Champs with a PA#2 time of 10:31.95. West Chester Henderson ran a PA#4 time of 10:31.1 at the NJ Varsity Classic to put them in the mix.
Field Events
After a slow start to the long jump, the last two weeks have given us two monster marks. At the TFCAofGP Last Chance Qualifier on February 10, Cody Minning of Neshaminy became the first long jumper to break the 23 foot mark with a T-US#11 mark of 23-8. Then this past Saturday, Alec Peabody of Abington Friends added three feet to his personal best, winning the boys Meet of Champions with the same 23-8. Outside of those performances, the top six PA marks in the long jump are all from the last week and a half. Tyrek Edwards of Archbishop Ryan has been the runner up in his last two meets, but has improved his mark to 23-6. Richard Gatewood of Roman Catholic (23-2.50) and John Landis of Father Judge (23-1) are PA 4 and 5 respectively, with Landis defeating both Edwards and Gatewood at the PCL Championships. Imani Brown of Reading won the Burdette classic and won the PTFCA Carnival with his seasonal best 22-8.
Imani Brown of Reading is the defending champion and leads the state in the triple jump with his former US#1 and current US#5 mark of 48-5 from the Burdette Classic in late December. John Landis of Father Judge had a big personal best of 47-10.25 while setting a meet record at the PCL Championships. His mark is the best in the state in the past two months. Jarred Posey of William Penn (47-7.50 and 4th in 2011) and Wellington Zaza of Strath Haven (47-2.50) carry season best marks from December, while Tyrek Edwards of Archbishop Ryan has a season best mark from the opening day of the season.
The high jump has five guys separated by two inches, with four of them having competed against one of the top four at some point this season. Shawn Johnson cleared a T-US#8 height of 6-8 at the Marietta Open in Ohio, and has cleared 6-7 on two different ocassions. John Mudrey of Hickory has been 2nd to Johnson twice, but has a 6-7 clearance to his name. PTFCA Carnival winner Ibn Short of Milton Hershey and boys Meet of Champions winner Jalen Ramsey of Norristown cleared 6-6 in a head to head contest. Misohn Coppock of Pottstown cleared 6-6 at Kutztown on February 11 to get into the mix.
The pole vault features six vaulters over the 15 foot mark, but the battle between the top two vaulters could provide a 16 foot clearance indoors for the first time since 2004! Chris Williams of Strath Haven has set a personal best in the indoor pole vault on three different occassions, including a US#9 clearance of 15-9 at the PTFCA Carnival. His 15-3 clearance at the Burdette Classic was his first over 15 feet in two years. Williams will be looking for that form one more time after not clearing a height last year. 4th place finisher and AAA outdoor champion Patrick Anderson has kept pace with Williams, clearing 15-7 at the SPIRE Invitational on February 11. Jared Allison of Dallastown went head to head with Williams at the PTFCA Carnival and earned a mark of 15-6 to finish 2nd. Shawn Mayer of Palmyra cleared 15-5 on Saturday at the VaultWorx Last Chance meet on Saturday. Alex Barker of Conrad Weiser (15-1) and Jacob Hensh of Laurel Highlands (15-0) are also 15 foot vaulters that will be in the mix.
Like the 60 meter hurdles, the shot put has four US top 11 performers! For most of the season, the boys shot put was cluttered at the top with four throwers within five inches of one another. Then Kyle Felpel of Cocalico had a career week two weeks ago to put him on top of the state list with some breathing room. Felpel cracked the 60 foot mark for the first time at the Albright HS Invite on February 8. Three days later at the PTFCA Carnival, Felpel added over two and a half feet to that mark, throwing a US#4 mark of 62-8.75 to win the event. In victory, he defeated two of his top competitors heading into this weekend. Praduman Singh of Upper Darby was US#1 in late December with his Burdette Classic winning mark and current US#7 mark of 59-4.75. Kyle Long of Hempfield (3) was also in the PTFCA Carnival field and he has a US#11 mark of 59-0.50. The other big contender is current US#8 Matt Bell of Hickory, who brings a 59-4.25 mark to the competition.
60 Meter Dash
200 Meter Dash
400 Meter Dash
800 Meter Run
One Mile Run
3000 Meter Run
60 Meter Hurdles
4x200 Meter Relay
4x400 Meter Relay
4x800 Meter Relay
Distance Medley Relay
Long Jump
Triple Jump
High Jump
Pole Vault
Shot Put
By Lex Mercado
Sprints/hurdles
Perhaps a first for the PA Indoor State meet, there will be an event that will feature four athletes in the national top eleven! The top four 60 meter hurdlers hold that honor, led by defending champion and US#3 Chris Williams of Strath Haven. Williams ran 7.87 at the Kevin Dare Invitational on January 21 to earn US#1 honors at the time. Williams also won the hurdles at the PTFCA Carnival in 7.95. Williams has yet to taste defeat. The same can be said for PA#2 and US#5 Eric Futch of Penn Wood. Futch won the boys Meet of Champions over the weekend in 7.95, setting a new meet record. Aaron Willett of Coatesville finished 2nd to Williams at the Carnival, but recently ran a US#7 time of 7.96 out at Youngstown State on Saturday. Finally, Wellington Zaza of Strath Haven has a US#11 mark of 8.04 from the Burdette Classic in December, but has not competed in the event since. In the case of Zaza, Williams, and Futch, crucial team points will be at stake for their respective teams and their title challenge. The meet record is also a possibility for the champion, which is 7.86.
TJ Elliott of Central Dauphin East will be looking to successfully defend his 60 meter dash title on the inside of the Penn State oval on Saturday. His performances would indicate he is well on his way, as Elliott has consistently been under 7 seconds this season, including a T-US#8 time of 6.88 winning the PTFCA Carnival. Before states last year, he had never been under 7 seconds. His challengers include newcomer Niager Mathis of Swenson. Mathis was 2nd to Elliott at the Carnival in 6.94, but was the winner of the boys Meet of Champions in 6.98. Brandon Shippen of Norristown is the only other sub 7 dasher in the field, running 6.99 at the Burdette classic, finishing behind Elliott.
Elliott is also the top seed in the 200 meter dash, running 22.15 to complete the 60/200 double at the PTFCA Carnival. The sprinters looking to chase Elliott are clustered, as PA#2-PA#11 are separated by three tenths of a second. Nicholas Patton of Tyrone Area is PA#2 with a 22.17, which sat as PA#1 for three weeks. Eric Futch ran a PA#3 time of 22.27 to win the boys Meet of Champions, and his performance can mean big points for his team. Niager Mathis of Swenson finished 2nd to Elliott at the PTFCA Carnival in 22.30. Daryl Worley of Penn Charter is the only returning medalist in the event, finishing 7th last season.
With no returning medalists and only four sub 50 second performances, the 400 meter dash may be the most wide open event of the weekend. It took until January 21st to have a sub 50 second performance, and Lincoln Daniel of Strath Haven was the sprinter to provide it. His 49.97 at the Kevin Dare Invite spent three weeks at PA#1 until February 11, when three guys beat that mark. Tyler Ross of Greater Latrobe leads the state with his 49.04 performance at the SPIRE Invitational in Ohio, while Johnathan Stiles of Penn Wood ran 49.87 to win the PTFCA Carnival. PA#3 Oliver Philogene of Seneca Valley finished 2nd to Ross in the same race.
Distance
The 800 meter run at the state championship the past three years has dazzled and surprised many that have been in attendance. In 2009 and 2011, the meet and all time state records were set. In 2010, the champion did not come out of the seeded heat. In 2012, the current all time state record holder will not be on the track, leaving the event to be wide open! Top seed Haneef Hardy of Swenson brings a 1:55.50 from the Hispanic Games in early January to the race. The senior has had a strong past nine months and a state title would be icing on the cake. Hardy was 2nd at the PTFCA Carnival to Ryun Holder of Chambersburg. Ryan Horgan of Holy Ghost Prep won the boys Meet of Champions in a wire to wire performance, and is the only other sub 1:57 runner in the field. Andrew Stone of Lasalle will be a strong challenger to the title after his 1:55.2 split on Lasalle's meet record 4x800 meter relay at the boys Meet of Champions.
Instead of running the 800, Ned Willig of Great Valley will run the mile at states. Willig was the winner of the Hispanic Games mile in a state leading 4:15.61. Willig is the only miler to break 4:20 this season. Three others have sub 4:23 clockings led by Catholic League champion Tom Coyle of Lasalle. His PA#2 time of 4:21.98 is the fastest on a flat track this season. Coyle's speed is also sharp, splitting 1:54.9 over the weekend on Lasalle's 7:59.16 4x800. Jack Huemmler of Strath Haven was the top PA miler at the Kevin Dare Invite, running 4:22.26. Huemmler's points in this event could be vital in the team title race. Alex Moran of Mount Lebanon narrowly won the TSTCA Championship in the mile with a PA#4 time of 4:22.78. Moran is also the only returning medalist in the field, finishing 7th last season.
The 3000 meter run may have a clear favorite, but the field may be the absolute deepest this weekend. Dustin Wilson of Chestnut Hill Academy has been PA#1 since late December and slightly improved his time at the boys Meet of Champions with a US#11 time of 8:47.11. Wilson will be looking for his first indoor gold medal. As far as the quality of the field, seeds 2-8 in the race are all in the US top 50! Mike Bilotta of Cardinal O'Hara finished 2nd to Wilson at the Meet of Champions in a PA#2 8:53.24. Sam Hibbs of Hatboro Horsham won the Kevin Dare Invitational in January with a PA#3 8:53.72. AA cross country champion Brendan Shearn of North Schuylkill won the TSTCA meet on February 4th in 8:54.83.
Relays
Penn Wood has been the top sprint relay team since the beginning of the season. Penn Wood is the only sub 1:30 team in the field, bringing a US#4 time of 1:29.70 from the New Balance Games to the seeded heat. Even though they are the state leaders, the challengers are nearby. 2011 8th place finishers Neshaminy (1:30.62), 2011 silver medalists Strath Haven (1:30.79), Glen Mills (1:31.18), and 2011 5th place finishers Downingtown West (1:31.44) are all PA#2-5 from their head to head tilt at the Kevin Dare Invitational. 2011 bronze medalist Cardinal O'Hara bring a flat track time of 1:32.45 to the seeded heat.
With Strath Haven and Penn Wood the favorites for the team title, the 4x400 could crown the team champion. Penn Wood are the top seed with a US#2 and PA#2 All Time performance of 3:17.06 from the New Balance Collegiate meet, three tenths of a second off the state record. Strath Haven is the 3rd seed with a PA#3 time of 3:25.04. Strath Haven finished 3rd last season. Wissahickon finished 2nd to Penn Wood at the boys Meet of Champions with a PA#2 time of 3:25.02. Pennridge (PA#4 3:25.42) will look to make the medal stand after finishing 9th last year.
Strath Haven and Penncrest have been the top two 4x800 meter relay teams for most of the season. Penncrest (6th in 2011) defeated Strath Haven head to head at the New Balance Games on January 21. Penncrest increased their state lead at the New Balance Collegiate Invite with a US#10 time of 7:55.57. At the Millrose Games, Strath Haven took over the state lead with a US#9 time of 7:54.31. Saturday may determine which Delaware County school is better. Over the weekend, however, 2011 bronze medalists Lasalle put themselves into the mix with a PA#3 time of 7:59.16 to win the boys Meet of Champions, which included a 1:55.2 split and a 1:54.9 split. 5th place medalists Pennridge has run 8:00.82 for PA#4 honors and finished 2nd to Lasalle at Meet of Champions.
Great Valley has run two PA#1 times in the distance medley relay, with Ned Willig as the anchor leg on the first team and as the leadoff leg the 2nd time around. At the Yale Invite, Willig ran the anchor leg in 4:16.5 to run 10:27.56. On Saturday at the boys Meet of Champions, Willig ran the lead off leg in a blazing 3:01.2, and Great Valley improved their time to 10:26.51, good for US#12. Holy Ghost Prep was PA#1 earlier in the season, running 10:33.11 at the Marine Corps Games. Altoona Area won the TSTCA Champs with a PA#2 time of 10:31.95. West Chester Henderson ran a PA#4 time of 10:31.1 at the NJ Varsity Classic to put them in the mix.
Field Events
After a slow start to the long jump, the last two weeks have given us two monster marks. At the TFCAofGP Last Chance Qualifier on February 10, Cody Minning of Neshaminy became the first long jumper to break the 23 foot mark with a T-US#11 mark of 23-8. Then this past Saturday, Alec Peabody of Abington Friends added three feet to his personal best, winning the boys Meet of Champions with the same 23-8. Outside of those performances, the top six PA marks in the long jump are all from the last week and a half. Tyrek Edwards of Archbishop Ryan has been the runner up in his last two meets, but has improved his mark to 23-6. Richard Gatewood of Roman Catholic (23-2.50) and John Landis of Father Judge (23-1) are PA 4 and 5 respectively, with Landis defeating both Edwards and Gatewood at the PCL Championships. Imani Brown of Reading won the Burdette classic and won the PTFCA Carnival with his seasonal best 22-8.
Imani Brown of Reading is the defending champion and leads the state in the triple jump with his former US#1 and current US#5 mark of 48-5 from the Burdette Classic in late December. John Landis of Father Judge had a big personal best of 47-10.25 while setting a meet record at the PCL Championships. His mark is the best in the state in the past two months. Jarred Posey of William Penn (47-7.50 and 4th in 2011) and Wellington Zaza of Strath Haven (47-2.50) carry season best marks from December, while Tyrek Edwards of Archbishop Ryan has a season best mark from the opening day of the season.
The high jump has five guys separated by two inches, with four of them having competed against one of the top four at some point this season. Shawn Johnson cleared a T-US#8 height of 6-8 at the Marietta Open in Ohio, and has cleared 6-7 on two different ocassions. John Mudrey of Hickory has been 2nd to Johnson twice, but has a 6-7 clearance to his name. PTFCA Carnival winner Ibn Short of Milton Hershey and boys Meet of Champions winner Jalen Ramsey of Norristown cleared 6-6 in a head to head contest. Misohn Coppock of Pottstown cleared 6-6 at Kutztown on February 11 to get into the mix.
The pole vault features six vaulters over the 15 foot mark, but the battle between the top two vaulters could provide a 16 foot clearance indoors for the first time since 2004! Chris Williams of Strath Haven has set a personal best in the indoor pole vault on three different occassions, including a US#9 clearance of 15-9 at the PTFCA Carnival. His 15-3 clearance at the Burdette Classic was his first over 15 feet in two years. Williams will be looking for that form one more time after not clearing a height last year. 4th place finisher and AAA outdoor champion Patrick Anderson has kept pace with Williams, clearing 15-7 at the SPIRE Invitational on February 11. Jared Allison of Dallastown went head to head with Williams at the PTFCA Carnival and earned a mark of 15-6 to finish 2nd. Shawn Mayer of Palmyra cleared 15-5 on Saturday at the VaultWorx Last Chance meet on Saturday. Alex Barker of Conrad Weiser (15-1) and Jacob Hensh of Laurel Highlands (15-0) are also 15 foot vaulters that will be in the mix.
Like the 60 meter hurdles, the shot put has four US top 11 performers! For most of the season, the boys shot put was cluttered at the top with four throwers within five inches of one another. Then Kyle Felpel of Cocalico had a career week two weeks ago to put him on top of the state list with some breathing room. Felpel cracked the 60 foot mark for the first time at the Albright HS Invite on February 8. Three days later at the PTFCA Carnival, Felpel added over two and a half feet to that mark, throwing a US#4 mark of 62-8.75 to win the event. In victory, he defeated two of his top competitors heading into this weekend. Praduman Singh of Upper Darby was US#1 in late December with his Burdette Classic winning mark and current US#7 mark of 59-4.75. Kyle Long of Hempfield (3) was also in the PTFCA Carnival field and he has a US#11 mark of 59-0.50. The other big contender is current US#8 Matt Bell of Hickory, who brings a 59-4.25 mark to the competition.
