2/15 - Mark Korich comes away with great performances at PTFCA Carnival

In the biggest PA meet of the season, 167 teams (178 had sent in applications) with over 1500 athletes descended on Lehigh University for a smoothly run nearly eight-hour meet with 20 Dyestat Elite performances. The most impressive athlete of the indoor season continues to be Springfield (Montco) senior MarkKorich, who won the mile in 4:22.27, the 800 in 1:56.07 and came from way behind in the 4x800 to bring his team into sixth place. Three other guys followed Korish under 1:59, including Great Valley's Ben Franzuski(1:58.61), Sun Valley's Chris Kessler, 1:58.84), and Northwest's JoshFritz (1:58.98). For the girls, Nicole Erby of Cumberland Valley, went 2:19.64. DebbieHuss, Wyomissing, took the mile in 5:10.80, chased by Gwynedd Mercy's Meghan Bishop 5:11.77) and Lewisburg's AshleighWetzel (5:13.11). In the 3000, defending indoor state champ Ryan Blood, (below) East Pennsboro, went 8:57.09 in his second race of the season, the fastest time in the 3000 this season. The girls' 3000 was quick, with Ephrata's Betsy Sensenig controlling the race to win in 10:26.7. Upper Dublin's Lauren Bowles was 2nd in 10:28.7; Amy Huss, 3rd in 10:31.9, and Bensalem's Ashley Kelly, 4th in 10:37.7. Meet records were set by Chioma Nwaneshivdu of Penn Wood (7.68 in the 60 dash); and Lindsey Regan of Easton in the Pole Vault (11-06). Lauren Birckhead of Liberty, was 2nd with the same height buy more misses, while Pennsbury's Kourtney Marquis was 3rd, clearing 11-00. In the 60 Hurdles, Schuylkill Valley's Heather Patch, won in 9.25. In the Long Jump, Al Gregory, Pennsbury, went over 23-03, along with a victory in the 60 dash, going 7.06. Neshaminy's Brian Kennelly was 2nd in the LJ (22-02). Sara Kirsh, Pennsbury, took the girls' LJ (17-07), while Wissahickon's Alex Baptiste was 2nd, going 17-06. Abington's Cowin Mills went 49.80 in the 400, while Wissahickon sophomore KristaSimkins (above, right) went 57.70 to win the girls two-lapper. In the Shot Put, Upper Merion's Steve Tyson won with a toss of 54-00. Blake Taylor, Methacton, continued to High Jump well, clearing 6-08. Harrisburg's Andre Hicks was 2nd, clearing 6-06. Downingtown's Kelly Kajunski cleared 5-05. In the relays, the Upper Darby girls powered to a 1:46.82 4x200 win. And North Penn took all three contested relays, winning the 4x200 in 1:33.20, the 4x400 in 3:30.58, and the 4x800 in 8:15.55.