Welcome to TRACKside – Stories and notes on athletes, teams, coaches and races to be published mid-week during the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. Vaulting to the top of PA | Angling for the Perfect Jump | One Fast Frosh D.J. Horton - Travis Hammaker: There are a few events where the athletes share a bond that is the event itself. No bond is stronger than that which is created by the shared danger and thrill of the pole vault. Kristin Brandt has it all figured out. All she has to do now is get the right day, good competition, great speed, a steady but evenly building run, and just the right amount of height. Then, and only then, will it be the perfect jump. She can see it clearly. In fact, she's done it, only they've all been fouls. State College freshman Chloe Schmidt probably would not think of telling people she is the top freshman runner in the state. But there she is in the rankings. #1 in the mile at 5:00.79 (4:59.05c 1600); #1 in the 800 at 2:16.41, and probably most surprisingly, #2 in the 400 at 57.34. No, the deceptively diminutive and slightly shy 9th grader at State College High School doesn't look at the world that way. You see... comparisons to fellow freshmen just don't seem to be in her nature.
Coverage
The 2008 All-State Indoor Track & Field Team was selected by a committee of the PTFCA on 3/12 taking in consideration honors won, quality and consistency of performance and head-to-head competition. Congratulations to all the new All-State athletes.
Highlights photos from the March 1, 2008 PTFCA Indoor Championships @ Penn State University
SUMMARIES | RELAYS | SPRINTS | DISTANCE | FIELD | 44 VIDEOS POSTED: 30 INTERVIEWS + 6 GIRLS & 8 BOYS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Photo Gallery of PTFCA Indoor Championships Highlights Click Here for Photo Gallery Index for Photo Orders - ALL galleries on - 1,000's of event & awards pix Girls meet records by Carly Seymour 9:54.56 3000, Ryann Krais 8.54 60H, D-town East 12:13.62, Abby Schaffer 13-00.25 PV - Boys meet records by North Penn 7:48.99 4x800, LaSalle 10:15.89 DMR - Conestoga Girls Team Champs, North Penn Boys Champs 2008 PA Indoor Leaderboard: Girls / Boys
Javell Bullard (VA) & Taylor Sykes (VA) run U.S.#1 & U.S.#2 for 500m(Photo by John Herzog)Four state championships (MA, PA, VA, WY) and the New England Championships highlight this weekend's track and field action. See what's happening!***Ebony Eutsey (FL) blazes 24.27 (200m) & 54.09 (400m) outdoors at Sam Burley (FL)!!! ***Brandon O'Connor (FL) starts the outdoor season with a bang, running 20.93 for 200m at Sam Burley (FL)!!! ***Javell Bullard (VA) & sophomore Taylor Sykes (VA) go U.S.#1-#2 in 500m with 1:04.10-1:04.11 in VA!!! ***Peter Dorrell (PA) runs 4:14.69 (1600m) & 2:28.70 (1000m) at VHSL Group AA Champs!!! ***Stephen Michael (WY) dominates in WY Indoor State Champs., winning four events (LJ, TJ, 200m, 55m)!!! Top Boys Weekend Highlights- Dominic Smith (CT) runs U.S. top ten for 300m in 34.78 in MA- Parker Bourdreau (CT) runs U.S.#1 in 1000m with 2:27.63 in MA- Dwight Barbiasz (NH) leaps 6-09 in HJ at New England Champs.- LaSalle (PA) runs U.S.#1 for DMR in 10:15.89 at PA Champs.- Khaliff Featherstone (PA) runs 48.30 for 400m in PA- Joe Wesley (MI) vaults 16-06 to win MITS Championships- Matt Armstrong (MI) throws 61-06 to win shot put at MITS- Roscoe Payne (MI) hurdles U.S. top ten in 8.00 at MITSTop Girls Weekend Highlights- Ariel Roberts (MI) jumps U.S.#1 in high jump in 5-09 at MITS - Becky O'Brien (ME) throws 48-10 in shot put at New Englands- Karen Shump (PA) throws 48-10.25 in shot put in PA- Ijeoma Iheoma (PA) runs U.S.#3 for 400m in 54.54 at PTFCA- Abby Schaffer (PA) vaults 13-00.25 in PA, U.S.#4 mark- Tynita Butts (VA) leaps U.S.#2 in LJ with 20-00 effort in VA - LaSalle (RI) wins 4x2 & 4x4 against deep competition in MA- Eryn Wheeler (RI) runs U.S. top ten for 600m in 1:33.79 in MA- Leslie Aririguzo (MI) wins 60m hurdles in 8.67 at MITS Champ.
The Western Branch (VA) relays should dominate in Virginia this weekend(Photo by John Herzog)The New England Championships and a handful of indoor state meets highlight the national calendar this weekend. In Boston, the New England Championships bring together six northeast states, always creating a lot of excitement. Meanwhile, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wyoming host their state meets. Come read which athletes and teams should highlight each event!
Due to a conflict with the Penn State High School Invitational on February 23, 2008, the PTFCA Indoor State Championships has been forced to move to the following Saturday, March 1, 2008. The waiver for the now-post-season meet has been granted by the PIAA. The new information PDF with entry form, time schedule, standards, and more can be accessed by clicking here.
Standards for automatic entry into the 2008 PTFCA Indoor State Championships, set for Saturday February 23, 2008 at Penn State University. Visit the meet page for a link to a PDF document with the meet information, entry form and standards.