The Penn Relays Carnival
Time for the biggest meet in the world! The Penn Relays have arrived and PA will be well represented at the meet. With every school eligible to enter a 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay, we will preview the PA relays and athletes who have received invitations to compete in the Penn Relays championship events!
Girls
With Tessa Barret’s withdrawal from the 3000 meter run, the torch has been passed to Regan Rome of Dallas and Paige Stoner of Pottsville. Stoner has been consistent thus far this season and has yet to lose, while Rome has previous Penn Relays experience to help her out.
The mile will feature the return of Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic, Mady Clahane of Cumberland Valley and the returning Marissa Sheva of Pennridge. Will this be the race that gives them all the momentum they need for the stretch run? In the 400 meter hurdles, Holly Sullivan of Owen J Roberts will be competing in her first big meet since her hamstring injury at the PTFCA Indoor Carnival on February 15. Rachael DeCecco of Cumberland Valley, Markeeta Thomas of Paul Robeson, and Brooklynn Broadwater of Springside Chestnut Hill have all recorded strong 300 meter hurdle times this season.
In the field, Megan McCloskey of Germantown Academy and Cyre Virgo of Fleetwood will be contenders for a gold watch. Both have cleared 5-7 so far this spring and both cleared 5-8 in the winter. The pole vault is crowded with PA talent, including newly crowned state leader Kennedy Shank of Northern. PA#2 Hannah Mulhern of Altoona and PA#3 Moriah Fitzgerald of Avon Grove will also be in the mix.
In the long jump, Claudine Andre of Upper Darby, Julia Reeves of Springside Chestnut Hill, and in form Ariana Przybylowski of Pennridge will represent PA looking to get to the 18 foot mark for the first time this season. In the triple jump, indoor state champion Uche Onuoha of Pennsbury will lead the way with Abby Wagner of Altoona and Shannon Taub of Council Rock South also competing.
In the throws, Courtney McCartney of Selinsgrove is on a hot streak after throwing a state leading 47-2.50 over the weekend. Macey Tanseco of Perkiomen Valley has been eastern PA’s best thrower. Kailyn Clancy of California Area has been coming on strong of late. Top AA discus thrower in 2013 Carter Green of North Schuylkill will feature in the discus while PA#4 Taylor Hojnacki of Central Bucks South makes a return trip to the Penn Relays. In the javelin, PA#2 Anna Bailey of Bishop McDevitt will mix it up with the top seeds along with PA#5 Steph Sievers of Daniel Boone.
In the relays, indoor state record holders Central Bucks South will run their first 4x800 meter relay since earning indoor All American honors in March. Indoor state champions Strath Haven make yet another trip to the 4x8. All Americans State College also enter the event along with AA champions Villa Maria Academy, 2013 All Americans Great Valley and current state leaders Pennsbury. In the distance medley relay, indoor state champions and All Americans Unionville will contend for the top spot with state runners up Cardinal O’Hara and Garnet Valley.
Boys
PA#3 and indoor mile runner up Jaxson Hoey of Malvern Prep and Sam Ritz of Germantown Academy will represent PA in the mile. Hoey is coming off a 4:15 performance at the Warrior Invite. Indoor 3000 meter champion Colin Martin of Fox Chapel will compete in the outdoor 3000 with Foot Locker Finalist Ross Wilson of Council Rock North. In the 400 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdle state leader Chance Post of Conestoga Valley will lead the way for PA. Donaldo Benjamin of Delaware Valley Charter will also compete in what has been a consistent season for him thus far. Ishmael Wright of Quakertown and Neshaminy’s Dave Marrington are off to good spring starts.
In the field, indoor high jump champion Chris Stone will look to improve on his state leading 6-8.25 mark from April 5. Alex McCord of Warwick and Tyree Ballinger of J.P. McCaskey are 6-8 jumpers who will also be in the mix. Pole vault leader Ryan Wilkes of Valley View will be the lone PA representative in the vault, clearing 15 feet this season.
In the long jump, indoor state champion Isaish Brooks of Woodland Hills will be looking to get the top spot back in the event. Jordan Bryan of St Joe’s Prep, Byron Coleman of Plymouth Whitemarsh and Saahir Bethea of Cheltenham will be looking to find their indoor form. In the triple jump, Sam Pope of Episcopal Academy will be looking to pop a big jump, while Bryce Williams of State College and AJ Stevens of Pottsville have had good springs and will look to keep the momentum going.
Sam Reid of Central and Morgan Shigo of Fleetwood have been consistent 55-57 foot throwers this season and will look for the Penn Relay stage to get a big mark out. In the discus, PA#2 David Lucas of Warwick is under one foot off the state lead and will look to claim it. PA#8 Darrik Muroski of Coatesville has been a model of consistency in his throws this season, but will like a big mark to put his name amongst the best in the state. In the javelin, newly crowned state leader Luke Smorey of Baldwin is in the US top ten and will look to get another big throw in. Jhet Janis of Cocalico threw 199 feet on the opening weekend of the season, while PA#2 Josh Brown of Milton Area will want to claim top spot and Brandon Palaia of Spring Ford has been the best javelin thrower in the east thus far this season.
In the relays, indoor state champions and All Americans State College have had their eye on this meet for six weeks and the time has come to run on the big stage. Current state leaders Pennridge will look to hold off the indoor champions. Malvern Prep and Penncrest will also look to impress on Friday. In the distance medley relay, it’s another match up of PA’s top distance programs, as indoor national champions Cardinal O’Hara and All Americans West Chester Henderson will enter as the top two seeds. Can O’Hara do it again or will Henderson get a big victory. North Penn earned qualification with solid outdoor performances.
