More District coverage you may have missed: D10 AA & AAA Features, plus D9 AA video interviews

PA 2014 Outdoor Weekly

May 20, 2014

Meet summaries by Alison Carson of both D10 AA and AAA... plus tons of video interviews from D9 AA by Sharon Weisner.

D10 AA HIGHLIGHTS | D10 AAA HIGHLIGHTS | D9 AA VIDEO INTERVIEWS

AA HIGHLIGHTS BY ALISON CARSON:

The D10 AA meet occurred on perhaps the only dry (yet chilly) day all week. Despite the raindrops that began to fall at the end of the 400m finals and ceased to stop, two D10 AA records fell! Bethany Evankovich of General McLane set a new record in the 400m dash while running a 58.02 and securing her spot at states. The old 4x4 record was broken by Villa Maria Academy, who won by a decent margin for a school and district record 4:04.00.

The first final of the day gave victories and state berths to the Villa Maria girls (9:34.16) and Mercyhurst Prep boys (8:13.62) 4x8 relays.

Sophia Mazza won the 100 hurdles in a PR 14.93, making her the #2 seed for states this weekend. Jarred Davis of Mercer Area won the 110 hurdles (15.11) and enters states as the #5 seed.

Evankovich was also victorious in the 200m dash, which she won in 26.14. Following closely behind was Villa Maria freshman Autumn Byes (26.70).

Sebastian Curtin of Mercyhurst Prep completed the 1600-3200 double, winning the events in 4:24.36 and 9:49.92, respectively. Curtin will compete in the 1600 and his team's 4x8 at states.

Villa Maria's Grace Trucilla moved up in distance to the 1600, which she proved to have a potential future in. Just her second time running the distance this season, Trucilla won in 5:09.55. She has scratched from states, however, to focus on her signature event, the 800. She placed second in a cold and rainy 800 (2:20.13), right behind teammate Claire Brown (2:18.06).

Freshman Kate McIntosh of North East overcame the top seeds in the 3200 to win her first district championship (11:34.77). She pulled away from the field with General McLane's Morgan Price (11:37.22), and made her move to outkick Price for the victory and ticket to states.

The Wilmington girls stole the show in the field, turning in at least top three finishes in all events but the javelin. Hannah Drake dominated the long (17-00.75) and triple jump (36-02.50), winning both by large margins. Slippery Rock's Emily Campbell won the shot (39-02.50) and discus (143-02) throws, securing her as the #4 and #1 seeds at states, respectively.

Luke Lewis of Hickory takes over the top seed at states in the discus and shot, easily winning both in lengths of 159-08 and 61-05.50, respectively. The senior placed fourth last year in the shot and will look to improve.

AAA HIGHLIGHTS BY ALISON CARSON:

The D10 AAA meet began on Wednesday afternoon, only to be stormed out and set to conclude on Saturday afternoon after the completion of the AA meet. Many rain and thunder delays occurred Wednesday, pushing the meet back late. Saturday's continuation began with the 400m.

Abby Jones of Franklin won the high jump (5-9) and is the top AAA seed going into the state championships. Jones also won the long jump (16-05.5) and triple jump (34-04.00) finals.

Cathedral Prep's Bryce Boyd won the 100m in 11.26. George Junior sophomore Shukiem Murray won the 200m dash (22.88).

Sophomore Lexi Bible of Hickory earned two more district championships to add to her cross country crown from the fall. She hung onto top-seed Taylor Pletz of Mercyhurst Prep (5:22.35) in the 1600 and battled with her before outkicking Pletz with a lap to go, winning in 5:20.92.

"In the last lap of the race, I knew this was it. I had to go or it would be yet another 2nd place medal hanging around my neck [like last year]. I didn't want that," says the determined 1600m champion. She also won the 3200m (11:27).

Bobby Danielson of Central Tech overcame his 4th place seed to win the 1600m (4:27.16) by more than 3 seconds.

Hickory claimed another winner in Heather Grober, who won the 300m hurdles (45.67) and heads into the PIAA championships as the 15th seed. Girls discus and shot put finals were dominated by Hickory, who took the top three spots in each. Tori McKinley (132-10.00), Cailen Blaire (127-00.00), and Elena Merchand (124-06.00) took 1-2-3, respectively, in discus. Shot put was won by Elena Marchand (42-06.00) and followed by Sophia Fustos (41-09.00) and Cailen Blaire (35-09.50).

The top three boys' pole vault winners achieved state qualifying standards and will look to represent D10 well at states. Caleb Sanford of McDowell, Zachary Cartwright of Franklin, and Hunter Truitt finished 1-2-3, respectively, all with vaults of 14-03.00.

Courtney Sargent of Strong Vincent stormed away with the 800m crown, a state berth, and a nearly 7-second PR (2:19.11) after a gutsy race with Pletz (2:19.98). Sargent says, "The race was really tough and I wasn't expecting to PR, but I'm grateful to have run with Taylor because she pushed me really hard."

COMPLETE DISTRICTS COVERAGE

D9 AA VIDEO INTERVIEWS BY SHARON WEISNER: