The Girls 3000 meters is special
The distance girls of PA continued their dominance of the 3000 meter run on the national level for a 3rd consecutive weekend. The performance from Mady Clahane at Penn State 3 weeks ago has started an incredible wave of top notch performances.
Olivia Sargent of Pennsbury was the latest star to break the 10 minute mark on Friday night at the final DVGTCA meet of the regular season. Sargent ran 9:59.22 to cruise to victory and to the US#2 spot. As of this writing, PA holds the US#1, 2 and 3 spots in the country with the only sub 10 minute performances at 3000 meters!
With three sub 11 minute performances at 3200 meters in Ohio on Sunday, the real possibility of sub 10:30 being the requirement to make the state meet 3000 meter championship is there. That would require a US top 60 performance to break into the state's top 15.
That is incredibly deep…and incredibly special!
Series tied 1-1
In midweek, the rematch took place between the top two in the girls shot put, Emily Stauffer of Cocalico and Courtney McCartney of Selinsgrove.
Last time around, Stauffer threw a lifetime best 47-10 to beat the state champion by an inch and a half at Lebanon Valley. The second showdown saw the fortunes for both throwers change. McCartney threw 46-5.50 to win by nearly 2.5 feet over Stauffer. It was McCartney's first win of the season in just her 2nd appearance of the season. For Stauffer, it was her 2nd defeat in 8 appearances.
Now as the stakes get higher as the state meet gets closer, the two stars each have one victory over the other. Stauffer has competed a lot in her return season (8 appearances), while McCartney has only competed twice. Which plan of attack will prevail in March? Only time will tell.
BRING ON THE POSTSEASON
Inside two weeks until the state meet means we have reached the meat and potatoes of the season. It is postseason time when the excitement, the drama, the tension, and the quality of the performance shoot up to unmeasurable levels!
This weekend is highlighted by the Millrose Games, the Carnival, the final TSTCA meet before the Meet of Champs, and the SPIRE Showcase. Virtually all of the state's big guns will be on display as the road to Penn State speeds up into high gear.
What's so great about this time of year is the number of personal and seasonal bests that get set during this period. Add in the new state qualifying format and teams who are sitting on the bubble of qualification will certainly be feeling the pressure to get in.
So let's hope for the best from our PA athletes for the final couple of weeks of the season. We don't know how these athletes will top last season's state meet run in, but somehow they always do.
Good luck to everyone!