The annual DVGTCA Meet of Champions will take place this Friday night. For some teams and athletes, this meet acts as a final tune up for the March 1 state meet. For others, this is the last chance to improve their marks to book a ticket to states.
North Penn and Central Bucks East will lead the PA charge in the 4x800 meter relay against top seeds Padua (DE). North Penn have dipped under 9:40 this season, while CB East are on the verge of achieving that feat. The distance medley relay will have Meet of Champs record holders Great Valley face off against North Penn, Friends Central, and Pennsbury. Friends Central ran 12:44 on the opening day of the season and are coming off a 9:41 win in the 4x8 last Saturday. Pennsbury have been dominant in the 4x8 this season. What could a full strength DMR squad do?
The straightaway events should be mouthwatering. Ciara Leonard of Cheltenham will lead the charge in the 60 meter hurdles. Leonard has run faster than the 8.57 meet record at the Kevin Dare Invite (8.47). She will have teammate Madison Langley-Walker joining her in the event, and they will team up to face Markeeta Thomas of Paul Robeson and Uchechi Onuoha of Pennsbury. In the dash, it will be Dasia Pressley of Pennsbury against Chanel Brissett of Cheltenham. Brissett has the best time in the state (7.55), while Pressley has run 7.72. Who will come out on top in this state meet preview?
In the oval sprints, the 200 meter dash will have Pressley, Taylor Chapman of Pennridge, and 400 meter state leader Brooklynn Broadwater of Springside Chestnut Hill go up against former US#1 Maiya Dendy of Padua (DE). Pressley will look for a good performance as the defending state champion. Chapman will look for a positive boost before Penn State after a couple of tough races. Broadwater has broken 25 seconds on a banked track this season. Dendy was victorious against Pressley and Chapman at Penn State one month ago.
The 400 will have Alexis Crosby of Cheltenham entered as the only sub 60 second runner in DVG meets this season. Katie Arbogast of Penncrest is PA#8 in the 400 this season (58.91 at Hispanic Games).
In the distance races, outdoor 800 meter champion Maddie Villalba of Central Bucks West will look to put herself in contention for the seeded heat of the 800 meter run at states with a big performance Friday. The junior hasn't run an open 800 since December, but her form in other events suggests she is ready to put a good time in. Gabby Wilkinson of Friends Central is coming off a 2:15.40 performance last weekend, while the Pennsbury duo of Olivia Sargent and Erin O'Connell will challenge the young duo up front.
The mile will have PTFCA Carnival winner Emily Burd of Friends Central toe the line. Burd ran 5:11.58 in her win last week, and will look for a sub 5:10 for the first time indoors. Karli Visconto of Nazareth Academy hasn't earned a mile win this season in three attempts, but has a 5:11.31 season best from the Hispanic Games. Hannah Molloy and Meridith Twomey of Pennsbury will look to team up and put on strong performances of their own. Brooke Hutton of Coatesville will also be in the mix up front against the veterans of the field.
The 3000 meter run will have Lizzie Morris of Central Bucks East go up against Emily Paolucci of Padua, who ran 10:25.05 in a solo effort on January 23. Morris ran 10:40.11 back on December 19, but has been in good form in helping her team achieve many relay victories and school records. Teammate Jackie Kinkead will look to improve on her 10:31.03 from the Kevin Dare Invite.
In the sprint relays, the 4x200 meter relay will be a scorcher! Four of the top ten teams in the state will battle for the gold medal. Pennsbury and Springside Chestnut Hill have dipped under the 1:43 mark on banked tracks. Springside Chestnut Hill have the 2nd fastest time on a flat track, while Neumann Goretti have the 3rd fastest. Penncrest broke 1:45 at the New Balance Games this season.
In the 4x400 meter relay, Cheltenham is one of two teams to have broken 4 minutes this season. North Penn has come the closest to that mark (4:01.16 at Marine Corps on December 30), while Central Bucks West (4:05.95) and Paul Robeson (4:06.84) both ran their best times of the season at the PTFCA Carnival last week.
In the field events, Ariana Przybylowski of Pennridge will take on top seed Christina Allen of Padua. The two are the only 18 plus foot jumpers in the field. Hannah Sexton of Central Bucks West jumped 17-8.25 at the PTFCA Carnival last week and is on a roll entering the meet of champs. Madison Langley-Walker of Cheltenham has jumped over 17-9 in her last two competitions.
In the triple jump, state leader Ochechi Onuoha of Pennsbury will look to keep her top spot in the state. Onuoha jumped 38-4.25 on January 29 and is the only 38 foot plus triple jumper in PA this season. Shannon Taub of Council Rock South is one inch away from reaching 38 feet, but will look to gain a win over Onuoha after losing to her at Lawrenceville. Three time DVG winner Evelyn Berecz of Downingtown East will also contend for a top 3 finish.
Taub will also contest the high jump against Victoria Matthews of Abington. Both have cleared 5-5 this season, and they will face tough competition from Grace Becker of Central Bucks East and 5-6 jumper Moira O'Malley of Souderton. O'Malley hasn't cleared 5-2 since her 5-6 personal best, but it only takes one meet to find a groove. Will she be able to find it before states?
Dominique Franco of Council Rock South is the lone 11 foot plus pole vaulter in the pole vault field. Teammate Savannah Wood and Padua's Kelly Muschiatti have cleared 10-9. One of these three will look to take home the gold medal. In the shot put, Nina Gambacorta of Garnet Valley will enter full of confidence after throwing a PA#5 42-5.50 at the PTFCA Carnival, finishing 2nd to Emily Stauffer of Cocalico. Janese Lynch of Academy Park threw 41-1.75 way back on the opening day. Can she find that form for the Meet of Champs?
The Meet Program for Friday's meet can be found HERE!