The PTFCA Indoor State Championships will be broadcast LIVE this Sunday starting at 10am on PennTrackXC.com! You can watch the meet at the following link:
PTFCA Indoor State Championship Live Webcast!
Girls Previews: Field | Sprints | Distance | Regular Season Top 8 | All time top 10 2003-2014
Boys Preview: Field | Sprints | Distance | Regular Season Top 8 | All time top 10 2003-2014
The 60 meter dash features six of last season's eight medalists. But in the eyes of most fans, there may only be three sprinters to keep an eye on in the center of the facility on Sunday.
2014 silver medalist and reigning state leader Chanel Brissett of Cheltenham has had far from a sophomore slump in 2015. After starting the first month of the season on the injured list, Brissett got her season going on the 2 nd of January with a 7.82 win in the 60 dash. Not bad considering all the time off. Her season then caught fire, finishing in the top three in every 55/60 meter dash race since. In that time, Brissett knocked off former PA#1 Taylor Chapman of Pennridge in the 60 meter dash at the Kevin Dare Invite 7.55 to 7.56. Despite all that success, her mission to keep the 60 dash title in house (teammate Katelyn Jackson won last year) hit a snag last Friday night.
The newest member of the Pennsbury track team, Dasia Pressley, completed her rise into state title contention after not starting her season until mid January. In her debut race, she ran 7.74 to start off her season on a high note. After some 55 meter dash success, she finally got to line up toe to toe with Brissett on Friday at the DVGTCA Meet of Champions. The result was huge, as Pressley defeated Brissett 7.57 to 7.61. The rematch this Sunday will play a huge role in which team wins the state title.
But prior to these two stealing the headlines, all the headlines belonged to Taylor Chapman of Pennridge. While Pressley and Brissett were getting themselves fit, Chapman was torching the track every time she stepped onto it. Every time she competed, she was earning a state lead and/or a national top five mark. She was the first to break 7.70 when she ran 7.67 at the Christmas City Relays to hold off Jaylune Aminu of Liberty by .01 seconds. But just like the Kevin Dare Invite was a boost for Brissett, it started an opposite trend for Chapman, who hasn't earned a victory at any distance since. Finding her early season form will give her a chance to win her first career state gold medal.
Outside of these three, Lauren Costa of West Allegheny, Jameela Muhammad of Paul Robeson, and Alli Wyland of Hollidaysburg are the other returning medalists. Costa has been unbeatable in the Western part of the state, winning four of five meets, including a seven race winning streak (prelims and finals). Muhammad has spent the season chasing the top three all season, but has been on her way towards reaching the form that made her a major player in her first two seasons. Wyland has only competed one time this season, running 7.7 in January at State College.
Christina Johnson of Susquehanna Township is a contending medalist after leading her team to a fantastic season under a new head coach. Johnson was the winner of the PTFCA Carnival in 7.78, the best of her career.
Event 3 Girls 60 Meter Dash Prelims
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State Meet: 7.45 2/21/2009 Rayiana Johnson, Chester
Name Year School
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1 Aminu, Jaylyne 10 Liberty
2 Bourdeau, Nathaniela 12 James Coughlin
3 Brissett, Chanel 10 Cheltenham
4 Brooks, Eliza 9 Neumann Goretti
5 Chapman, Taylor 12 Pennridge
6 Costa, Lauren 12 West Alleghe
7 Davis, Amira 12 Overbrook
8 Gonzalez, Angelica 12 Red Lion
9 Johnson, Christina 12 Susquehanna
10 Koller, Rachel 11 Gwynedd-Mercy
11 Luciano, Jordan 12 Easton
12 Lupica, Jane 12 Villa Jo Marie
13 Maher, Lexus 12 William Tenn
14 Malone, Emily 12 Hazleton Area
15 Miedel, Rianna 11 Hempfield (7)
16 Mueseler, Maddy 12 Greater Latr
17 Muhammad, Jameela 11 Paul Robeson
18 Oliver, Amanda 10 South Fayett
19 Pressley, Dasia 11 Pennsbury
20 Reeves, Julia 11 Springside
21 Scherer, Nicole 10 Burrell
22 Schuman, Rachel 10 South Fayett
23 Webb, Jayana 9 Norristown
24 Wiles, Lauren 12 North Hills
25 Wyland, Ali 10 Hollidaysburg
The athletes in the 200 meter dash sound very familiar to the names from the 60 meter dash. The top three and four of the five ladies who ran the seeded heat last season are back for another go at 200 meter gold.
Champion Pressley has only run the 200 meters twice this season and has failed to break 25 seconds, running 25.00 at the DVGTCA Meet of Champions on Friday. She has one victory and has failed to be defeated by PA competition.
2014 runner up Chapman has had her most success at 200 meters this season from the very start. In seven 200 meter races this season, Chapman stormed to victory in her first five, starting at 25.52 at Lehigh on the opening night to a T-US#9 24.49 at the Hispanic Games. But like the 60 meter dash, she tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of Brissett at the Kevin Dare Invite on her way to a 4 th place finish, which was also the same place she finished at Friday's DVGTCA Meet of Champions (25.52). Like the 60, regaining her early season form will be key for the senior.
Brooklynn Broadwater of Springside Chestnut Hill was the bronze medalist last season, but has failed to taste victory in five attempts, losing to Chapman twice. She has broken 25 seconds twice, including her last appearance at Kevin Dare back in January (24.90).
Brissett struggled to an 8th place finish last season, but she enters Sunday's state meet as the state leader with her 24.46 performance at the Kevin Dare Invite. Like the 60, her performance against Pressley could have a major say in the team title race.
The contenders outside of the returning medalists will have a strong say for medal places. Ty'asia Dansbury of Harrisburg broke 25 seconds last Thursday with a time of 24.6, a lifetime best. 9 th grader Janaya Webb of Norristown was the PTFCA Carnival winner, but was behind Dansbury last Thursday at State College. She has four wins in the event this season with six straight 25 second performances. Husniyyah Rodgers or Pennsbury, Alexandra Kitchell of Springside Chestnut Hill, and Alicia Collier of Penncrest are strong medal contenders with sub 25.50 performances this season.
Event 11 Girls 200 Meter Dash
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State Meet: 24.02 3/2/2002 Juanita Broaddus, William Penn
Name Year School
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1 Boone, Nya 10 Norristown
2 Brissett, Chanel 10 Cheltenham
3 Broadwater, Brooklynn 11 Springside
4 Brooks, Eliza 9 Neumann Goretti
5 Brooks, Yasmin 10 Susquehanna
6 Chapman, Taylor 12 Pennridge
7 Collier, Alicia 11 Penncrest
8 Costa, Lauren 12 West Alleghe
9 Dansbury, Ty'Asia 10 Harrisburg
10 Dorsey, Avani 10 Imhotep
11 Johnson, Christina 12 Susquehanna
12 Kitchell, Alexandria 9 Springside
13 Leisman, Riley 12 Canon-McMillan
14 Leonzo, Nicole 12 Harrisburg C
15 Magrane, Kaitlyn 12 Wyomissing
16 McLaughlin, Valerie 12 Ridley
17 Miedel, Rianna 11 Hempfield (7)
18 Nero, Tikki 10 Del Val Charter
19 Oliver, Amanda 10 South Fayett
20 Pitman, Rachel 12 Bishop McDevitt
21 Pressley, Dasia 11 Pennsbury
22 Przybylowski, Ariana 12 Pennridge
23 Ruffin, Ariana 10 Neumann Goretti
24 Scherer, Nicole 10 Burrell
25 Webb, Jayana 9 Norristown
Entering the 400 meter dash last season, PA did not have anyone under the 56 second mark. Outdoors, only one girl achieved that mark, and as a result, won the state title. This winter, a different girl broke 56 seconds and is the defending indoor champion. On Sunday, those two will square off.
Defending champion Brooklynn Broadwater of Springside Chestnut Hill has been on fire in her title defense. In three appearances, she has broken the 56 second mark twice, leading the state with a T-US#8 55.46. She also has two victories in those three appearances.
Chasing her will be the reigning AAA outdoor 400 meter champion McKenna Keegan of Avon Grove. At the state meet last year, Keegan broke 60 seconds for just the 2 nd time indoors, earning a 7th place medal. She has been on a tear since then, winning the outdoor state title with the state's best time. This season, it has been more of the same, winning all three of her appearances, including a come from behind victory over Ty'Asia Dansbury of Harrisburg at the PTFCA Carnival in an indoor personal best 56.94. For these two, it will a first head to head match up. How appropriate that the reigning state champions will battle for crown of undisputed champion at 400 meters.
But out to spoil the party at the top will be Dansbury, who has a 57.00 personal best from her narrow defeat to Keegan two weeks ago. She does have 3 wins in 4 appearances this winter. Nicole Burke of Cheltenham is the 3 rd sub 57 second runner in the field this season, running 56.95 at Kevin Dare last month. Points will be big for her team, so another big improvement will be helpful for the Cheltenham title defense. Husniyyah Rodgers of Pennsbury will look to place ahead of Burke and DVGTCA Meet of Champs winner Alexis Crosby of Cheltenham for the Pennsbury title cause.
Event 7 Girls 400 Meter Dash
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State Meet: 53.82 2/26/2005 Nicole Leach, West Catholic
Name Year School
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1 Arbogast, Katie 12 Penncrest
2 Bourdeau, Tamar 11 James Coughlin
3 Broadwater, Brooklynn 11 Springside
4 Burke, Nicole 12 Cheltenham
5 Carter, Cheyenne 10 Imhotep
6 Christian, Cydney 12 Upper Dublin
7 Coleman, Amira 10 Neumann Goretti
8 Crosby, Alexis 9 Cheltenham
9 Dambly, Julia 11 Notre Dame
10 Dansbury, Ty'Asia 10 Harrisburg
11 Douglas-Grant, Jasmine 9 Stroudsburg
12 Evans, Alysha 11 Susquehanna
13 Gransby, Anisa 11 Girls' High
14 Holmberg, Gabby 10 Hempfield (7)
15 Keegan, McKenna 11 Avon Grove
16 Kitchell, Alexandria 9 Springside
17 Leonzo, Nicole 12 Harrisburg C
18 Mueseler, Maddy 12 Greater Latr
19 Nwogwugwu, Uche 10 North Penn
20 Reese, Rachel 11 Hempfield (7)
21 Rogers, Husniyyah 12 Pennsbury
22 Ruffin, Ariana 10 Neumann Goretti
23 Sherrod, Nia 12 Overbrook
24 Woods, Taylor 11 Arch Ryan
Despite six of the top seven from last season all coming back, the 60 meter hurdles has been about one girl and one girl only for 95 percent of the season and that is state record holder Ciara Leonard of Cheltenham. The senior has been nearly perfect all season at both 55 and 60 meter hurdle distances. She has won 11 out of 13 appearances in all hurdle competitions this season, and she has spent some time as the US#1 hurdler at 60 meters with her 8.47 at the Kevin Dare Invitational. Leonard has broken 8.70 an impressive five times this season and her slowest time of 8.86 was way back on the opening night.
Even though Leonard is the state record holder and the favorite for Sunday, she is not the state champion. That title belongs to Sierra Brabham-Lawrence of Harrisburg. Brabham-Lawrence equaled the state meet record with a time of 8.45 to edge out Leonard. Injuries have slowed down Brabham-Lawrence in 2015, but her return to the hurdles at the PTFCA Carnival was a success, running 8.70 to win the meet. Like last season, Brabham-Lawrence has had a light hurdles schedule, racing in just 2 meets. Defending her title will be a tall task, but Brabham-Lawrence has shown that she has the ability to retain the title.
Markeeta Thomas of Paul Robeson has slowly found her best form in the past few weeks, getting close to her bronze medal 8.66 from last season, running 8.73 last week at the DVGTCA Meet of Champions. Thomas is looking to earn a medal in the hurdles for the 4 th time, with her best finish being last year's 3 rd place.
Aspen Gaita of Stroudsburg looked like a contender to challenge last season's top two after a strong December. But her last appearance at the PTFCA Carnival was a struggle, running 8.99 to finish 4th. She has had a better year, breaking 9 seconds three times this season compared to zero times last year. If she can find the form that got her a lifetime best 8.88 in December, she will improve on her 7 th place finish last year.
Uchechi Onuonha of Pennsbury and Jolesha Boulware of Coatesville are the other two sub 9 second 60 meter hurdlers this season. Onuonha hasn't broken 9 seconds since the opening night and has yet to make a state final. Boulware will be making her first career indoor state meet appearance on Sunday. She ran 8.98 at the PTFCA Carnival to finish 3 rd and break 9 seconds for the first time in 8 attempts this season.
Event 1 Girls 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
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State Meet: 8.45 2/26/2011 Leah Nugent, Abington
State Meet: 8.45 3/1/2014 Sierra Brabham-Lawrence, Harrisburg
Name Year School
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1 Becker, Grace 12 CB East
2 Boulware, Jolesha 12 Coatesville
3 Brabham-Lawrence, Sierra 12 Harrisburg
4 Brooks, Yasmin 10 Susquehanna
5 Gaita, Aspen 12 Stroudsburg
6 Harper, Semaje 12 Strath Haven
7 Hinish, Kaden 11 Baldwin
8 Jenkins, Cassidy 12 Lakeland
9 Kendrick, Leah 11 CB East
10 Kozub, Mariah 12 Penncrest
11 Langley-Walker, Madison 9 Cheltenham
12 Leonard, Ciara 12 Cheltenham
13 Martin, Jenny 12 Methacton
14 Mcwhite, Mahendra 11 Louis E Dier
15 Nesmith, Sierra 12 Girls' High
16 Onuoha, Uchechi 12 Pennsbury
17 Purnell, Tatiana 12 Mercersburg Acad
18 Quigley, Kat 12 Pine-Richlan
19 Rowe, Olivia 11 Oakland Cath
20 Serratore, Nicolette 12 Methacton
21 Slowly, Janiel 12 Cheltenham
22 Sokol, Sydney 10 McDowell
23 Thomas, Markeeta 12 Paul Robeson
24 Wahl, Stephanie 11 Cocalico
25 Wylie, Rachel 11 State College
26 Zukowski, Alyssa 12 Neshaminy
For the sprint relays, both of them have heavy favorites who have hit the ground running from day 1.
The 4x200 meter relay has been dominated by Cheltenham. The US#4 team have come close to breaking their own state record of 1:39.00, recording a 1:39.46 in January at the Kevin Dare Invitational. They have been successful against all PA challengers, and will be favorites once again to retain their state title in this event.
Pennsbury may have the weapons to match up head to head with the champions, especially with Dasia Pressley's addition. The Kevin Dare Invite was supposed to match up these two squads, only for the snow to redirect Pennsbury to the New Balance Games in New York, where they would run a PA#2 and US#11 1:40.96 to emerge as the strongest challengers to the leaders.
Springside Chestnut Hill has a young team with Brooklynn Broadwater leading the charge. The Inter-Ac squad has run a PA#3 1:42.56 in a separate heat at Kevin Dare, one of two full strength runs. The other was a flat track 1:45.33 the week before. With no seniors in the team, experience may be lacking to go up against the top two. But with a strong leg like Broadwater, anything can happen if it's close.
Susquehanna Township has been the top 4x2 team outside of the Southeastern PA region, running 1:42.99 and spending some time in the PA#1 spot in the first few weeks of the season. Overbrook won the DVGTCA Meet of Champions in the 3 rd of 5 heats last Friday night, and have run 1:43.07 this season. Harrisburgh's duo of Brabham-Lawrence and Dansbury make their team a sleeper pick for a big place.
8 teams overall have broken 1:45 this season. Handoffs are always key in the two turn stagger format of the state 4x2. The state record is 1:39.00 by the champions Cheltenham. Can that go down?
Event 15 Girls 4x200 Meter Relay
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State Meet: 1:39.87 2/23/2013 Swenson Arts & Technology, Swenson Arts
I Harris-Quillen, A Hicks, A Nesmith, M Thomas
School
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1 Canon-McMillan
2 Cardinal O Hara
3 Central Bucks East
4 Cheltenham
5 Chester
6 Coatesville
7 Conestoga
8 Germantown Friends School
9 Girls' High
10 Harrisburg High School
11 Imhotep Institute Charter HS
12 Methacton
13 Neumann Goretti
14 Norristown
15 North Penn
16 Overbrook
17 Paul Robeson School for Human
18 Penncrest
19 Pennridge
20 Pennsbury
21 Ridley
22 Springside Chestnut Hill Acade
23 State College Area High School
24 Susquehanna Township
25 Upper Dublin
Like the 4x2, the 4x400 meter relay is top heavy, as only two teams have managed to break 4 minutes this season.
Springside Chestnut Hill accomplished that feat on December 20 and haven't looked back since. They have broken 4 minutes in each of their last three full strength appearances, recording a US#9 3:50.78 at the Armory Track Invitational in late January. Their last two performances have been motivated by a chasing Cheltenham team running right behind them. Cheltenham has run 3:52.23 for US#12 honors while chasing the leaders. The team title race for Cheltenham may come down to this event, and if victory is required to retain the team crown, they will face a tough challenge to upset the state's best team.
Harrisburg, Germantown Friends, and North Penn are three sub 4:05 teams that will be favorites to earn top five finishes. Dansbury will anchor the Harrusburg squad while top 800 meter runner Sarah Walker will anchor the Germantown Friends team. Pennsbury will need to improve on their 4:05.05 season best, especially if the team championship will be on the line.
Event 21 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay
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State Meet: 3:49.82 2/26/2005 West Catholic, West Catholic
Sheard, Taylor, Thomas, Leach
School
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1 Abington
2 Academy of Notre Dame
3 Central Bucks West
4 Cheltenham
5 Downingtown West
6 Germantown Friends School
7 Harrisburg High School
8 Hempfield Area (7)
9 Methacton
10 Neumann Goretti
11 Norristown
12 North Penn
13 Paul Robeson School for Human
14 Penn Hills
15 Penn Wood
16 Penncrest
17 Pennsbury
18 Perkiomen Valley
19 Souderton Area
20 South Fayette High School
21 Springside Chestnut Hill Acade
22 Susquehanna Township
23 Villa Joseph Marie
24 Villa Maria Academy
25 Wyomissing Area
The PTFCA Indoor State Championships will be broadcast LIVE this Sunday starting at 10am on PennTrackXC.com! You can watch the meet at the following link: