Friday, 4/22: New Balance Warrior Invitational (@ WC Henderson)
Henderson is the site of the Warrior Invitational and one of
the weekend's bigger meets. Should be plenty of solid competitors coming from
Downingtown West, Henderson, Unionville, Perkiomen Valley and elsewhere.
Kent Hall of Unionville and Patrick Donahue of Holy Ghost, shown above racing the mile at indoor states, are two entries in the deep boys' 1600 on Friday night (Photo by Patty Morgan)
BOYS: The premiere boys event of the afternoon will be the 1600, where there's a crazy amount of fast runners and quite possibly no clear favorite. Springfield's Liam Galligan, Downingtown West's Henry Sappey, Holy Ghost's Patrick Donahue, Owen J. Roberts' Liam Conway (fresh off a 1:54 800m), Henderson's Spencer Smucker, Unionville's Kent Hall, Quakertown's Hudson Delisle, and Avon Grove's Jake Ilgenfritz are in the field. They'll be joined by a pair of Delaware talents---Michael Flanagan of Tatnall and Kevin Murray of the Charter School of Wilmington, who you may remember from winning at Paul Short in the fall.
Sappey and Flanagan are also entered in the 800 that is headlined by Quakertown's Brett Wolfinger. In the 3200, we'll see Conestoga's PJ Murray, Strath Haven's Ian Reid, West Chester East's Robert Moser and West Chester Rustin's Jack Carmody.
The 300 hurdles will be another one of the "can't miss" events of the day. A week after dropping a US#3 in the 400 hurdles, Downingtown West's Joshua McLemore returns in the 300 hurdles, but he'll get some stiff competition from Upper Darby's Mason Weh and Springfield's Ache Hall. The PA#1 time of 38.76 by North Allegheny's Ayden Owens will be on high alert. Hall is also entered in the 110 hurdles.
In the 200, Downingtown West's Nate Alleyne will be the favorite, while Unionville's Daniel Powers is the top seed in the 400.
A pair of Downingtown West jumpers will be favored in the horizontal jumps. In the long jump, Jimmy Holt is the top seed, while Darian Alston will be one to watch in the triple jump, where he's currently PA#3.
In the high jump, look out for Perkiomen Valley's Darnell Randall and in the pole vault, Kennett's Xavier Feliciano is the top seed.
Perk Valley's Christina Warren will be one to watch in the hurdles and jumps on Friday (Photo by Patty Morgan)
GIRLS: Like the boys, there's a wealth of distance talent lined up for this meet. Entered in the 1600 will be Perkiomen Valley's Annie Glodek, Downingtown West's Emma Planck, Unionville's Kacie Breeding and Cami Rickenbach, Conestoga's Dominique Shultz, and Bishop Shanahan's Emily Bracken, and Harriton's Tasha Greene. It also features Tatnall (DE)'s Keelin Hays. Hays is also entered in the 3200, where she's the top seed.
In the 800, Breeding and Planck are entered, but headlining that field is Unionville's Anna Juul, who took third at indoor states in the mile.
In the sprints watch out for the 100 meter dash that will feature Perk Valley's Cheyenne Churchville and Rebekah Bondi, along with PA#9 Teneisha Myers of Owen J. Roberts. Churchville is also entered in the 200.
In the 100 hurdles, the top seed is freshman and PA#4 Christina Warren of Perkiomen Valley. Warren is also jumping on Friday---the long and the triple---along with her teammate Bondi. In the high jump, the favorite is Downingtown West's Stacey Wolverton.