Tashala Turner of University High in West Virginia is the top returner from last year's PSU Spiked Shoe Invite (Photo by Phil Grove)
Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational (University Park, PA)
- 2016 Meet Page
- 2015 Results
- 2015 Boys Individual Champion: Seth Edwards (University High) - 15:49
- 2015 Boys Team Champion: State College Area - 60 points
- 2015 Girls Individual Champion: Maggie Toczko (Tunkhannock) - 18:38
- 2015 Girls Team Champion: State College Area - 79 points
GIRLS PREVIEW
Watch an interview above with 2015 girls race winner, Maggie Toczko of Tunkhannock Area
After opening her season up at an XC relay meet, it looks like Saturday will be our first chance to see Wilson's Alison Willingmyre in action. One of the favorites for a high place in AAA at states, Willingmyre tied Downingtown West's Aislinn Devlin for the fastest combined relay time for 2 miles at Oakbourne last week. Now she heads to Penn State as one of the favorites for the early season win.
Among her challengers are University High (WV)'s Tashala Turner, who was third in last year's Spiked Shoe race, and Tori Ross of Warrior Run. Central Mountain's Alyssa Laughner, fresh off a nice runner-up finish and HUGE PR at Lock Haven, should be another one to watch.
Last year's champs at this meet, State College Area, will also be in action after winning at Big Valley last week. Catherine Curtin and Cailin Saylor (18th and 19th at this meet in 2015) will lead the squad along with newcomer transfer Gabbi Bock, who was impressive in her State College debut last week.
BOYS PREVIEW
A scene from last year's Spiked Shoe Invite at Penn State (Photo by Phil Grove)
State College will be strongly favored to repeat as the boys champions at this weekend's meet at Penn State. Nick Feffer, after a big second place finish at last week's Big Valley Invite, will look to follow up on a seventh place finish at Spiked Shoe last year. Feffer is well ahead of where he was last year, so he'll be in the mix for the individual win.
Feffer's State College team was impressive last week with Owen Isham and Michael Etter sticking out. Etter won the JV race at Big Valley in 16:44 last week.
Hunter Crawley of South Williamsport, one of the state's top Single-A runners will make his invite debut this weekend. The senior will look to start his season off well and he'll get some solid compeititon to push him along the way. Williamsport's Tyler Holcomb, Central Mountain's Corbin Green and the Lewisburg duo of Nick Alico and Anthony Bach will be among those with a shot at a high finish.