Photo by Phil Grove
Dickinson HS Holiday Invitational
***WEATHER UPDATE (as of 2 P.M. 12/16/16): The start time of the meet has been changed to 11 A.M. according the Dickinson College AD's office***
We return to Dickinson for the first of its two indoor meets for high schoolers this winter. We'll see some top names headlining the day led by, of course, the nation's top shot putter Jordan Geist. There's plenty else to watch for as well, though.
Photo by Don Rich
BOYS: Knoch's Geist starts his senior campaign on Saturday and all eyes will be on the University of Arizona signee. He already holds the state record and comes in as the reigning national champion as well. Saturday is just the beginning, but there's always the potential for something big when Geist hits the circle.
While Geist will garner much hype on Saturday, the rest of the shot put field is strong. Hempfield Area's Alex Murray, Chambersburg's Kelton Chastulik, and Greencastle-Antrim's Campbell Parker will all be looking for good season-opening throws.
In the pole vault, we'll get our first look at Hempfield Area's Hayden Fox. Fox has signed with the Naval Academy and is one of the favorites to take the state title this winter. East Pennsboro's Payton Morris and Eastern York's Brady Gladfelter will be in the mix for the win as well.
Penn Trafford's Nick Wagner, quickly becoming one of the most well-traveled athletes in the state. He raced the mile at Ursinus, and this week, he'll come back down to his specialty, the 800. He'll be favored to take the win there.
Photo by Don Rich
GIRLS: South Williamsport's Katie Jones, who quickly became the name in PA girls' pole vault last season, won at Dickinson last season, and the Penn State signee will open up here this year. Jones has an indoor PR of 12-11.5 and an outdoor PR of 13-4.5.
The girls' pole vault has some other strong competitors, including Hempfield Area's Molly DeBone and Spring Grove's Nathalie Elliott. Elliott took the win at the first VaultWorX meet of the season last weekend and sits at PA#1.
The 55-meter hurdles should be a good race between Canon-McMilan's Chyna Beck and Hempfield Area's Bailey Traczynski. Those two PA hurdlers will be battling with Abby Grabowski of Urbana (Maryland).
Eastern York's Maddie McLain will be one to watch in the distance events. She is fresh off a strong XC season and is entered in both the 1600 and 3200 meters. Vincentian Academy's Katherine Fedko is also entered in the 1600 meters and they'll be looking to chase Julia Reicin of Winston Churchill (Maryland).
In the girls' long jump, watch out for Central York's Nisa Still, who was strong this past spring, and Lower Dauphin's Karina Long. Both should be in line for solid season openers.