Ocean Breeze High School Invitational GIRLS Preview (Sunday)
While the boys will surely put up some big performances all over the place on Saturday, the girls will take to the track and field on Sunday for day two of the action at Ocean Breeze.
Christina Warren (Perkiomen Valley) / Photo by Howard Anderson
FIELD
The field is expected to heat up on Sunday. The high jump features some of PA's best. Easton's Kate Willshaw is the top PA entry in the event. She's cleared 5-6 this season and is ranked PA#2. Central Bucks South's Val Przekop will be one to watch in the event. She currently sits at PA#10, but has the potential to move up. Cheltenham's Brianna Smith should be a tough, too.
In the triple jump, we'll see four of the top six ranked girls in the state in what should be a fantastic showdown. Perkiomen Valley's Christina Warren has been strong in the event all year and her 38-9.5 from December still stands at PA#1. Coatesville's Caroline Billone had a breakthrough performance at the Armory last week and she'll look to keep her momentum going. She is at PA#3 right now. Then Downingtown East's Evelyn Berecz (PA#4), the AAA outdoor state champ will look to put down a big jump. Stroudsburg's Ayanna Burrell (PA#6) will be in the mix as well.
Berecz and Billone will also compete in the long jump, along with Upper Darby's Michelle Brown-Jones and Imhotep's Avani Dorsey.
Olivia Arizin (Cardinal O'Hara) / Photo by Joe Swift
DISTANCE
The 800 meters has the potential to be ridiculously fast on Sunday. Cardinal O'Hara's Olivia Arizin heads the field. Last week, she dropped a PA#1 in the 1000, proving her strength is there. She's gone 2:06 outdoors and she'll look for a good indoor season debut in the event. Penn Wood's Terri Turner is the PA#1, though, in the 800 and coming off a big meet at the Armory last weekend (a state leading time in the 600 meters and the 4x400). Those Delco rivals will battle head-to-head and it should be very interesting. Also from PA in the fastest section will be O'Hara's Christine Mancini and Downingtown East's Maddy VanBlunk. Tatnall (DE)'s Keelin Hays and Shenendehowa (NY)'s Hannah Reale will ensure this race is mighty quick.
In the mile, we could also see the season debut of Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson. Wilkinson is entered in the mile, but in the fourth section. Also in the mile is Pennridge's Monika Brill, Conestoga's Dominique Shultz, Pennsbury's Lizzy Kirk, and Notre Dame's Jessica Schneider.
A good field is assembled for the 2 mile, which will include Perkiomen Valley's Annie Glodek Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler, North Penn's Olivia Dyer, Lansdale Catholic's Kayla Connelly, West Chester Henderson's Courtney Kitchen, Coatesville's Brooke Hutton, Eastern York's Maddie McLain, and O'Hara's Eleanor Mancini.
Teams entered in the 4x800 meter relay include North Penn, Spring Ford, Owen J. Roberts, Central Bucks East, Downingtown East, and Pennridge.
Kouri Peace (Pennridge) / Photo by Patty Morgan
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Like every other event we've mentioned to this point, the sprints and hurdles are also loaded.
Look for some fast times in the 55 meter dash. Cheltenham's Chanel Brissett and Pennridge's Kouri Peace are the top entries. Both are returning state medalists and will certainly be eyeing up that state leading time by Thelma Davies of Girard College. Also in the 55 is Paul Robeson's Tikki Wise, Cheltenham's Ciani Fleming and Brielle Lewis, and Penn Wood's Tatiyana Laylor.
Brissett and Peace will return later for the 200 meters. Peace is the state record holder in the event after an incredible performance at the state meet last year. Now a sophomore, we have yet to see Peace in action in an open event this winter. Look for some big things from her and Brissett. Coatesville's Porsha Miles, Swenson's Jada Smith, Girls' High's Ni'Asia Williams, and CB East's Meaghan Shewbrooks will also be among the girls to watch in this stacked event.
In the 55 hurdles, watch for PA#1 Warren of Perkiomen Valley. PA#3 Madison Langely-Walker of Upper Dublin should be in the mix as well. Cheltenham's Smith and Saint Basil's Sophia Barnett help make up a strong contingent of PA hurdlers in the event.
In the 400 meters, watch for the Cheltenham duo of Alexis Crosby and Bria Barnes (PA#1 and PA#2) in the fast heat along with Swenson's Smith and Arizin. Crosby is favored, and I think we could expect the PA#1 time to go down here. In the second fastest section, we have Penn Wood's Elicia Moore and Janae Pitt, along with CB South's Lydia Fielding, Villa Joseph Marie's Kaela Jolibois, and Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs.
In the relays, we could also expect some big times and performances. In the 4x200, look for Cheltenham to lead the way. They dropped a sick 1:38.93 at the New Balance Games last week, which is awfully close to the state record (held by Cheltenham in 2015 with a 1:38.64). CB East, Pennridge, and Coatesville are also entered. Then in the 4x400, the PA#1s from Penn Wood will battle in a deep field with Cheltenham, North Penn, and Coatesville in what could close out the meet in a big way.