Gabrielle Wilkinson (Friends' Central) / Photo by Bill Shearn
State College HS Invitational #3 Preview
The final State College-hosted meet of the season is Thursday as some Mid-Penn squads look for some times that could qualify them for the state meet. Check out our preview below:
GIRLS
The distance events should be very interesting. The mile and 800 are loaded with talent. In the mile, Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson (who has raced a very limited schedule this winter) is the top seed. The reigning state champ in the event will race Greencastle-Antrim's Taryn Parks, Carlisle's Meg Lebo, Elizabethtown's Katie Locker, and Saint Joseph's Catholic's Sera Mazza, among a few others. Wilkinson will then return in the 800 meters, along with Lebo, Locker, Northern's Marlee Starliper, and Hershey's Hannah Jones. Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch is the top seed in the 3000 meters.
Tori McKinley
Hickory's Tori McKinley will look to continue her terrific season in the shot put. The current PA#1 the top seed in the event. State College's Jordan Bair (PA#10) and Hickory's Michaela Burkhauser (PA#15) are also entered.
There should be some interesting relays to watch, as Hickory makes the trip to Central PA for the meet. They'll battle a strong Harrisburg team in the 4x200 and then State College in the 4x400.
Susquehanna Township's Yasmin Brooks will have a busy evening. Brooks is entered in the 60 dash, 60 hurdles, and the 200 meters. Harrisburg's Aalexis Berry will look to challenge Brooks in the 60 dash and the 60 hurdles. State College's Ali Wyland is another one to watch in the dash. In the 400 meters, the Hickory duo of Heather Grober and Morgan Donatelli are expected to lead the charge.
Brooks is also in the long jump, but she'll face a tough challenge from State College's Taylor Givens, who is currently at PA#4. Givens is also in the triple jump, along with Hempfield's Stephanie Laudien. In the pole vault, State College's Lyndsey Reed will matchup with East Pennsboro's Paige Ritter.
Evan Blaire (Hickory) / Photo by Christian Lisle
BOYS
On Thursday, the event to watch will be the boys' shot put. There, we'll see a matchup between the PA#2 and the PA#3. Hickory's Evan Blaire in the top seed and PA#2, but he'll be challenged by Chambersburg's Kelton Chastulik, who just threw a PA#3 58-4.25. Hickory's Tyler Bishop and Chambersburg's Myles Braxton are among the other 50+ foot throwers in the field.
The sprints will bring some top quality action to Penn State. While Central Dauphin East looks for their state qualifier in the 4x200-meter relay, their own Aaron Arp is the top seed in the 200 meters. Harrisburg's Ronald Kent is the top seed in the 60 meters. He currently sits at PA#6 in the 60m and is also entered in the 200 meters.
In the mile, Carlisle's Sam Affolder is the one to watch. Affolder was fifth at this past weekend's Millrose Games and ran a PA#3 4:13.45. Also entered in the mile is State College's Owen Wing and Hershey's Andrew Sullivan, who will both look to get pulled to fast times. Sullivan is also in the 3000 meters, along with the State College duo of Owen Isham and Mitchell Etter.
We'll see some strong performers in the 800 meters. State College's Nick Feffer highlights that field, but Mifflin County's Seth Phillips, Cumberland Valley's Yayha Soliman, Carlisle's Jack Wisner, and State College's Joey Feffer will make this a fast race all around.
In the pole vault, Cumberland Valley's Zach Austen (PA#5) will go up against Schuylkill Valley's Joe Jardine (PA#6) in matchup of states medal contenders.