Photo by Patty Morgan
TFCAofGP Meet of Champions Preview
We're back at Lehigh on Saturday for the boys' Meet of Champs, bringing the TFCAofGP schedule to a close this winter. Lots of big names are slated to appear and it should be an exciting meet.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
The 60 meter hurdles will be a good race, featuring a number of competitors that will be in the mix next week for a medal at the state meet. Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland leads the way after a dominating win at the Carnival last week. Pennsbury's Nasan Robbins, Chester's James Jackson, Haverford School's Sam Lindner, and Pennridge's Alex Dimon are among the others to watch for in this deep field.
Photo by Kyle Brazeil
Imhotep's Ade Jones-Roundtree is back on the track after a busy weekend last week that saw him win at the Last Chance Meet on Friday, then take second at the Millrose Games 55 meters. Jones-Roundtree will face a tough test on Saturday, racing in a 60 meter field that includes some big names like Coatesville's Terrance Laird, Downingtown East's Jeremy Jennings, and Penn Charter's Chris Tucker. This won't be a final to miss.
In the 400 meters, the top seed is Council Rock North's Mike Welde, fresh off a win at the Last Chance Meet last week. Overbrook's Quincy Fairy, and the Upper Dublin duo of George Weems and Brandon Vargas-Bines will be among his challengers.
The 200 meters brings a loaded field and a rematch from a good matchup from last week's Last Chance Meet. Bishop Shanahan's Nate Alleyne nipped Imhotep's Kristian Marche by .03 to win last week and those two are the top seeds headed into MOCs. We also can't forget about Downingtown East's Jeremy Jennings, also in the field. He should give those two a run near the front.
Photo by Jerome Lowery
DISTANCE
With 20 spots to fill in the boys' mile at states, a number of borderline qualifiers will look to get themselves a state time on Saturday. Council Rock North's Ryan Campbell is the top seed. Pennsbury's Jed Scratchard is also in the field and that should make for a good matchup. Also, keep an eye on Roman Catholic's Sean Brown and Coatesville's Colin Mihalak.
The 800 is a very open field with a number of strong racers who, like the milers, are trying to lower their time and nab a spot in states. CB West's Jake Claricurzio is the top seed, but challengers abound in this field. Quakertown's Hudson Delisle, Pennridge's Matt Eissler, Penn Wood's Dennis Manyeah, Radnor's Peter Cooke, CR North's Bryan Keller, Rustin's Brandon Hontz, and Bonner & Prendie's Dave Whitfield will make for a very exciting battle here.
The fight for those 12 states spots in the 3000 meters will also be fierce, so there are a lot of big names set for Saturday. Neshaminy's Rusty Kujdych is seeded first, but he'll see a god challenge from the likes of Evan Addison of LaSalle, Connor McMenamin of Souderton, Sean Rahill of William Tennent, Matthew Scarpill of CB South, Matthew D'Aquila of Lower Merion, Avery Lederer of Penncrest, Brendan O'Toole of North Penn, Pennsbury's Eric Kersten, and CB West's Ben Bunch and Brian Mass. Quick times should be aplenty in this race.
Photo by Steven Pisano
FIELD
Germantown Academy's Garland returns to the high jump for another crack at 7 feet this week. He's come close on a number of occasions and the state's top-ranked competitor in the event will go for it again one last time before the state meet. Penn Wood's Manyeah (PA#3), Lower Merion's James Burton (PA#5), and Chester's Braheem Bishop are among the other entries in the field.
Upper Dublin's Brian Kaufmann, who extended his own PA#1 last week, is the favorite in the long jump. He's proven to be very consistent with a pair of 23+ feet performances this season. Isaiah Ritchie of St. Joe's Prep (PA#4) and Wissahickon's Ahmir Johnson (PA#6) are also in the field.
Photo by Patty Morgan
Kaufmann and Johnson then return for the triple jump, which features five of the top eight triple jumpers in the state. Souderton's Shamar Jenkins is the top seed, but Johnson (PA#3), Strath Haven's Dayo Abeeb (PA#5), Penn Charter's Akeem Blake (PA#7), and Kaufmann (PA#8) will make this a can't-miss battle.
Hatboro-Horsham's Nick Marino makes for another PA#1 set to go in the field events. Last week, Marino cleared an indoor PR of 15-7.75 at the Millrose Games. A trio of 14-0 pole vaulters---Upper Dublin's Alex Liu, William Tennent's William Lee, and Rustin's Charles Dever---are also entered.
There should be a good battle in the shot put, as Rustin's Connor Cummings leads a group that includes the Glen Mills duo of Quadir Gibson and Semaj Robinson, Bensalem's Yobani Moreno, and Rustin's Edem Asamoa. Expect plenty of 50+ foot throws from these guys.
Photo by Steven Pisano
RELAYS
The current PA#1s from Imhotep Charter will hit the track one last time in the event before states. They've raced quite a bit on the big stage of the Armory, but they'll drop down to a flat track Saturday. PA#2 Coatesville and PA#3 Downingtown East, and PA#5 Glen Mills should make this a compelling race.
In the DMR, the top seed is PA#8 LaSalle, but the likes of PA#11 CB East and PA#12 Cheltenham could pose a threat. CB West and Lower Merion should have strong squads that will look to solidify a spot in the state meet. Don't forget the reigning state champs, Cardinal O'Hara, who are also in this field.
The 4x800 has plenty of talented teams, too. CB West should be strong, and they'll likely get a challenge from Cardinal O'Hara, LaSalle, North Penn, and Pennsbury, among others.
In the 4x400, Wissahickon, Abington, Pennridge, Upper Dublin, Paul Robeson, and St. Joseph's Prep are the top teams to close out what should be a very eventful meet.