Girls' Sprints/Hurdles Recap
When Chanel Brissett dropped a state meet record of 8.24 in the prelims of the 60 meter hurdles, we knew we were in for something special on Saturday at the state meet. Brissett was attempting the 60 hurdles/60 dash double just as she did last year (the events run back-to-back and include prelims, semis, and finals).
In the finals of the 60 meter hurdles, Brissett ran a time of 8.14, which is a US#1 and puts her as the #3 performer all-time in the event. That breaks her own state record and, yes, added another state championship to her vast collection. Susquehanna Township's Yasmin Brooks took second in a US#6 8.41. Upper Dublin's Madison Langley-Walker took third in 8.62.
Brissett wasn't done. Next up, was the 60 meter dash finals.
The 60 dash final went to the defending champ, Thelma Davies of Girard College. Davies ran a state record time of 7.38 and is just off her own overall state record of 7.37. It almost never came to be. Davies was battling an illness all week, but managed to work through it and claim the state title. Davies also overcame a poor start, caused by some skittishness after a near false start in the finals. Brissett took second in a very quick PR and US#11 of 7.45. Pennridge's Kouri Peace was third and Liberty's Jaylyn Aminu was fourth.
Davies then came back in the 200 meters to face off with the defending champ and state record holder Peace. In a very close race, Davies pulled out win #2 on the day, running a time of 24.02 for the victory. Peace, who is coming off a serious knee injury, clocked a time of 24.08 for second. Those two are only sophomores, so we surely haven't seen the last of that matchup. Then it was a freshman--Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs--that took third from the fourth heat in 24.67.
The 400 meters was also a thrilling race. North Penn's Uche Nwogwugwu took the control of the lead from the break and managed to hold on for the win over Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby and Neumann Goretti's Mykala Perry. Nwogwugwu is the defending state champ, but missed most of the season due to a knee injury. Still, she was able to return to defend her title in a time of 55.13.