PIAA States Preview: Boys' Sprints/Hurdles

Photo by Phil Grove

AAA Boys' 300m Hurdles Preview

Last year, Ayden Owens of North Allegheny made it look easy in the finals of the intermediate hurdles, taking the AAA state title by nearly a full second. Now a junior, can Owens make it look that easy this time around? He's a little busier this year as the top seed in the high hurdles and long jump as well, but he'll do his best. 

Owens will likely have a few more challengers this year as well. Souderton's Stephen Scott, the District 1 champ, was fifth in the finals a year ago. He's improved a good bit since that, capped off with a PR of 38.46 over the weekend. District 1 runner-up Keegan Hughes of Bishop Shanahan is new to the hurdling trade, but he's made his impact felt already. Look for the senior to battle hard in the intermediates.

In District 3, Wilson's Alex Cluff took home the gold, defeating Penn Manor's Taraje Whitfield and Conestoga Valley's Aanyah Bermudez. Cluff has made his name known and will look to keep it rolling into Ship. Whitfield was seventh in the final a year ago.

Wilson Area's Job Goodman just missed out on the finals last season in the event, so he has plenty of motivation. He's had a strong season and he's ready for a big state meet. Gateway's Damion Reed, Pennridge's Alex Dimon, and Northwestern Lehigh's Trevor Cunningham are among the others who will be worth watching out for.

Entries:

Event 707  Boys 300 Meter Hurdles AAA (25) Prelims
===============================================================================
 NFHS Record:  35.02  2009        Reggie Wyatt, RiversideLaSierraHS, CA        
 PIAA Record:  36.43  2011        Eric Futch, Penn Wood 1                      
NFHS Hnr Rol:  37.40                                                           
               39.80  SQS
           Name                        Year School                 Seed relim Time
===============================================================================
  1        Owens, Ayden                  11 No Allegheny 07       38.16  SQS   
  2        Scott, Stephen                12 Souderton 01          38.46  SQS   
  3        Hughes, Keegan                12 Bish Shanahan 01      38.62  SQS   
  4        Goodman, Job                  11 Wilson Area 11        38.89  SQS   
  5        Cluff, Alex                   11 Wilson 03             39.10  SQS   
  6        Reed, Damion                  12 Gateway 07            39.18  SQS   
  7        Whitfield, Taraje             11 Penn Manor 03         39.25  SQS   
  8        Bermudez, Aanyah              12 Conestoga Vly 03      39.44  SQS   
  9        Dimon, Alex                   12 Pennridge 01          39.48  SQS   
 10        Cunningham, Trevor            12 Nrthwstrn Leh 11      39.51  SQS   
 11        Buhr, Owen                    11 New Oxford 03         39.56  SQS   
 12        Whitsett, Demetri             12 Cocalico 03           39.70  SQS   
 13        Couch, Michael                12 Easton Area 11        39.70  SQS   
 14        Hooks, Arlen                  11 Baldwin 07            39.79  SQS   
 15        Wiggins, Cobe                 12 Lower Morelnd 01      39.80  SQS   
 16        Meckler, Luke                  9 Pine-Richland 07      39.89        
 17        Chapman, Stephen              11 Spring Ford 01        39.90        
 18        Jackson, James                   Chester 01            39.99        
 19        Darjee, Akash                 11 Scranton 02           40.00        
 20        Jemmott, Caleb                12 Shamokin 04           40.51        
 21        Cottrell, Austin              12 Meadville 10          40.60        
 22        Ambrose, Jaron                10 Bradford Area 09      41.17        
 23        Patrick, Derrick              10 Crdnl O'Hara 12       41.69        
 24        Toney, Treyvaugn              11 Altoona 06            41.90        
 25        Beavers, Zack                 12 La Salle Cllg 12      42.13