Ursinus College Holiday HS Open - Meet Preview
Boys
Springfield (Delco)'s Philip Shovlin will look to start his senior season off on the right foor. He'll be the top seed in the 55 meter dash for Saturday. Look for him to make a move towards the top of the state rankings in the event. In the 200 meters, Cardinal O'Hara's Obinna Iherjirka will also be looking for a hot start to his season. He's the top seed there. Among the top names in the 400 meters are Bishop Shanahan's Rick Zink and Wyomissing's Austin Keim.
In the mile, Shanahan's Jonathan McGrory and Pottsville's Collin Ebling will look to give Delaware standout Connor Nisbet (Wilmington Friends) a run for his money. Nisbet is also entered in the 3000 meters, where the Wyomissing duo of Joe Cullen and Ben Kuhn will look for quick early season times in what should be a competitive race.
Spring Ford's Stephen Chapman is the top-seed PA entry in the 55 meter hurdles.
West Chester Rustin's Charles Dever will return to action Saturday. The PA#1 in the pole vault (tied with East Penn's Payton Morris) will look to go over 15 feet for the third straight week. Dever cleared 15-3 at Lehigh last week.
Girls
Christina Warren will have a busy Saturday. The Perkiomen Valley junior is already the Pennsylvania leader in both the 55 meter hurdles and the triple jump (she's also a national leader in the 55 meter hurdles), but she'll return in search of more this weekend. She's the top seed in the hurdles and the triple jump, as well as the long jump. Look for more big performances from Warren.
In the mile, Elizabeth Mancini of Cardinal O'Hara will make her indoor season debut. The XC state champ in AAA could be in line for a big winter and it all starts Saturday. Her sister Christine Mancini, Spring Ford's Gabriella Bamford, and Smyrna (DE)'s Naomi Bowser will look to challenge her.
In the 400 meters, Conestoga's Grace Lanouette will return to the event where she fared well in the season-opener at Ursinus. We should see a good matchup with Smyrna's Madison Keister.
Melissa Israel of Spring Ford is coming off a solid win at the Armory last weekend. The pole vaulter will look for another strong performance, hoping to build on her 11-7 PR, which she set last week.