Photo by Patty Morgan
Burdette Classic - Girls' Meet Preview
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Wednesday will bring us the season debut of Thelma Davies, one of the state and the nation's most impressive athletes. The Girard College junior (above) was ranked in the first edition of the MileSplit50 at #3. She'll open up in what is likely her best indoor event---the 60 meters. Davies will be matched up with a strong contingent of sprinters, including Talitha Diggs of Saucon Valley, Aja Davis of Lower Merion, Jonae Cook of Norristown, Lauryn James of Central, Porsha Miles of Coatesville, Marjia Allen of Susquehanna Township, Sydney Hawkins of Phillipsburg (NJ), Dennisha Page of Woodrow Wilson (NJ), and Amaya Gaddy of Mallard Creek (NC).
Just making it to the final will be no easy task and should definitely shake up the state and national rankings. The US#1 time is 7.46, so look to for Davies to chase that.
Many are returning for the 200 meters later in the day. Diggs (below), Hawkins, Davis, Page, and Gaddy are among the top names in what should be a very competitive race. 26.37 in the state leading time there, so we should expect that to go down.
In the 400 meters, Chester's Kamani Johns returns to the track. The freshman has had a great start to her prep career. She sits at PA#2 in the 400 meters. Easton's Ellissa Slader and Penn Wood's Elicia Moore are among the other top names in that race.
Fresh off a PA#1 this past Friday, Symone Foster of Exeter will get back to work on Wednesday. Foster ran a 9.16 to take over a healthy state lead in the 60 meter hurdles and will be favored to take the win at Burdette. Somerset Area's Elizabeth Close, who sits at PA#4 will look to give Foster a challenge for the win.
DISTANCE
After dropping a US#6 in the 3000 meters on Friday, North Penn's Ariana Gardizy will drop down to the mile for this week. Gardizy went 10:13 for a runaway win at Friday's DVGTCA meet, and now she'll chase a fast time Wednesday. Palisades' Sophie Doman will look to give Gardizy a run for the victory.
There's some good talent in the 800 meters. PA#4 Sammie Miller of Coatesville will lead the charge, but Fleetwood Area's Sarah Crissman (PA#11), Central Dauphin East's Makenna Krebs, Chester's Taniyah Lawler, and Liberty's Olivia Sahaydak make up a deep field.
In the 3000 meters, look for Easton's Skyler Danley, Central's Emma Helstrom, and Doman
FIELD
Abby Norwillo of Pittston Area (above) has been on a roll to open up her season in the pole vault. Norwillo sits at PA#1 and US#2 after a big jump of 12-8 at last week's Jim Mitchell Invite at the Armory. What does she have in store for this week? Spring Ford's Melissa Israel (PA#5) is also in the field looking to possibly approach the 12 foot barrier.
State leader Kate Willshaw will look for another strong effort in the high jump. The Easton junior cleared 5-6 to open up her season at Bishop Loughlin. but she'll face good competition on Wednesday from Twin Valley's Kayla Gillen, Wyoming Area's Shelby Stackhouse, and Quakertown's Kacey Lambinus, who cleared 5-4 (PA#3) this past Friday.
Liberty's Grace Mittl is the top seed in the triple jump, while Coatesville's Darby Morgan leads the shot putters into Wednesday.