Burdette Classic - Girls' Recap
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Thelma Davies made her return to the track a big one. Last time we saw the Girard College junior, she was breaking the 100 meter state record at outdoor nationals. She got her season off to a good start Wednesday, running 7.45 to easily defeat a talented 60 meter dash field at Lehigh.
It's a US#1 without starting blocks and a sign that Davies is ready for her best indoor season yet. She's well ahead of schedule from previous seasons that didn't see her run this fast until later in the season. Her PR and state record of 7.37 is well within her grasp and the calendar hasn't even flipped over to the new year yet.
Also in the 60 dash final, Norristown's Jonae Cook ran a PA#2 of 7.75 for third, finishing behind Phillipsburg's Sydney Hawkins from NJ, who ran 7.68 for second.
Hawkins returned to win the 200 meters 26.22. Susquehanna Township's Jocelynn Burton took second in a PA#2 time of 26.38. Easton's Ellissa Slader took the 400 meter win in 1:00.15 from the first heat, while Chester's Kamani Johns placed second.
In the 60 meter hurdles, Exeter's Symone Foster just keeps getting better and better. On Wednesday, she improved upon her own state-leading time. Foster ran 9.06, a PA#1, the finals to run away with the victory.
Coatesville won the 4x200 meter relay in 1:48.08 (PA#4), while Chester went 4:09.00 (PA#4) for the 4x400 meter relay win. North Penn went 4:23.07, a US#4, for the SMR.
DISTANCE
Ariana Gardizy kept rolling on Wednesday. A few days after a PA#1 in the 3,000 meters, the North Penn senior dropped to the mile for Burdette. She dominated the race, winning in 5:10.82 for a new PA#2. Gardizy also supplied an anchor leg to North Penn's winning 4x800 meter relay in 9:54.59 (PA#4)
In the 800 meters, Coatesville's Sammie Miller held off a hard-charging Sarah Crissman of Fleetwood Area to take the win. Miller ran a PA#3 2:19.86, while Crissman clocked a PA#4 2:20.14.
Penn Charter freshman Emma Zwall ran a strong race to take the win in the 3000 meters. Zwall caught Central's Emma Helstrom, who took the race out hard, and she was able to run away with the win in 10:44.99, a PA#2. Easton's Skyler Danley was second in 10:56.18, while High Point Baptist's Anna Steich was third in 11:00.04.
Central Bucks South won the DMR in 13:30.62.
FIELD
Twin Valley's Kayla Gillen took home the win in a competitive high jump, clearing 5-4 for the victory. That puts Gillen in a tie at PA#3. Abby Norwillo of Pittston Area claimed her third win of the season, but first on PA soil. Norwillo cleared 11-6 in the pole vault to take the victory.
Southern Lehigh's Julia LaPorta won the shot put with a throw of 35-9.5 and West Chester Rustin's Emma Snelling won the triple jump with a leap of 34-5.5.