Kevin Dare Invitational - Girls' Recap
SPRINTS/HURDLES
Cheltenham showed off its sprint depth, particularly in the 400 meters. Teammates Alexis Crosby and Bria Barnes worked together in the 400 meters, coming across in first and second, side-by-side. Crosby earned the win in a PA#3 57.21, while Barnes took second in a PA#4 57.29.
Springside Chestnut Hill's Alexandria Kitchell took third in a PA#5 57..98, while Coatesville's Porsha Miles took fourth in a PA#6 58.04. Expect a number of these girls to be in the mix at in this event at states late next month.
Frederick (MD)'s Jaida Smith put together a big day in the sprints. Smith won the 60 meters in 7.63 and then returned later in the day to capture the 200 meter win in 24.84. Second in both those races was Conestoga's Grace Lanouette. The senior went PA#2 in the 60 meters with a 7.69 and then ran a PA#2 in 200 meters of 25.29. Lanouette continues to prove she'll be a force in the sprints throughout the winter and spring.
DISTANCE
Taryn Parks of Greencastle-Antrim showed she's ready for a big season in the mile. The reigning AAA 1,6000 meter champ from outdoors started her indoor campaign off well, running away with the mile win. She closed well to clock a time of 5:02.34. That's a new PA#2 for Parks. Eastern York's Maddie McLain placed second in a PA#5 5:17.81.
The 800 meters was stacked with talent, including a pair of XC national qualifiers in Marlee Starliper of Northern and Lydia Olivere of Padua (DE). But it was State College's Esther Seeland that pulled off the victory with a masterful kick over the final 100 meters of the race to run by Olivere and Starliper.
Seeland finished in a time of 2:17.11 for a new PA#2. Starliper ran a PA#3 2:17.31 and Fleetwood Area's Sarah Crissman came across in a PA#3 2:19.26
Coming up from Maryland, Walter Johnson's Abigail Green ran a strong, mostly solo effort to win the 3000 meters in a time of 10:06.27. McLain came back from the mile to place second in 10:26.97.
FIELD
One of the biggest performances of the weekend came in the shot put. Berwick's Payden Montana picked up a big win with a big toss of 45-11.5. It's an indoor PR for Montana, who was third at indoor states last winter and won a AAA state crown in the spring. Montana now moves to PA#1 by over five feet and US#2.
Mallory Kauffman of Greenwood placed second with a PA#2 throw of 40-10.25.
Breana Gambrell of Athens Area had another big meet in the jumps. Gambrell jumped a best of 19-6.5, which improves her own PA#1 and US#2. Gambrell's series included two other clean jumps, both of which were over 19 feet, showing the senior's consistency.
State College's Taylor Givens took third with a PA#6 jump of 17-11.25 and Forest Hills' Zoe Roush was fourth with a PA#7 of 17-8.5.
Gambrell came back to take second in the triple jump, with Taylor Givens of Bishop McNamara (MD) grabbing the win with a leap of 39-3.5. Gambrell leapt 37-2.5 for second. Roush placed third in a PA#4 TJ of 37-0.25
In the pole vault, Manheim Township's Mackenzie Horn continued her winning ways, picking up her third victory of the season. Horn cleared 12-6 to take the win. Hempfield's Carena Nottoli (second), State College's Lyndsey Reed (third), and Loyalsock's Hailey Zurich (fourth) each jumped 11-6.
Sweet Home's Amaya Turnage took home the win in the high jump, clearing 5-4. Cheltenham's Brianna Smith also cleared 5-4, but Turnage took the win on jumps. Wyoming Area's Shelby Stackhouse cleared 5-2 to take fourth place.
RELAYS
The Cheltenham relays are back! The Panthers made a big impression on the state with some big performances in both the 4x200 meter relay and 4x400 meter relay.
Cheltenham won the 4x200 meter relay in a time of 1:41.93, a new PA#1 and US#3. The squad came back to win the 4x400 in a PA#2 and US#8 time of 3:58.18.
Walter Johnson (MD) with an anchor leg from Green, took home the win in the 4x800 meter relay, running a time of 9:52.99.