Girls' High Jump Preview
Once the hurdle and dash finishes up the high jump mats will move to the center of the infield, and we'll get a terrific competition on the girls' side.
The two top seeds enter with season bests at 5-7 and have been the model of consistency all season long. Twin Valley's Kayla Gillen has claimed five wins on the season. In her last four meets, she's jumped 5-6, 5-6, 5-6, and 5-7. In the other corner is Easton Area's Kate Willshaw. She's jumped 5-6 twice this season before her 5-7 clearance.
Gillen and Willshaw have met twice this season, with Gillen getting the advantage on both occasions. it was at the PTFCA Carnival where the pair both jumped 5-7, but Gillen took the win on jumps. Last season, Willshaw took third at states (5-6), while Gillen was fourth (5-4).
Three girls in this field have jumped season bests 5-5 this season and will be title contenders as well. Lydia Bottelier of Palisades (T-PA#3) will be a factor. She's competed just once this season---taking third at the Carnival, but we know the ability is there. She was second at indoor states last season, and had a terrific outdoor season that included a AA state title and a career best jump of 5-8 (which is the best all-conditions PR in the field). Cheltenham sophomore Brianna Smith (T-PA#3) will also be in the mix. She was seventh last season. Pottsgrove's Miazziah Rose (T-PA#3) just missed a medal, placing ninth last season, so she'll look to get on the podium this time around.
Then there's a crowded group of girls who enter with season bests of 5-4. They include Taye Dairo (Central Dauphin), Kate Donnelly (Council Rock North), Kristen Karavitch (Nazareth Area), Blair Knuckle (Bishop McDevitt), Kacey Lambinus (Quakertown), Calista Marzolino (Abington Heights), and Shelby Stackhouse (Wyoming Area).
This event will come down to having the right stuff on Sunday. On the biggest stage, some athletes fold under the pressure, but many of the girls in this field have shown they can rise to the occasion when the lights are the brightest.
Girls' High Jump Entries:
Event 25 Girls High Jump (16)
===============================================================================
Meet Record: 6-00 2/27/1999 Hyleas Fountain, Central Dauphin East
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Bottelier, Lydia 11 Palisades
2 Dairo, Taye 12 C Dauphin
3 Donnelly, Kate 10 C R North
4 Eisold, Abby 10 C B East
5 Gillen, Kayla 11 Twin Valley
6 Janosik, Lyric 10 Penn Cambria
7 Karavitch, Kristen 10 Nazareth Are
8 Knuckle, Blair 12 Bish McDevitt
9 Lambinus, Kacey 11 Quakertown
10 Marzolino, Calista 11 Abing Heights
11 Rose, Miazziah 12 Pottsgrove
12 Smith, Brianna 10 Cheltenham
13 Stackhouse, Shelby 12 Wyoming Area
14 Wadlington, Kaeley 11 Neshaminy
15 Wetzel, Sadie 10 Greater Latrobe
16 Willshaw, Kate 11 Easton Area