National Titles On The Line: PA Girls' New Balance Nationals Indoor Preview


NBNI - Girls' Sprints/Hurdles Preview

60-Meter Dash (Prelims - Sat. 3/10, 9am)

After a third place finish at nationals last winter, Thelma Davies of Girard College will look to move up two spots and capture a national title this weekend. Davies enters at US#4 in the 60, running 7.37 to win the state title last week. That matches her career best from nationals last season.

Though she's been undefeated this winter, Davies will face a tough test to get that win. US#1 Tamari Davis (Florida) is in the field. She ran 7.30 this season. New US#3 Abby Steiner (Ohio) clocked a 7.36 to win at her state meet a few days ago. US#5 Lanae-Tava Thomas (New York) and US#6 Grace Stark (Michigan) are also entered in this stacked field. Davies has been dominant in each one of her races this season, so she'll benefit from some competition, and the junior will certainly be in the mix.

Lower Merion's Aja Davis and Norristown's Jonae Cook are also entered. Davis took second at indoor states in 7.62, while Cook was third in 7.63. That pair will look to improve on those times come the weekend.

200 Meters (Prelims - Sat. 3/10, 5:35pm)

Look for Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs and Cheltenham's Alexis Crosby here.

Diggs is coming off a very strong indoor campaign that included a runner-up finish to Davies at the state meet in the 200 meters (Davies is not entered in the 200 for NBNI). Diggs went 24.23 (PA#2) at Penn State and the sophomore will be looking to improve upon that this weekend.

Crosby was third in the 400 meters at indoor states, but she's switching gears to the 200 meters at nationals. Crosby ran 24.89 (PA#5) at Ocean Breeze earlier this season.


400 Meters (Prelims - Sat. 3:35pm)

Cheltenham's Bria Barnes and Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs are the lone PA entries in the quarter mile.

Barnes didn't toe the line at states, but she'll look to return this weekend. She ran a PA#4 time of 56.28 at Ocean Breeze in January.

Diggs took fourth at indoor states, running a 56.41 (PA#5). Both Barnes and Diggs will be looking to drop PRs over the weekend.

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims - Sat. 3/10, 9:55am)

Three of the four top-ranked girls in Pennsylvania in the 60-meter hurdles are entered here. Christina Warren of Perkiomen Valley headlines the PA entries after taking home the state title in the event a few weeks ago. Warren went 8.48 for a nice PR to take the win. She sits at US#8.

Speaking of big PRs at states, Conestoga Valley's Jane Livingston went 8.55 at states to take second place. She's seen a big improvement and the US#9 hurdler will look for even more improvement on Saturday. Upper Dublin's Madison Langley-Walker ran 8.66 this season and then took fifth at states. All three will be worth watching for this weekend.