The 800 meters has a deep history in Pennsylvania, always producing some great talent year in and year out. Plenty of talented girls return to the fray this spring and we should see plenty of fast times.
Gabrielle Wilkinson of Friends' Central leads the list of returners. The Florida recruit had a huge outdoor season last spring and summer. After injury hampered her indoor season, she came back to eventually run 2:06.03 and finish third at USATF Juniors in the 800. Wilkinson is coming off a strong indoor season that saw her take second in the 800. She's aiming for more this outdoor season after just missing a spot on the Pan-Am team last summer.
Without Wilkinson competing in the PIAA, there's going to be a great race for the top spot at Shippensburg. Let's start with a girl you won't find until No. 16 on this list of returners: Esther Seeland of State College Area. Seeland truly broke through this indoor season, beating Wilkinson to win the indoor state title and running a PR of 2:08.41...
