AA Boys' Javelin Throw Preview
The most hotly contested event at Seth Grove Stadium during this weekend's PIAA championships likely will occur OUTSIDE the facility.
The Class AA boys javelin features five of the top 7 throwers in Pennsylvania who happen to also be among the top 27 throwers in the country. This javelin field includes a pair of competitors over 200 feet and the top three finishers from a year ago.
Leading the parade of talented throwers is Richland senior Ethan Dabbs, who is back for his fourth state final. With a PR of 208-0 from his sophomore season, Dabbs is looking for his first state gold, warming up for that possibility with the top district effort of 202-5 in District 6. His previous trips to Ship have resulted in an eighth, fourth and last year's No. 2 finish.
The victor last year in the battle of talented juniors was Dunmore's Gavin Darcy. A 204-9 performer this season, Darcy hit 212-10 a year ago as he had four major meets over 200 feet. He was 10th in the PIAA meet as a sophomore and was third in the 2017 New Balance Nationals Outdoor.
Danville Area's Jared Mowery was third a year ago with his PR of 191-8 and enters the meet with the No. 5 qualifier as seniors fill the top six and nine of the top 10 qualifying positions.
Hopewell's Noah Drudy is back again for the PIAA meet, finishing 8th last year. He has a trio of meets well over 190 feet and is third in the qualifying chart behind Wyomissing's Hunter Niedrowski, who rifled a PR of 199-8 in winning the District 3 meet and moving to US# 19 this season. Niedrowski finished 17th at Ship last year.
Also in the top group is Josh Dinges of Montoursville. The senior finished second to Mowery in District 4 but has a hefty PR of 196-11 from a dual meet in April.
ENTRIES:
Event 618 Boys Javelin Throw AA (24) =============================================================================== NFHS Record: 246-09 2012 Billy Stanley, South Park HS, PA PIAA Record: 221-06 2011 Rob Robbins, Northeast Bradford 4 NFHS Hnr Rol: 193-00 176-00 SQS Name Year School Seed Mark Finals =============================================================================== 1 Dabbs, Ethan 12 Richland 06 202-05 SQS 2 Niedrowski, Hunter 12 Wyomissing 03 199-08 SQS 3 Drudy, Noah 12 Hopewell 07 196-07 SQS 4 Darcy, Gavin 12 Dunmore 02 185-09 SQS 5 Mowery, Jared 12 Danville Area 04 183-11 SQS 6 Dinges, Josh 12 Montoursville 04 183-03 SQS 7 Hummell, Riley 11 Clarion Lime 09 182-05 SQS 8 Leonard, Seth 12 Delone Cath 03 181-03 SQS 9 Close, Dylan 12 Otto-Eldred 09 180-01 SQS 10 Paronish, John 12 Nthrn Cambria 06 179-11 SQS 11 Weist, Cole 11 Tussey Mntn 05 172-01 12 Weigand, Tyler 12 Penn Cambria 06 171-10 13 Fredericks, Chris 11 Palmerton 11 171-10 14 Keyes, Jordan 12 Youngsville 10 162-01 15 Benco, Scott 11 Wynsbrg Cntrl 07 162-00 16 Hanssen, Danny 11 Wilmington 10 161-04 17 Schoonmaker, Isaiah 12 Washington 07 158-10 18 Lindsay, Hunter 11 South Park 07 155-01 19 Aulicino, Anthony 12 Freeport Area 07 153-09 20 Link, Zack 12 Shenandoah V 11 151-11 21 Chuma, Max 12 New Hope 01 151-08 22 Francis, Quameer 12 Conwell-Egan 12 137-10 23 Mucollari, Erik 12 Masterman 12 122-04 24 Serrano, Xavier 11 Masterman 12 116-10