Some of Pennsylvania's top track and field athletes are headed to Bloomington, Indiana this weekend for the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships. This year, the meet falls on the same day as New Balance Nationals Outdoor, though it appears a majority of PA's top talent is heading to USATF Juniors.
Miles Green of Saint Joseph's Prep originally entered in the 400-meter hurdles for USATF, but will not be competing, instead choosing to race at New Balance Nationals Outdoor this weekend. Ayden Owens of North Allegheny, fresh off a win at Brooks PR, will not be competing at USATF Juniors, but will still be going to Finland representing Puerto Rico.
For the full list of entries, check out MileSplit's list.
We compiled a list of the PA high schoolers and alums in the fields below. The athletes listed below have either "declared" their intent or have "qualified" for the meet (in alphabetical order)
Athlete | Event(S) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Skylar Ciccolini | Javelin Throw | Ciccolini proved to be the state's best and most consistent javelin thrower this spring. Her season best is 173-11 and she's been in the high 160s-low 170s territory all spring long. The PIAA Class AAA champion is the No. 2 ranked high schooler in the country, but she'll be in the mix for the title and a spot on Team USA with a good day. The field includes former PA HS stars Madison Wiltrout (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Maura Fiamoncini (Bucknell), along with US No. 1 high schooler Dana Baker of Kansas. |
Trinity Clark | Javelin Throw | Clark comes in as the PIAA Class AA champion. Her season best and PR sits at 165-03, a massive throw. If she can duplicate that in Bloomington, the senior will mix it up with the top girls in a field loaded with talent. |
Thelma Davies | 100m & 200m | The junior sprinter has been accepted and declared in both the 100 and 200 for this weekend. Last year, she took fifth place in the 100 meters in 11.53 in the finals. But a week prior at NBNO, she dropped a 11.43 PR. This spring, she's run 11.60 in the 100 and a PR of 23.49 in the 200 meters. She said she's been dealing with some injuries lately, but Davies has proven to be a tough competitor, who can compete for spots on Team USA. |
Kyle Garland | Decathlon | Runner-up in the decathlon a year ago, Garland earned a trip to the Pan-American Games to represent Team USA (where he also placed second). Garland, however, is stronger this season in a number of events. We won't see the Ayden Owens-Garland matchup we've craved, but Garland is certainly the one to beat in Indiana. His decathlon PR, set at Pan-Ams last year, is 7,212 points. He'll be aiming to top that and earn a trip to Finland, too. |
Dalton Hengst(Unattached) | 1,500m | Competing unattached this spring, Hengst, of York, PA, has had a very strong spring that has included PRs at 1,500 meters (3:45.59) and the mile (4:08.44). 3:46.84 was the winning time a year ago. Hengst, a skilled and experienced racer, will be in the mix this weekend in a field that includes last year's runner-up Cooper Teare (University of Oregon) and Yared Nugese (Notre Dame). |
Josh Hoey | 800m | Hoey has been, without a doubt, the nation's top high school half miler this year. After his eye-popping 800 meter national record indoors (1:47.67), the University of Oregon signee has run 1:48 three times this spring racing professional competition. This weekend, he'll come in as the No. 2 seed as Georgetown frosh Rey Rivera has run 1:48.04 this outdoor season. Last year, he was third at USATF Juniors, just missing a Pan-Am spot. Look for a motivated and fitter Hoey this time around. |
Austin Kratz | 100m & 200m | Kratz, an Arizona State recruit, has been Pennsylvania's top sprinter all year long. After an indoor national title in the 200 meters, he exploded for wind-legal season best of 10.34 in the 100 meters and 20.74 in the 200 meters this outdoor campaign. He's been waiting to pop a big time since early April's Arcadia Invitational and this may be the place to do it in fields that will include the likes of Anthony Schwartz, Khance Meyers, and Eric Harrison Jr. |
Sayyid Saunders | 200m | Saunders has had a monster outdoor season. He completed a perfect state meet, winning PIAA Class AAA titles in the 100, 200, and 4x100-meter relay. He'll be one to watch in the 200 meters. He ran a wind-aided 21.04 at the District 1 Championships and a wind-legal best of 21.40 to win at Ship. Though PA knows him well, he may still be seen as an unknown on the national scene. This weekend may be a good time for them to take notice. |
Esther Seeland | 800m | Seeland made a name for herself during the indoor season and kept it rolling into the outdoor season. Her career best in the 800 meters came at indoor nationals when she ran 2:08.41. She went 2:09.69 to win the PIAA Class AAA state title this spring. That came after she had already run a quick leg on her team's 4x8 on a very hot day at Shippensburg. She'll be fresh this time around and facing a field that includes no shortage of star power in Caitlin Collier, Sammy Watson, Nyjari McNeil, and more. Expect a fast time from Seeland. |
Marlee Starliper(Northern) | 3,000m & 5,000m | Starliper has declared for both the 3K and 5K this weekend, and she'll go after the 5K first and foremost on Saturday evening. The 3K will then come Sunday evening, if she chooses to double back. She was the PIAA Class AAA state champ in the 3,200 meters, running a rather relaxed 10:25.28 for a runaway win (she ran 10:17 a week earlier to win the District 3 title). In early April, Starliper ran an impressive 16:39 for 5,000 meters against college competition in Princeton. Starliper should be considered a serious factor for a spot on Team USA in both of those races. |
Pennsylvania High School Alumni Declared For USATF Juniors
- Noah Affolder (Carlisle HS; Syracuse University): 3,000m Steeplechase
- Chanel Brissett (Cheltenham HS; University of Southern California): 100m Hurdles
- Maura Fiamoncini (Mount Carmel Area HS; Bucknell University): Javelin Throw
- Luke Hoffman (West York Area HS; Kutztown University): Discus Throw
- Katie Jones (South Williamsport HS; Penn State University): Pole Vault
- Aidan Krombolz (Conestoga HS; Bucknell University): Javelin Throw
- Rachel Tanczos (Bethlehem Catholic; University of Notre Dame): Shot Put & Hammer Throw
- Madison Wiltrout (Connellsville HS; University of North Carolina): Javelin Throw
- Owen Wing (State College Area HS; Penn State University): 1,500m
Did we miss anyone? Email Dan Beck (daniel.beck@flosports.tv) for a correction.