Who To Watch For In Each District Meet

Dan Beck

PIAA District 3 Championships


Who To Watch For: Mallory Kauffman (Greenwood)

Why? She is the top-ranked girl in the shot put and discus in the entire state, not just the AA classification she occupies. Kauffman has been on a roll this season, winning the shot and disc at every meet she's competed in with the exception of the Penn Relays, where she placed second (top American) in the shot put. Her season bests sit at 47-10.25 in the shot and 160-6 in the disc.

What to expect: Last year, Kauffman was second in the shot put and third in the discus at the state meet in AA. She'll be a fairly strong favorite to take both state titles this season and she'l benefit from getting in the circles at Shippensburg this weekend ahead of the state meet at the same location. She just keeps getting better and better and we'll see if that can continue into the postseason.

Others to watch for: Kate Dickow (AAA - Distance); Milly Heinbaugh (AA - Sprints); Tatyana Gibson (AAA - Distance); Kayla Gillen (AAA - High Jump); Leah Graybill (AAA - Sprints); Madi Herb (AAA - Hurdles); Kristen Herr (AAA - Javelin); Sydney Horn (AAA - Pole Vault); Mia Kilroy (AA - Hurdles); Taylor Jede (AAA - Hurdles/Sprints); Makenna Krebs (AAA - Distance); Jane Livingston (AAA - Hurdles); Katie Locker (AAA - Distance); Taylor Nissly (AAA - Sprints); Lily Palacio-Lewis (AAA - Sprints); Taryn Parks (AAA - Distance); Meghan Quinn (AAA - Sprints); Gabriella Recce (AAA - Jumps); Laura Sakol (AA - Distance); Marlee Starliper (AAA - Distance); Keeley Suzenski (AAA - Throws); Tesia Thomas (AAA - Jumps); Sophia Toti (AAA - Distance); Amanda Tony (AAA - Jumps); Reagan Underwood (AAA - Distance); Bailey Wagaman (AA - High Jump); Hannah Woelfling (AAA - Throws); Gwyneth Young (AAA - Distance); Madison Ziska (AA - Sprints/Jumps)



Who To Watch For: Ezra Mellinger (Lampeter-Strasburg)

Why?: He is the top-ranked boy in AAA in both the long jump and the 200 meters. He's entered in those two events for Friday and Saturday's PIAA District 3 AAA Championships. At the Black Knight Invitational at Hempfield, Mellinger leapt his state-leading 24-1.5 and also ran his AAA-leading 21.48 in the 200 meters. That pure speed fuels his big jumps on the runway.

What to expect: The key to Mellinger's success during the indoor season, in which he jumped an indoor state meet record and his PR in the event of 24-11.5, was his consistency. He's continued that into the outdoor season. He followed up his 24-foot jump at Hempfield with two other leaps in the 23-foot range. That bodes well for his as we move into districts and states. He's the reigning District 3 champion outdoors, but wound up tenth at states last year. He's motivated to get that top spot and he'll be a strong bet to make it happen.

Others to watch for: Isaac Almoney (AA - Throws); Chris Barrett (AAA - Javelin); Shawn Brown (AAA - Sprints); Stephon Brown (AAA - Sprints); Joseph Bruno (AAA - Sprints); Kolt Byers (AA - Jumps); Kamere Day (AAA - Sprints); Evan Dorenkamp (AAA - Distance); Alexander Ermold (AAA - Distance); Brandon George (AAA - Throws); Nathan Grucelski (AAA - Distance); Derek Herr (AA - Hurdles); Tyler Hulse (AA - High Jump); Jerome Jessup (AAA - Sprints); Matt Julian (AAA - Pole Vault); Jeff Kline (AAA - Throws); Brandan Knepper (AAA - Distance); Jakari Lomax (AAA - Jumps); Emmanuel Niang (AAA - Hurdles); Dejon Manning (AAA - Hurdles); Juan Mato-Segura (AAA - High Jump); Ian Miller (AAA - Distance); Brody Myers (AA - Pole Vault); Evan Niedrowski (AA - Throws); Will Rivers (AAA - Jumps); Payton Rohrbaugh (AA - Hurdles); Dylan Servis (AAA - Mid-Distance); Connor Shields (AAA - Distance); Tyler Shue (AAA - Distance); Jack Wisner (AAA - Mid-Distance); Tyeshawn Worrell (AAA - Sprints)