Some of Pennsylvania's best -- past and present -- will head to Florida this coming weekend, looking to earn spots on Team USA for the Pan-American U20 Championships.
Seven PA high schoolers, along with eight PA high school alums, will compete in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, set for June 21-23 at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar. The meet will bring together some of the nation's best track and field athlete under 20 years of age
USATF U20s serves as the selection event for the Pan-American Championships, which will be held July 21-23 in San Jose, Costa Rica. In order for qualify for Pan-Am U20s, athletes must place inside the top two in each event.
For a full rundown of who's competing in Miramar, check out MileSplit's full entries list.
Check below for the list of PA high school entries and the alums that have "declared" for USATF U20s.
(Did we miss anyone? Contact Dan Beck at daniel.beck@flosports.tv for a correction)
Athlete | Event(s) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
Skylar Ciccolini | Javelin Throw | The senior is in the midst of a dominant senior season. Ciccolini threw 184-2 at Penn Relays, the No. 2 all-time throw in US prep history. She went on to win her the PIAA Class AAA state title for the second time and last week in North Carolina, won her first national title at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. She enters the five entry USATF U20 field as the overwhelming favorite. A trip to Costa Rica is imminent, as Ciccolini will have a few more cracks at Madison Wiltrout's national record (185-8) before departing for the University of Missouri in the fall. |
Taylor Ciccolini | Javelin Throw | Skylar's younger sister is having a breakthrough season. She tossed a season best of 146-1 at the District 6 Championship this season, a number that got her into USATF U20s, She was third in PIAA Class AAA and 12th at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the javelin. In a small field this weekend, anything can happen as Ciccolini will look to earn a berth on Team USA along with her sister. |
Thelma Davies | 100m, 200m | Davies had another season for the ages, once again winning PIAA Class AA state titles in the 100 and 200 meters. She showed that she's rounding into good form, as she usually does in the summer, at NBNO. There, she dropped a slightly wind-aided 22.95 to win the 200 meters, her first national title. She'll look to carry that momentum into USATF U20s, where she'll be a factor in the 100 and 200 for the win, or at least a spot in the top two. Based on seeds, she is the No. 5 seed in the 100 and the No. 4 seed in the 100, but Davies is running better than she did a year ago, a sign she's ready to put down some very quick times in FL. |
Jonah Hoey | 800m | Hoey will make his USATF U20 debut this weekend. The junior has been running very well over the last month. He ran a PR of 4:11.41 in the 1,600 meters to place third in the PIAA's Class AAA. Then at the John Hay Distance Festival, he ran a PR of 1:51.12 in the 800 meters. He says he's feeling fitter than he ever has before and the results are showing. He'll aim to carry that into the weekend, where he'll be the No. 9 seed in the 800. |
Jane Livingston | 100m Hurdles | It's been a banner season for the senior Livingston, who dropped some major PRs en route to a state title by the closest of margins over Christina Warren in the 100 meter hurdles. Now she'll head to Florida, looking for a spot in the top two. Livingston didn't compete at NBNO, so she'll be fresh entering USATF U20s. She is the No. 8 seed (with her wind-legal season best of 13.66) in the stacked field, which is always the case at American championships in the high hurdles lately. Livingston will be in the mix for a nice PR, too. |
Marlee Starliper(Northern) | 3,000m | It's been yet another big season for Starliper. After an impressive indoor campaign, she ran a PA No. 1 all-time in the 3,200 with a 9:54. Then she was second to Taryn Parks in the state meet 1,600, running a quick 4:37.45, and this past week, she won her first national title, going 4:41.18 to win the mile at NBNO. She says she's tailored her training to peak at this time of the season, and looks to be among the ones to beat come this weekend. She's also entered in the 1,500 meters, but the plan is for the junior to contest just the 3K. The goal is the win and a spot on Team USA for Pan-Ams. |
Christina Warren | 100m Hurdles, Triple Jump | Warren's senior season has been an incredible run. The versatile hurdler/jumper hybrid put up some great performances all year long. Last week at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Warren won the national title in the triple jump with a PR of 12.90 meters (42-4). She is approaching the 13 meter mark and will be among the favorites for a spot in the top two, along with top seed Jasmine Moore (TX). In the high hurdles, Warren, who a very close second to Jane Livingston at the PIAA State Championships, will be a factor as well. She enters as the No. 11 seed using her wind-legal season best. |
Pennsylvania High School Alumni Declared For USATF U20s
- Chris Bagnell (Council Rock North HS; Rider University): Javelin Throw
- Katie Dammer (Abington Heights HS; Georgetown University): 3,000 Steeplechase
- Treyvon Ferguson (Milton Hershey; University of Kansas): Triple Jump
- Ariana Gardizy (North Penn HS; University of Pennsylvania): 3,000m
- Zach Gehm (Seneca Valley HS; Youngstown State University): Discus Throw
- Marc Minichello (Wyoming Area HS; University of Pennsylvania): Javelin Throw
- Sydni Townsend (Neumann Goretti HS; University of Pittsburgh): 400m Hurdles
- Skyla Wilson (Susquehanna Community HS; University of Pennsylvania): 400m Hurdles