A strong Pennsylvania contingent made the trek south to the VA Showcase at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and there were some very strong performances all around. Leading the way were a pair of the state's biggest stars, Talitha Diggs and Marlee Starliper.
Here's more on the big things from VA:
Diggs Takes Down 300 State Record
Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs took down the state record in the 300 meters on Saturday in a thrilling section of the event. Diggs dropped a 37.99, the fastest time in state history, topping Dasia Pressley's 38.20 from 2016 in the 300.
It was a good battle in the AAU section heat 1, as Jonah Ross of North Carolina made a pass on the inside of Diggs with about 100 meters left. But Diggs didn't relent, fighting back to catch Ross at the line for the section victory and dipped under 38 seconds.
In the ensuing section, Athing Mu of New Jersey and Kayla Davis of North Carolina ran faster times in the second section of the event at the Showcase, so that puts Diggs' sub-38 performance at US No. 3 (in addition to PA No. 1) on the season currently.
Diggs also ran a PA No. 1 time in the 60 meters, running for the win. The senior Florida signee went 7.46, a by nearly three full tenths of a second. She pulled away early and never looked back en route to a meet record in the event.
Starliper Rolls To US No. 1 In 1K
Marlee Starliper of Northern took control of the race and kept rolling with it, running to the win in her first major race of the indoor season. Starliper clocked a US No. 1 time of 2:49.17 to win the invitational section of 1K.
It was the first matchup between Starliper and Taryn Parks of the track season during their senior years. But Starliper took control early and kept extending her lead to the finish. Parks took second in 2:54.59, a US No. 7 time.
Starliper's time is also a second faster than her winning time in the event last season. After a long cross country season, Starliper's track season is off to a flying start in 2020.
More Highlights
- Upper Dublin's Jaden Price-Whitehead had a strong meet in the jumps, posting more strong performances. He was fourth in the triple jump (47-6.5) and third in the long jump (23-0.5).
- The Haverford Township boys earned a couple of PA No. 2 times in the relays. They were second in the 4x400 (3:26.93) and second in the DMR (10:35.50).
- Haverford's Mike Donnelly ran a PA No. 1 time in the 2 mile of 9:37.24 to take 18th.
- Cedar Crest's Gwyneth Young took 16th in the 2 mile in a time of 11:27.90, a PA No. 2 performance.
- Phoenixville's Gabe Puleo ran a PA No. 5 time in the mile of 4:26.04.