Girls' 400 Meters Preview
Saucon Valley's Talitha Diggs will aim to notch yet another state title in the 400 meters. Last year as a junior, she topped a strong field to capture the state title. She followed that up with an outdoor state title in an incredible 52.82. Diggs has carried all that momentum into his senior year. The Florida recruit has been rolling through this winter, collecting big win after big win.
She is peaking well in February, running a state record of 37.67 over 300 meters to win at the Millrose Games and most recently running a PA No. 2 all-time 53.98 in the 400 at Eastern States. She is the heavy favorite to retain her title. The main question is, how fast can she go? Nicole Leach holds the state meet record at 53.82. That is certainly within her reach. Then there's the all-time state record, also held by Leach at 52.19. It would mean a big indoor PR, but Diggs is no stranger to huge performances at big meets, so it's not out of the question.
There is a talented field after Diggs. Girard College's Margaret Conteh has been making noise in the sprint scene ever since her breakthrough spring in 2019. The junior went 54.94 in that Easterns race where she placed second to Diggs. She keeps getting better and better and could be looking at another big time drop on Sunday.
Neshaminy's Sanaa Hebron was third last year as a freshman. Now a sophomore, she has more experience and a season best of 55.76 that will make her a factor near the front. Friends' Central's Micah Trusty went sub-57 with a 56.61 to take second to Hebron at the Philly Public League Invite a few weeks back. She's another sophomore that will be in the mix for a high finish.
Belle Vernon's Hannah Seitzinger has been impressive all season, dropping time in the 400 with each passing meet. This past weekend, she ran a season best of 57.06 at YSU, solidifying herself as a serious factor in this field. Cheltenham's Eyota Bey (57.07), Saint Basil's Alina LaForest (57.36), and South Fayette's Amy Allen (57.93) all have season bests under 58 seconds and will also be in the hunt for top five state finishes.
Event 9 Girls 400 Meter Dash ============================================================ =================== Meet Record: 53.82 2/26/2005 Nicole Leach, West Catholic 59.93 SGQ State Guideline Name Year School ============================== ============================== =================== 1 Allen, Amy 11 South Fayette 2 Bey, Eyota 9 Cheltenham 3 Bonner, Raechel 12 Central Daupin 4 Booker, Taliyah 11 Delaware Valley 5 Clayton, Jiya 11 Chester 6 Conteh, Margaret 11 Girard Colle 7 Diggs, Talitha 12 Saucon Valley 8 Epps, Sabria 11 Spside Chestnut 9 Hebron, Sanaa 10 Neshaminy 10 Johns, Kamani 11 Chester 11 Johnson, Kimberly 11 Neumann Goretti 12 Kelly, Simone 9 St Basil Acad 13 LaForest, Alina 10 St Basil Acad 14 Lawler, Taniyah 11 Chester 15 Parker, Peyton 11 Penn Charter 16 Pratt, Acey 12 Neumann Goretti 17 Schearer, Beth 9 Springfield 18 Seitzinger, Hannah 12 Belle Vernon 19 Smith, Rylie 11 Seneca Valley 20 Trusty, Micah 10 Friends' Cen