PTFCA Indoor States Preview: Girls' Distance


Girls' 800 Meters Preview

Taryn Parks will be coming off the mile and have her sights set on the 800 meters on Sunday. First is what should be another classic battle in the mile between her and Marlee Starliper, but then she will still be looking to defend her 800 meter state title indoors. Last year, she won both the mile and 800.

The Greencastle-Antrim senior and UNC recruit enters Sunday as the top seed in the 800 after a solid 2:11.41 at State College last week. She proved last year that she can successfully double and Sunday will present another test against a strong field. She has a nearly two second advantage on the No. 2 seed, but this race will likely be close.

Neumann Goretti's Kami Joi Hickson comes in at PA No. 2. She went 2:13.22 at the Bullis Invite earlier this season. The senior has won numerous relay state golds with her NG teammates, but she will be right in contention for her first individual state crown on Sunday. She's a smart racer and should be right in the mix.

Also up near the front will be the Friends' Central teammates Miracle Price and Micah Trusty. Both have run converted times in the 2:14s this season. Price is having a great season in the 800 and claimed a nice win at the Ocean Breeze Invite earlier this winter. Trusty, who was second to Parks at states last year, claimed the DVGTCA MOC title this past week with Price taking second. Expect both to be mixing it up with the leaders.

Peyton Ellis of Boiling Springs is just a freshman, but she's shown her ability in the half mile. She dropped a 2:15.67 to take second to Parks at State College last week, proving she's ready to contend for a high finish in the event this weekend. The veteran Keara Seasholtz of Radnor will be another one to keep an eye on. She was second at outdoor states last season and has run consistently well this winter. She could be primed for a big time drop and a shot at a big finish.

Wyomissing freshman Cadi Hoke, Central Bucks East's Mckenna Brophy, South Fayette's Emma Fleck, and Penn Hills' Miniya Pinnix will also be in the hot heat and they will mix it up for a shot at the medal stand.

A great race for the top spot is brewing here. The 800 is always a can't-miss event at the state level in Pennsylvania and this year is definitely no exception.

Event 11  Girls 800 Meter Run
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 Meet Record:  2:04.96  2/24/2007   Chanelle Price, Easton                     
               2:21.93  SGQ State Guideline
     Name                        Year School                                
===============================================================================
  1  Brophy, Mckenna               12 CB East                            
  2  Ellis, Peyton                  9 Boiling Springs                    
  3  Emin, Sophie                  10 Easton Area                        
  4  Fleck, Emma                   11 South Fayette                      
  5  Henkel, Lucy                  10 Radnor                             
  6  Hickson, Kami Joi             12 Neumann Goretti                    
  7  Hippensteal, Maddy            12 Wissahickon                        
  8  Hoffman, Claire               11 Upper St Clair                     
  9  Hoke, Cadi                     9 Wyomissing                         
 10  Line, Delaney                 11 CD East                            
 11  Locker, Katie                 12 Elizabethtown                      
 12  Parks, Taryn                  12 Greencastle-Antr                   
 13  Peterson, Sherisse            11 Neumann Goretti                    
 14  Pinnix, Miniya                10 Penn Hills                         
 15  Price, Miracle                10 Friends' Cen                       
 16  Seasholtz, Keara              12 Radnor                             
 17  Simander, Kathleen            11 St Joseph Acad                     
 18  Trusty, Micah                 10 Friends' Cen                       
 19  Valotta, Angela               12 Plum                               
 20  Wilson, Olivia                12 Hershey