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 ============================================================ =================== 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