What Would Have Been: Girls 200 Meters
AA
Like the 100 meters, in AA, there was supposed to be a new state champion crowned for the first time in four years as Thelma Davies, who won four straight 200 meter crowns at Girard College is off at LSU.
The door would be open for Mykala Perry, who has won two straight state titles in the 400 meters in AA, to add a 200 meter state crown to her resume before she graduates. Perry was second to Davies each of the last two years. She ran a personal best of 24.72 at outdoor states last year and would be the one to beat.
South Park's Maddie Raymond, the 100 meter runner-up, was third behind Davies and Perry last season. She would surely be a factor in the 200 once again. The same goes for Girard College's Margaret Conteh, who was fifth last year and then improved in leaps and bounds to eventually take fifth at indoor states this past winter.
Holy Redeemer's Karissa Spade, a junior now, wasn't far behind Raymond in last year's state final. Fairfield Area's Milly Heinbaugh and Bishop McDevitt's Khaliyah Bosman were among the other finalists that were set to return this season.
AAA
After rolling to the 400 meter state title, Talitha Diggs doubled up and won the 200 meter state title with another blazing time of 23.88. Like the 400, Diggs would have been a strong favorite to win the 200 state title for a second straight season in AAA. The clock would also be worth watching for, as Diggs eventually dropped a 23.36 at outdoor nationals last season. She could have taken a stab at Davies' state record of 22.95.
There were three other returners from last year's final with Norristown's Teliyah James (fourth), Mastery Charter-Hardy Williams' Marlina Voker, and Boyertown's Emma Elwell (eighth) all back this spring. James grabbed second to Diggs at indoor states, while Elwell was sixth indoors. Warwick's Meghan Quinn was third at indoor states, and likely would have been a factor outdoors as well. Cheltenham's Eyota Bey was fourth at indoor states, and the ninth grader was set to threaten for a high finish outdoors, too.
Neshaminy's Sanaa Hebron, a George School transfer, would have also been a contender in her first season in the PIAA.