What Would Have Been: Boys 110m Hurdles
AA
A close race was set to brew in the AA hurdles this spring, and it's a shame this matchup won't go down. There are three finalists back and a good group of other contenders that would make this interesting.
Palmerton Area's Jordan Nelson, the District 11 champion, was third in the final last season. He went 14.68 last spring and would have been looking to move up to the top spot. Neumann Goretti's Ronald Holmes (fifth) and Hickory's Braedon Allen (eighth) are also back from the final. Allen is coming off a strong indoor season and would have been right in the mix for the title here.
Southern Columbia's Jake Rose missed the finals last year, but he has a best of 14.70 from New Balance Nationals Outdoor last year that slots him in with the second best AA overall returning time behind Nelson. Lewisburg's Kameron Schreffler and Grove City's Connor McEwen both have sub-15 times from last spring and would have been right in the mix in this very open field.
AAA
Like AA, we could have expected a very close race for the top high hurdles spot in AAA. Indoor state champ Kevin Thomas does not compete in the PIAA, so the door is open for anyone to claim the title here.
The lone returning medalist is State College's Lokey Howell. He comes in with a best of 14.53 from last season and he placed fourth at the state meet last season. Howell, with that experience, would be right in the mix. There are a whole host of others that were looking to contend for this title, though.
Williamsport's Allen Taylor has the best returning time in the state. He dropped a 14.30 to win the District 4 title last fall, but did not qualify for the final last season. He would have been hungry to rise to the top of the state in his senior season.
Downingtown West's Ethan Robinson took second at indoor states in the 60 meter hurdles and seemed primed for a big senior outdoor campaign in the 110s. He ran a best of 14.85 last season. Central Dauphin East's David Niang was third at indoor states. Like his older brother Manny, he didn't have much hurdle experience before this, his senior season. Manny ended up winning the state title last year. Could David have pulled off the same thing this season? He would have had a shot.
Greensburg Salem's Brenden Lewis, Liberty's Christian Tackett, Pennsbury's Josh Paul, and Butler's Byron Manchester all returned with sub-15 times from last season and would have been in the mix in the strong field of hurdlers.
There were a number of boys with a legitimate shot at the state title. This would have been a can't miss matchup for those who like close races.