What Might Have Been: Girls Javelin
AA
Maryann Ackerman of Slippery Rock Area held the best returning throw in the javelin of any PA girls (regardless of classification) entering this season. After a second place finish at states last year, surely Ackerman would have been going for the top spot this spring.
Ackerman threw 147-5 and threw over 140 feet on three other occasions. She would have been the big favorite entering the meet, as her 2019 best is nearly 20 feet better than No. 2 in AA.
Three medalists return after Ackerman in AA. Oley Valley's Danielle Trimbur had a strong day at states last year to grab fourth with a throw of 128-8. Delone Catholic's Maddie Sieg was right behind her with a best of 128-5 from the state meet, also a season best. Forest Hills' Haley Croyle is another returning medalist; she was seventh also with an SB of 123-10 at Ship.
Hughesville's Alex Snyder was 11th at states, but entered the season with the second best AA toss, a 129-9 heave, which she threw to win the District 4 crown last year.
AAA
Skylar Ciccolini, who became the No. 2 javelin thrower in both Pennsylvania and United States high school history, has graduated, so the door was open for a new state champ in the AAA javelin. Could it have been her sister, Mifflin County junior Taylor Ciccolini?
The younger Ciccolini was AAA's top returner in the javelin after a strong season last year that saw her take third in the state. Her best throw of 146-1 won her the District 6 title last year. She would have been poised for a big season, and who knows, maybe a run at some of Skylar's top marks.
There's rarely a sure thing in the javelin, though, and it would have been a good competition for the win in the AAA jav. Perkiomen Valley's Grace Ramsey threw 139-2 at states last year to fourth, just six inches off Taylor Ciccolini. Fellow District 1 thrower, Kayla Thorpe of Upper Darby, was sixth at states with her season best of 136-5.
Berwick's Renny Murphy is another returning medalist. She was seventh, also tossing her best at states of 130-7. Hazleton's Abbey Hengst was just a freshman last year, but she held a best of 134-10 and placed 11th last year. Cumberland Valley's Erin Miller, a senior now, was tenth at states last spring.
There ma have not been a standout like in past years between Madison Wiltrout and Skylar Ciccolini like in past years in the AAA javelin (that we knew of!), but it would have been a close, exciting battle for the state title.