In early action, Nicole Leach, West Catholic, in her best, but maybe not her favorite event, was the only athlete under a minute in the 400 Hurdles, going 59:37. Former PA rival, and Clemson frosh Christina Smith, a graduate of William Penn and the Tim Hickey coaching legacy, was the 4th fastest qualifier at 1:01.85. Former Montoursville runner (and AA state champ) Christa Sawko, a frosh a Bucknell, ran 1:05.17, and did not advance. In the 800, Latavia Thomas, West Catholic, and former Upper Saint Clair runner Julie Cameron, now at BYU, advanced to the final with respective runs of 2:09.47 and 2:10.01. Melissa Ferry, a Henderson senior in her final HS race, saw a season of PRs catch up to her, going 2:22.08. Wyomissing grad Jon Hart, a Liberty University frosh, captured 5th in the men\'s Hammer with a 192-08 effort. And former Springfield Montco runner Mark Korich, a Villanova freshman, ran 1:57.29 to miss advancing in the Men\'s 800.
Several PA athletes have advanced to finals, while others were off their best at the first day of the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in College Station, Texas. Events were suspended for the evening because of lightning.