A number of PA athletes journeyed to the Armory on Dec. 29 for the annual Marine Corps Classic in New York City. Usually a good early season barometer, the meet didn't feature a lot of the top level copetition that it usually does due to the pandemic, there were still some strong performances across the board from some of the Keystone State's standouts.
Girls
Tia Taylor from Saint Basil Academy grabbed a pair of wins on the day. The senior went 8.52 to win the 55 meter hurdles, just a bit off her own PA No. 1 in that event, which she ran earlier this year. Taylor jumped 37-1.5 to win the triple jump, as well, rounding out a strong day for her the multi-talented athlete. Taylor is currently PA No. 1 in the 55 meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump.
Inara Shell of Friends' Central jumped 18-0 to win the long jump. That's good enough for a PA No. 2, just behind Taylor, and Shell is just two inches off her PR in the LJ.
Ava Roberts of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy won the shot put with a put of 29-6, just off her own PA No. 2 season best.
Neshaminy's Sanaa Hebron continued her busy season, taking second in the 55 meter dash in 7.35, a PA No. 2 performance. Maggie Murphy of Mount Saint Joseph took fourth in the 1600 meters, running a time of 5:17 for a new PA No. 1.
Boys
Nazareth's Collin Burkhart (above) kept up his strong start to his senior season. The Penn State recruit tossed 68-9.5 to win the weight throw. That's not far off his own PA No. 1 and US No. 1 in the event, a throw of 72-0.5 that came at the Armory on Dec. 12.
Upper Dublin's Jaden Price-Whitehead took second in the triple jump with a leap of 45-4.25 and second in the 55 meters in 7.59. Price-Whitehead is PA No. 1 in both of those events, as well as the 60 meter dash and long jump in what has been a successful start to the South Carolina recruit's senior campaign.
Twin Valley's Noah Taylor took second in the 1600 meters, clocking a time of 4:30, a PA No. 1 time in the event.