Adidas Indoor Nationals - PA Girls Field Preview
Championship Shot Put - Sunday, 1:05 P.M.
The girls shot put in Pennsylvania has certainly been something to behold the past few seasons. That is especially true this winter, as PA is holding down the top four (!) spots in the nation. Three of those top four are entered in the Championship section of the shot, set for Sunday afternoon.
At the top of the list is national leader and US No. 1 Ashlyn Giles of Schuylkill Valley. She tossed a top mark of 49-7 at Hempfield earlier this season, which was a massive PR. She's been solid outside of that performance and looks like she could be the one to beat here this weekend.
But she will be challenged by two other PA girls. Siniru Iheoma of Council Rock South put forth a big PR of 48-7.75 at the Carnival a few weeks ago. She is hitting good form at the right time and should be a threat for the top spot. Emma Callahan of Shenango will also be a factor. She threw 48-0.25 in January and had puts over 47 feet on two other occasions.
It will be interesting to see all three of these national-level performers in the circle on Sunday and the 50-foot barrier is definitely not out of the question.
Championship Weight Throw - Sunday, 9:00 A.M.
Emma Callahan of Shenango is the lone PA entry in the Championship weight throw, set for Sunday morning. Callahan tossed a best in the eight of 43-10 this winter, a mark that has her at PA#2 and US#38.
Championship Long Jump - Saturday, 11:45 A.M.
Avery Lewis wasted little time putting her name in the record books. The Friends' Central freshman leapt to the long jump state record in just her second-ever official high school competition. Lewis broke Dawn Burrell's 30-year-old state best with a leap of 20-8 at The VA Showcase in a legendary series. It is also the national freshmen class record.
Of course, her own state record is once again in jeopardy (as it will pretty much every time she hits the runway over the next four year), but perhaps more importantly, she's the top seed and US No. 1, so she'll be shooting for her first national title. It's on the same runway where she leapt her record of 20-8, so be on the lookout for more fireworks from Lewis on Saturday as the morning turns into the afternoon.
PA has seen three other girls leap past 18 feet this year and two are also in this Championship field. Saint Basil's Sasha Lee (18-1 season best) and Friends' Central's Inara Shell (18-0 season best) will be looking to make some noise in this very talented field. Shipley's Sabrina Imes has leapt of best of 17-7.5 and is also entered.
Championship Triple Jump - Sunday, 2:35 P.M.
The top three triple jumpers in Pennsylvania are all set for the Championship section of the triple jump and all three have season bests over 38 feet this winter.
Saint Basil's Tia Taylor (PA#1/US#18) comes in with a best of 38-4.25 in the triple, but she has a personal best of 39-10 from the Millrose Games last winter. Taylor will look to approach that PR on Sunday afternoon.
Inara Shell of Friends' Central leapt 38-4 at East Stroudsburg last week, a solid season best. She's been a consistently solid jumper for four years now and is always one to watch in the triple. Shipley's Sabrina Imes jumped 38-1.25 this year. Last year, she pulled out her career best of 39-1 to take second place at the state meet. She'll be looking for a similar performance this time out.
Championship High Jump - Saturday, 5:00 P.M.
The lone PA entry in the Championship high jump is Mount Saint Joseph Academy's Margaux Rawson. She hasn't competed in the high jump this winter, but did clear a best of 5-5 last season before eventually taking third at the state meet.
Championship Pole Vault - Sunday, 9:30 A.M.
A week after breaking the all-time Pennsylvania state record, Chloe Timberg of Central Bucks West will return to the runway on Sunday morning, competing in the Championship pole vault.
Timberg cleared 13-10 at the Philly Jumps Club Facility on Saturday to break the PA state record and vault her up to US No. 2 on the season ahead of the national meet. She is the lone PA entry in the Championship field and she will have a shot at the title.
Current US No. 1, Amanda Moll from Washington, is not entered, but Timberg will get a good challenge from a number of girls. The Lousiana duo of Emery Prentice and Heather Abadie both went US No. 3 13-9 this winter, so they aren't far behind Timberg's season best. US No. 5 Payton Phillips from Georgia, who jumped 13-8.25 this season, is also entered.
There is no shortage of talent in the pole vault. Timberg has good experience on the VA Beach runway, having competed -- and won -- twice at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. It should be an interesting matchup and we'll see if this talented bunch of girls can push each other over 14 feet.