PIAA States Preview: Boys' Sprints & Hurdles


AAA Boys 200m Preview

Like the 100 meters, we can expect a close one for the state title in the AAA 200 meters. If the District 1 final was any indicator, we're headed for a photo finish. At D1, Pennridge's Joey Gant edged out Coatesville's LeBron Bessick by .02 with Gant taking the win in 21.58.

Gant holds the fastest time in the state this season, with a 21.36 from a dual meet (he also went 21.37 to win the SOL Colonial title). It was a drag race between Gant and Bessick for the D1 win, with Gant pulling out a slight advantage in the end. Bessick will look for a little revenge at the state meet.

Butler's Guinness Brown will be right in the mix for the title. The junior ran a PR of 21.42 -- the fastest time from the past week -- in the prelims at WPIALs before taking the district title in the final in 21.89. Brown will be right in the mix for his first state title.

It was a big day at the District 3 Championships for Kristian Phennicie of Dallastown. He closed out his day with a 21.75 for the win the 200 meters -- his first time under 22 in the event. He's asserted himself as a big-time contender in the event and will be one to watch. Other sub-22 boys in this field include State College's Eniayo Ogunranti (21.92 SB), Boyertown's Julian Saunders (21.92 SB), Red Lion's AJ Virata (21.94 SB). Those three will all contend for high finishes, as well.

Plenty of boys are right on the cusp of breaking 22 seconds, including Shippensburg's Isaiah Houser, Archbishop Ryan's Brendon Huebner, LaSalle freshman Connor McFadden, and Perkiomen Valley's Dominik Brzozowski. Those boys should have a good shot at qualifying for the final.

ENTRIES:

Event 709  Boys 200 Meter Dash AAA Prelims
===============================================================================
 NFHS Record:  20.13  1985        Roy Martin, DaRooseveltHS,TX                 
 PIAA Record:  20.86  1982        Clinton Davis, Steel Valley 07               
NFHS Hnr Rol:  21.25                                                           
               22.50  SQS
           Name                        Year School                 Seed relim Time
===============================================================================
  1        Gant, Joey                    11 Pennridge 01          21.58  SQS   
  2        Bessick, Lebron               11 Coatesville 01        21.60  SQS   
  3        Phennicie, Kristian           11 Dallastown 03         21.75  SQS   
  4        Brown, Guinness               11 Butler 07             21.89  SQS   
  5        Saunders, Julian              12 Boyertown 01          21.99  SQS   
  6        Virata, AJ                    12 Red Lion 03           22.02  SQS   
  7        McFadden, Conor                9 La Salle Cllg 12      22.09  SQS   
  8        Sapp, Christian               12 E Strdsbrg So 11      22.15  SQS   
  9        Delbaugh, Billy               12 Shamokin 04           22.16  SQS   
 10        Okyne, George                 12 Upper Darby 01        22.28  SQS   
 11        Ogunranti, Eniayo             12 State College 06      22.28  SQS   
 12        Henry, Benjamin               11 Northampton 11        22.30  SQS   
 13        Franks, Carson                12 State College 06      22.36  SQS   
 14        Egizio, Justin                12 Canon-McMilln 07      22.39  SQS   
 15        Houser, Isaiah                12 Shippensburg 03       22.41  SQS   
 16        Brzozowski, Dominik           10 Perk Valley 01        22.42  SQS   
 17        Huebner, Brendon              11 Abp Ryan 12           22.43  SQS   
 18        Townsend, Quinton             11 Palmyra 03            22.46  SQS   
 19        Miller, Henry                 12 Conestoga 01          22.47  SQS   
 20        Mansfield, Anthony            11 Palmyra 03            22.48  SQS   
 21        Kravitz, Colin                10 North Pocono 02       22.58        
 22        Jubin, Trenton                12 Canon-McMilln 07      22.64        
 23        Crawford, Demario             10 Cathedrl Prep 10      22.70        
 24        Sudar, Andrew                 11 Central Vly 07        22.74        
 25        Yarus, Jaedon                 10 DuBois Area 09        23.34