AA Girls High Jump Preview
It's been quite the season for Towanda's Porschia Bennett and the junior will look to claim her first state title on Friday in the high jump. Bennett cleared 5-7 to open up her 2021 season -- a jump that stands tied as the best in all of PA, regardless of classification.
Bennett has cleared 5-6 on four other occasions -- including last week to win the District 4 title. She has been consistent all season long and looks to be the one to beat.
But she will be challenged by a pair of girls that have cleared season bests of 5-6. Richland's Tierney Beebout cleared a two inch PR of 5-6 to win the District 6 title. She will look to ride that momentum into Friday and take a run at the win. Slippery Rock Area's Gianna Bedel has also cleared 5-6, which she did earlier this month. She jumped 5-0 at District 10, but will still be a factor here.
Two others -- Williamson's Charlize Slusser and Palisades' Paige Casterline -- have jumped 5-4 this spring. Slusser cleared 5-4 four times, including last week to take second in D4 to Bennett. Casterline cleared 5-4 once and jumped 5-2 to take second to her teammate Trinity Williams at the District 11 Championships. Williams has a season best of 5-3 and should be right in the mix, as well.
Ligonier Valley's Tatum Hoffman, Derry Area's Tara Perry, South Williamsport's Brooklyn Lentz, Sheffield's Emily Foster, and Penns Valley's Leah Beben all enter Friday with seed marks at 5-2.
ENTRIES:
Event 212 Girls High Jump AA
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NFHS Record: 6-04.50 2015 Vashti Cunningham, Bishop Gorman HS, NV
PIAA Record: 5-10 1979 Thea Ackerman, Saucon Valley 11
NFHS Hnr Rol: 5-08
5-02.00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
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1 Bennett, Porschia 11 Towanda 04 5-06.00 SQS
2 Beebout, Tierney 12 Richland 06 5-06.00 SQS
3 Slusser, Charlize 12 Williamson 04 5-04.00 SQS
4 Hoffman, Tatum 12 Ligonier Vly 07 5-02.00 SQS
5 Perry, Tara 12 Derry Area 07 5-02.00 SQS
6 Lentz, Brooklyn 10 So Wlliamsprt 04 5-02.00 SQS
7 Foster, Emily 9 Sheffield 09 5-02.00 SQS
8 Williams, Trinity 12 Palisades 11 5-02.00 SQS
9 Casterline, Paige 10 Palisades 11 5-02.00 SQS
10 Beben, Leah 12 Penns Valley 06 5-02.00 SQS
11 Rolston, Emma 11 Greenwood 03 5-00.00
12 Irons, Reagan 10 Tyrone Area 06 5-00.00
13 Bayer, Anna 12 Fort Leboeuf 10 5-00.00
14 Bedel, Gianna 11 Slippery Rock 10 5-00.00
15 Upcraft, Cameron 11 Penns Valley 06 5-00.00
16 Blough, Jaden 12 Meyersdale 05 5-00.00
17 Campbell, Hailey 12 Moniteau 09 5-00.00
18 White, Molly 11 Holy Cross 02 4-10.00
19 Raymond, Maddie 12 South Park 07 4-10.00
20 Newark, Madeline 11 Burgettstown 07 4-10.00
21 Spila, Anne 12 Trinity 03 4-10.00
22 Chesko, Jordan 10 Riverside 07 4-10.00
23 Forker, Izabella 10 Faith Chrstn 01 4-10.00