Preview: 2023 DVGTCA Meet of Champions

On the track:

Going in order of events, the 4x800m relay will start the meet. The PA No.4 ranked Pennridge team is the favorite to win, with a season-best of 9:41.53. Although, they'll need to bring their a-game as PA No.10 ranked Perkiomen Valley will be looking to improve upon their 9:46.70 season best. Other solid teams that shouldn't be overlooked are Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, and Upper Dublin. 

Olivia Smiarowska (Archbishop Ryan) enters the meet atop the 60m hurdle entries. This is thanks to her PA No.3 time of 9.11 ran at the PCL Indoor Championship last weekend. Other athletes in contention are Avery Elliott (Episcopal Academy), and her 9.23 season best, Damira Allen (Chester) and her 9.28 season best, and Mackenzie Owens (Perkiomen Valley), and her 9.32 season best.

 In the 60m dash, Jael Sykes (North Penn) is more than capable of getting things done, coming into the meet with a season-best time 0f 7.82. Milan Ramey (Harriton) is one to watch as she finished 2nd at the PTFCA Indoor Carnival, running 7.91 just last weekend. You also can't count out Harper Glennon (Boyertown), Summer Mellow (Methacton), and Felicia Grimmelbein (Garnet Valley).

 If both teams run their top lineups, it will be a dual between Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Perkiomen Valley in the distance medley relay. The Mount Saint Joseph Academy team comes into the meet with a season-best of 12:32.56, while the Perkiomen Valley team comes into the meet with a season-best of 12:34.64. Other solid teams in the race are Central Bucks East and Hatboro Horsham.

Mimi Duffy (Central Bucks West) is the 200m dash favorite. Duffy finished 5th in the finals at the Ocean Breeze Invitational after running 25:28 in the prelims. Beth Schearer (Springfield (Delco)) and Janaisa Dearry (Chester) are two athletes capable of contending.

In the 400m dash, expect to see Ka'Nai Bey-English (Mastery Charter Schools - Pickett) leading the charge. Bey-English is having a solid season after running 25.24 at the Ocean Breeze Invitational. Other strong sprinters in the race are Joy Onyewuchi (Ridley), Ella Catania (Plymouth Whitemarsh), and Mila Jovanovic (Wissahickon).

The 800m run will be a very stacked field with nine different runners ranking in the PA Top-25. Gwen Hamilton (Archbishop Wood) has the current PA No.1 time of 2:12.44. Not far off is Alli Delisi (Penn Charter) and her 2:14.15. Ashley Landis (Pennridge) is more than capable of contesting for the win, as she ran 2:15.31 earlier this month. Keep an eye on Quin Stovall (Friends' Central), Julia Pye (Central Bucks South), and Dani Shipon (Penn Charter), just to name a few of the other strong runners in this deep field. 

It will likely be a battle between Riley Rooney (Central Bucks South) and Nora Ritting (Pennridge) in the 1-mile run. Rooney enters the race with a season-best time of 5:11.82, which isn't much fast than Ritting's 5:13.53. Also, watch out for Abrielle Schweitzer (Perkiomen Valley), and Rebekah Hickey (Quakertown). 

Get ready for an electric showdown in the 4x200m relay. The state's top three teams will compete in tonight's relay. Upper Moreland comes in with the fastest time of 1:44.02 from the Ocean Breeze Invitational prelims edging out Great Valley's, winning time of 1:44.06 from the finals. To make things even crazier at that same meet, Chester came in just behind both teams at 1:44.32. It will be exciting to watch the rematch between these three teams.

Madison Brown (Downingtown East) should come out on top in the 3000-meter run. Brown finished 6th at the Ocean Breeze Invitational, running 10:26.84. Other solid runners in the field are Bailey Hall (Pennsbury), Avery Lustgarten (Garnet Valley), and Lexi Patterson (Springfield (Delco)).

Finishing things up on the track will be a competitive 4x400m relay. The Great Valley team comes in with a season-best of 4:04.30. However, they'll have to hold off the Penncrest team coming in with a 4:04.31 season-best. The squad from Engineering and Science can't be overlooked with a season-best of 4:05.36, and neither can the Chester team's 4:05.49 effort. Other competitive teams are Central Bucks West, Abington, and Penn Wood.

In the field: 

Saige Forbes (Episcopal Academy) will likely win the long jump. Forbes jumped 18'-4.75" earlier this season. Zoe Charles (Council Rock South) and her season-best mark of 17'-9.25" can't be counted out, though. Other contenders are Madison Gee (North Penn), Ciara Frederic (Plymouth Whitemarsh), and Madeline Lewis (North Penn).

The triple jump contest will likely go to Taylor Forbes (North Penn). Forbes covered a season-best distance of 37'-5.5" to win the Kristian Marche Memorial Invitational back in January. Other solid jumpers to watch for are Brooke Lobban (Upper Moreland), Madison Gee (North Penn), and Sydney Phillips (Great Valley).

Grace Patterson (Council Rock South) will likely win the high jump contest. Patterson cleared 5'-4" at the Ocean Breeze Invitational. Niya Jeffers (Chester) is not far off, though. Jeffers has a season-best of 5'-3". Koumba Samassa (North Penn) is another athlete to watch.

Alexa Brown (Strath Haven) is the clear favorite for the shot put. Brown not only won big meets such as the Virginia Showcase and the Ocean Breeze Invitational, but she also has thrown a season-best of 43'-0.25". Some athletes in contention for second are Vania Mokonchu (Spring Ford), Svanna Strandberg (Pennsbury), and Jaya Jones (Central).

In the pole vault, Maddy Kelley (Villa Maria Academy) and Veronica Vacca (Mount Saint Joseph) will clash for the win. Kelley and Vacca have cleared 13'-6' this season, currently tying for the PA No.1 position. This is an event you won't want to miss.