PTFCA Preview: Sprints and Hurdles



The wait is over. It is officially PTFCA Championship Week. With an action-packed meet on deck - we want to ensure you're as prepared as we are.

Throughout the week, we will release event-by-event previews of the action and what you can expect on Sunday. Today we have previews of the 60 Hurdles, 60 Dash, 200m and 400m. Make sure to click through to each event to read event-by-event previews of the action.

60 Hurdles | 60 Dash | 200m | 400m

400m Preview

by Zandrew Bowe

The girls 400m dash features the PA No. 2 and No. 3 going head-to-head as the only two runners entered who have run under-57. The top seed goes to Ava Alexander of West Chester Rustin with her time of 56.7, run in a first place finish at the Garden State Invitational. She took third place at the indoor state meet last year in 57.87 and will look to better that finish in 2023.

Following her is Ryleigh Hearn, the Penn State commit from Downingtown West, who took third place at the Garden State invite in 56.94.

You can't count out freshman Kaddell Howard (Cedar Crest), who has the fourth fastest time in PA, 57.04. Eyota Bey (Cheltenham) is close behind in 57.17, along with Ka'Nai Bey-English (Mastery Charter Pickett) - 57.31, and Abbie Huey (Indiana) - 57.36. 

Morgan Elliott, Payton Drumwright, and Simone Kelly are all names to watch to make pushes for the top 6 as they've all run sub 58. 

For the boys, one young man stands alone in the sub 49 category. Tyler Abraham (Abington) enters as one of two boys to run 48 so far this season with his win at the Ocean Breeze Invitational in 48.88. 

Abraham has been undefeated over 400m so far this season and will look to solidify his title as PA's fastest over 400m this weekend but it won't come easily. Asad Reese (Imhotep Institute Charter HS) will be on his hip with his time of 49.02. Reese's lone loss on the season came from Abraham and he'll look for revenge this weekend. 

Other names you can't count out are Graham Green (49.27), Garnett Walton (49.36), Colin Kravitz (49.53), Kelly Bell (49.67), Preston Lubeski (49.69), Luke Coleman (49.73), Jaden Collins (49.80), and Landon Lacey (49.97) who round out the sprinters under sub 50. They'll need strong efforts to break the 49 second barrier.