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Pennsylvania middle-distance stars took to the track at the Ocean Breeze Invitational on Sunday and impressed yet again, winning both varsity red division races (top division) with stunning force.
On the girls side, Olivia Cieslak (Haverford Township) and Alli DeLisi (Penn Charter) led the way. They went 1-2 in a stacked field, taking down the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 slots.
Cieslak improved on her current nation-leading time, running 2:08.32. She currently leads the distance by over a second.
DeLisi claimed the second position with a 2:09.38.
Currently ranked third in the nation, Gwen Hamilton (Archbishop Wood) ran her way into fourth. She closed in a 32.55 last 200m, second to only Cieslak.
Just behind them, Ella Woehlcke (Mount Saint Joseph) finished in sixth with a 2:11.74. That ranks as the US No. 8.
Also putting in stout performance was Ashley Landis (Pennridge) who ran 2:13.99 in the second heat. That is a US No. 34.
* Gabriel Cuffey runs a US No. 12 in the 800m
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The show on the boys side wasn't much different as Pennsylvanians claimed 10 of the top 13 finishing positions. Furthermore, 20 boys from Pennsylvania ran sub 2-minute times.
Coming out on top was Gabriel Cuffey (Archbishop Carroll), who ran the meet winning time from the third heat.
Cuffey went out in a 56-second 400m, before perfectly executing and coming back with two 29-second laps. He ran 1:54.70, which ranks as a PA No. 1 and US No. 12.
Cuffey was third at the 2023 PIAA 2A Outdoor final last year, but he is quickly emerging as a state favorite this indoor season.
Behind him Tommy Silvester (Coatesville), Michael Woolery (Episcopal Academy), and Stefon Dodoo (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) took second, third and fourth.
Silvester and Dodoo battled in the first heat. They ran 1:55.20 and 1:56.09 respectively. Meanwhile Woolery was forced to hold off Central Bucks West's Nate Fehrman in the second Heat. Those two went 1:56.09 and 1:56.76 respectively.
