Live Stream: PTFCA State Championship

Live coverage begins on March 2nd

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Girls:

Editor Predition Amirah Nesmith wins by over .1 seconds.

Amirah Nesmith (Cheltenham), the leader in the state, is the predicted winner in the 60-meter dash. Last season, after coming up short in the 60-meter dash at last year's PTFCA Indoor States, she went to outdoor with something to prove. She went on to win the 100-meter at the PIAA State T&F Championship in a time of 11.84.

This season, Nesmith has been on top of the state as the fastest runner for the majority of this season. She has improved her time drastically from the first 60-meter of the season, running a 7.69, to now running a 7.45. 

I foresee the second-place battle between two athletes: JP McCaskey's freshman, Ella Petrosky, and senior, Anaiya Holley. 

Pestroky has had a very impressive freshman campaign this year. She has made many leaps and bounds from her beginning of the year time of 7.79 seconds to now being ranked second at the state meet in a time of 7.58 seconds. The one thing she does need to do is not buckle under the pressure of her first-ever state championship, unlike many of her other competitors. 

Holey, on the other hand, is a three-time state qualifier, which gives her plenty of experience in these highly competitive and pressure-filled meets. Her season has been full of wins, with only one race in the 60-meter where she didn't win. She has been able to improve upon her season and personal best throughout this year, dropping almost .2 seconds from her first race of the year to now running a 7.59. 

Projected podium: Harper Glennon (Boyertown), Amarah Crabbe (West Catholic), Felicia Grimmelbein (Garnet Valley), Josslyn Hancock (Hickory), and Tamryn Premici (Central Dauphin East). 

Boys: 

Editor Prediction: An Upset victory over Myers by either Scott or McCoullum, with a winning time of 6.75

Jesse Myers (State College) has been one of the most dominant runners in the state this year, not losing a single invitational. Last year in outdoor, he placed fourth in the 100-meter at the state meet and went to the USATF U20 Championships, where he placed 16th. 

The Florida commit has something to prove in this indoor state, as he placed seventh last year. This year, he is looking to win and keep the title at his hometown track. He has been very consistent, with his slowest finals time being 6.84 seconds and his fastest being 6.79. 

Gabriel Scott (Central Dauphin) and Shaun McCoullum (George Washington) are the two contenders on Myers' heels. 

Scott has had an impressive indoor campaign, running the fastest time in the 55-meter and the second fastest in the 60-meter. Last outdoor season, he beat Myers in the 100-meter and 60-meter indoors, earning himself second at states both times. His season has also been consistent in the finals, with him improving every race from 6.88 to 6.81, which he just ran last weekend. 

McCoullum is right with Scott in times this year, the reigning state champion in both the outdoor 100-meter and the indoor 60-meter. He is on a similar running projection as last year in the 60-meter. He has run 6.82 for his fastest time this year and last year; before states, his fastest time was 6.86; at states, he then ran a 6.74 in the finals. If he is able to do that again this year, I don't think anyone will be able to beat him. 

Projected podium: Jalen Bowman (Malvern Prep), Bryce Leaks (Cristo Rey Philadelphia), Kaevon Gardner (New Castle), Ke'Aune Green (Cumberland Valley), and Felix Suliveres (Souderton Area)