Photo by: Ryan Comstock
We are back with Future Stars of the Week. Already into the outdoor season, these athletes stand alone at the top of the mountain for their respective events throughout all grades.
Each week, we will be highlighting a future star of Pennsylvania. These are athletes, typically underclassmen, who have the potential to be stars tomorrow. We will highlight a couple of athletes each week.
Aydriane Bowden
Kennett • Class 2027
Last season, Bowden ended the season as a freshman, proving that she is already one of the best talents in the whole state. She finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in the AAA division. This alone was impressive, but then going to New Balance Nationals Outdoor, she continued and finished third nationally. Her past indoor season has been stellar as well, with a second-place finish in the finals in the 60-meter hurdles.
To start out a season with a win is always impressive, but to go undefeated for three meets in a row and not all in your primary event is even more impressive. She has set new personal bests in the 100m, 12.14, 200m, 24.98, 400m, 56.26, and 100m hurdles, 14.29. These times have her ranked in the top five in the state besides the 100-meter, where she is ranked eleventh. The 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles are her best events, ranking first and second, respectively.
This season, I foresee her continuing her undefeated stretch and staying as one of the top hurdlers, if not the top hurdlers, come championship season. With her as well having two more seasons after this one, her potential is endless, and she could see her becoming one of the best sprinters and hurdlers in the country by her Senior year.
Matthew Gregory
Owen J. Roberts • Class of 2027
Last season, Gregory was showing how great he could become with a dominant postseason in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. He was able to make the state championship meet and was able to make the finals in the 100-meter dash. He also earned 12th in the preliminaries for the 200-meter dash. Over the indoor season, he made the state championship in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.18, finishing 11th.
He started his sophomore campaign with a dual meet and was already on top in the 100-meter dash for PA in all grades. He truly showed his talent in the 100-meter dash at the Owen J Roberts HS vs Norristown meet. He was able to run a time of 10.46, which is a personal best.
Without a single invitational under his belt this season, it will be interesting to see how he performs once the lights are brightest. He may be able to show some faster speed as we get closer to the championship season. Looking at the last outdoor season, he competed in three invitationals, excluding the championship, so this season, I am not expecting him to compete in too many again.