3 weeks into the young but cold 2011 season and there have been some amazing performances to kick off the season! On top of that, the male athletes are showing that 2011 may be the deepest season we may have ever seen.
Let's start with the early season standout performances. In the cold opening weekend, Kyle Long of Hempfield (3) threw an absolute firecracker in the discus, setting the bar at 187-2. No one is within 12 feet of him so far and many who saw him compete believe that he can add many feet to his already amazing mark. In the javelin, the top two have cracked the national top ten so far this season. Going head to head, Billy Stanley of South Park (206-7) and David Reinhardt of Bradford Area (201-1) cracked 200 feet on a cold April afternoon at the Tri State Champs. The rest of the top eight are in the mid 180s or higher. Keep in mind that the best thrower in PA last year was not the champ at the end. So expect some of the guys in the chase pack to make their case for state gold. In the shot put, indoor champ Scott Rushton of Episcopal and Reinhardt share the lead with 56 foot throws. Seven guys are over 53 thus far in the ealry going.
In the jumps, Jarred Gambrell of Athens Area is thriving in the spotlight. After earning All American honors in his only indoor meet in the winter, Gambrell took control of the triple jump with a mark of 49-2 in NY over the weekend, which is over two and a half feet better than the field. In the long jump, he is 2nd to a 23-8 mark from Derek Gaul of Schuylkill Valley back on opening weekend. In the high jump, Ryan Brumfield of Owen J Roberts and Luke Gallagher of Forest Hills share the top spot with 6-7 clearances. In the pole vault, Patrick Anderson of Kane Area (15-3) and Donny Scatena of Central Columbia (15 feet even).
On the track, Drew Magaha of Upper Moreland has run two amazing races thus far that are making him a force to deal with come championship season. On April 2nd, he ran 1:54.58 to win the 800 meters at Council Rock, and then this past weekend, he ran 4:17.80 to win the 1600 at the Viking Invite, winning with relative ease. The chase pack in both events are close together, with the 800 having 2-8 separated by 2 seconds and the 1600 having 2-8 separated by 7 seconds. The 3200 has the top eight at 9:43 or better. Arguably the toughest event to qualify for states in, the runners look to be responding to that challenge. Glen Burkhardt of Unionville and Quinn Devlin of Downingtown West went head to head at the Viking Invite, with Burkhardt winning in 9:28.38 with Devlin running 9:31.95. Both top the state list. This event will get deeper as the fitness levels improve and the weather improves.
In the sprints, all three dashes are showing their depth. The 400 meters has no one under 49, but has the top eight all under 50, with Will Taylor of Abington leading the tight pack. Matt Gilmore of Cheltenham is PA#2, but finished 3rd over the weekend at the Viking Invitational to Connor Manley of CB West and Damien Boham of Spring Ford. In the 200, no one is under 22, but eight are under 22.50. Ronnie Gillespie of Upper Perkiomen is atop the list with a 22.17 from the Viking Invitational over the weekend. Trenton Coles of Clariton is 2nd with a 22.0 hand time performance. The 100 meter dash has one sub 11 second performance (Rafeeq Barnes of Altoona in 10.96) and has the remaining list at 11.14 or better. It's not even warm yet, but once it gets warm, the times will definitely drop and it may take the perfect race to be named the fastest man in Pennsylvania
In the hurdles, the high hurdles have the top eight already under 15 seconds, with Kuwan Scott of Wilson (11) leading with a 14.19. Indoor Champion Chris Williams of Strath Haven and county rival Eric Futch of Penn Wood continue to go head to head for the 2nd spot. Williams got the best of Futch at Coatesville this past weekend. Futch does lead the 300 hurdles with a strong 38.15 time from the same meet, the only hurdler under 39.
In the relays, Strath Haven (42.81) and Father Judge (42.96) are the only 4x100s under 43 seconds thus far. At the TFCAofGp Spring Invite, Cardinal O'Hara ran 3:19.74 and led five teams under 3:25. O'Hara are the defending outdoor champions in this event and have started off on the right foot in defending that title. In the 4x800, Wissahickon is the only team to break 8 minutes with a 7:57.66 from the PW Colonial Relays on APril 2. The two best state indoor 4x800 teams of all time have yet to run the event, which will set up for some great 4x800s in the next few weeks.
| Rank | Time | Athlete Name | Team | C/O | Date | Meet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1. | 10.96p | Rafeeq Barnes | PA Altoona Area | 2012 | 04/02/2011 | 36th Annual Altoona Igloo Invitational |
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2. | 11.01 | Kevin Day | PA Glen Mills Schools | 2013 | 04/02/2011 | Council Rock Kiwanis Invitational |
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3. |
11.02 |
Ronnie Gillespie | PA Upper Perkiomen | 2012 | 04/09/2011 | 4th Annual Viking Invitational |
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4. |
11.05 |
Joe Williams | PA Emmaus | 2011 | 04/09/2011 | 4th Annual Viking Invitational |
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5. | 11.06p | Paulus Gipla | PA Harry S Truman | -- | 04/02/2011 | Council Rock Kiwanis Invitational |
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6. |
11.07p |
Tyler Smith | PA Norristown | 2011 | 04/09/2011 | 23rd Pan-Ram Invitational |
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7. |
11.13 |
Kevin Smith II | PA Coatesville | 2012 | 04/09/2011 | 41st TFCAofGP Spring Invitational (formerly Relay Carnival) |
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8. |
11.14h |
Kaylan Kenney | PA Rochester | 2012 | 04/09/2011 | Warrior Track & Field Classic |
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9. |
11.14h |
Trenton Coles | PA Clairton High School | 2012 | 04/09/2011 | 3rd Annual Monessen Track & Field Invitational |