Photo by: Jackson Polin
With the conclusion of all three major national meets coming to a close just over two weeks ago, we wanted to sit down and highlight some of the best athletes in the state and the shows we got to witness every time they stepped foot on the track.
Boys:
Joshua Sharp of Upper Darby has to be one of, if not the first, names you think of when you think of PA track and field for the 2026 outdoor season, and there are many reasons for that. The state record he set at Under Armour is the clear big one, but all of his other performances shouldn't go unnoticed either. Josh remained undefeated in the 800m all the way until the last 50m at NBNO this outdoor season, as he ultimately placed 4th in the race with one of the most gutsy runs I've ever seen. The future Nitney Lion holds a PR of 1:47.22, which is a PA State record and U.S.#1 this year, along with a U.S. #9 all-time mark for high school athletes.
Jonah Montagnese of Quaker Valley might be the best junior distance runner in the country. The now 2x All-American had a huge "breakout" year with a huge PR in both the mile and 2-mile. Montagnese ran 8:45.20 over the full 2 miles and 4:06.34 in the mile. By the end of Jonah's high school career, he might end up being the most decorated distance athlete to ever come out of PA.
Carter Smith of Mifflin County is arguably the best distance runner in the country, not just in PA, and he has the stats to back it up. The future is bright for the distance stud with a 3:59.00 mile and 1:48.55 800m to his name. Carter won Brooks Pr over 800m, placed 2nd in the mile at both Hoka Festival of Miles and New Balance Nationals.
Nicholas Mazzeo of Lower Merion had an incredible senior year, all around, but the most impressive performance was his national record at NBNO in the 2k steeplechase where he ran away from the field in a time of 5:37.60 taking just over 3 full seconds off the previous record. Mazzeo also placed 2nd overall in the 5,000m at NBNO and left the meet with 2 individual All-American honors and a National title and national record to go along with it.
Girls:
Aydriane Bowden of Kennett High School is by far the most well-rounded athlete in the state as she placed 2nd as a team in the 3A girls PIAA State Championships by herself. She competed in 4 events at states and scored in all 4 of them and ultimately won the long jump. The junior also went to NBNO in the heptathlon and placed 3rd overall, earning All-American honors as a junior.
Kaddel Howard of Cedar Crest shattered the state record over 400m this outdoor season, running 51.48 over the distance and taking over a full second off the previous record. The future Florida Gator completed the 4-peat in the 400m at the PIAA state championships, winning the state title all 4 years she was in high school.
Amirah Nesmith of Cheltenham was just flat-out dominant her entire high school career, and her senior year was the best of them all. She won the state title in both the 100m and 200m and went on to go All-American in the 100m, placing 4th overall in the final at NBNO. She also placed 2nd at Brooks PR in the 100m with a wind-legal PR of 11.47.