AAA GIRLS TEAM PREVIEW BY BILL COREN, STRATH HAVEN
This will be the final bow for several of Pennsylvania's best. Reggie Carter, Kenneth and Kevin Talley in the sprints. Brad Kanuch in four events. Jake Walker, Liz Costello and Brad Miller in distance. The annual battles between Erin Hannon and Rachel Gehret. Lindsay Regan in the Pole Vault. And more... plus we'll miss a few top athletes sidelined by either injury or illness... Craig Miller, Keith Capecci, Josh Hibbs, Sarah Morrison, Kristin Reed, and probaby some we have missed. Enjoy the show!
AA GIRLS
Milton Hershey-Gwynedd-E&S Battle. Throws star McQuillen and Laughlin.
It should be no surprise if Milton Hershey wins again. Since 2001, Milton Hershey has won the AA title four times. The other AA power, Gwynedd-Mercy, won it in 2004. And 2nd year Carver Engineering & Science of Philadelphia will also be in the hunt. From a scoring standpoint, Milton Hershey has more events covered with more people. Quite a few of their athletes are among the top seeds. Their greatest challenge, as usual, should come from Gwynedd-Mercy Academy. Gwynedd-Mercy is the returning champion in the 4x800. They have already run 9:11.44 this season, and that will put them out of reach of the competition. The defending champs in the 4x100 are from Lewisburg, and they have as good a shot as any of the top seeds of winning. Milton Hershey has another great relay this year... and also look for Quaker Valley to challenge for the win. If the team race is still up for grabs as the final event of the meet approaches, then look for a three-way 4x400 battle among District 12's Engineering & Science, who are the defending champs... Milton Hershey, and of course, you guessed it, Gwynedd-Mercy.
In the 100 Meter Dash, defending champion Melissa Miller of Athens has been running well. She has posted a 12.36 this season. Look for her key rivals to be Asha Jaramogi, a Masterman junior, who has a 12.31 in the books; Fort LeBoeuf's Kari Hedderick, who ran 12.41 at her District 10 meet, and District 3 champ Mary Dell of Boiling Springs. Dell missed last season with a stress fracture, but has the experience of running at the front as a sophomore. In fact, Dell should be considered the favorite in the 200 Meter Dash. She won the event in 2004, and has a 25.11 to show for her district effort, where she beat defending AA state champion Abigail Johnson of Milton Hershey The other top entry is also from District 3.... sophomore Devan Coon of Schuylkill Valley. And experience counts in this kind of pressure situation... so Kalle James-Wintjen, a Lewisburg senior, may have something to say about the final. In the 400 Meter Dash, Abigail Johnson should find clear sailing as she defends her 2005 title. She has run 55.85 this season. That's a different time zone from anyone else that will be on the track with her. In the 100 Meter Hurdles, defending champion Lindsay Dolan of Center has run 14. 1 this year. But nipping at her heels will be Quaker Valley sophomore Christa Rogers, who has a 14.3 in the books. They're both in the same prelim... so that might make for some interesting racing. In the 300 Meter Hurdles, defending champ Amanda Seigworth, a Northwestern junior, has a PA#5 44.67. Only Milton Hershey's Crystal Polite is close.
The distance races will see a repeat and some new champions. In the 800 Meter Run, defending champion Benita Taylor of Engineering & Science did what she had to do to win her District meet. But her 2:12.95 in 2005 is simply fast. Her closest returning competitors are Nanticoke senior Abigail Gesecki, Milton Hershey junior Anna-Christine Scull, and Holy Name senior Kelly McElroy. Last year's runner-up in the 1600 Meter Run has gone 5:07.71 this season. LaVaughn Jones of Engineering & Science will face strong competition from Neshannock sophomore Kacey Gibson who has a 5:04.8 in the books, and Tyrone senior Emily Ingle who has a 5:03.74 in her column, and has been running very well this season. The 3200 Meter Run will have a new champion in 2006. Last year's runner-up, Kara Millhouse of Boiling Springs (in the interest of disclosure, Millhouse is coached by my son, Aaron, so take this with a grain of salt if you wish), has run a 10:52.77, fully 11 seconds better than anyone in AA this season. She will not have to race alone, because when the pack shrinks, you'll see last year's champ Rachel Erny, a Brentwood sophomore, along with Central Cambria's Carly Seymour, the 2005 AA XC champ, Columbia's Katie Shelley, and Saint Basil's Kathleen Davies.
There is a defending champ in every AA field event. But at least one will not defend. If you have never watched the Javelin, the AA competition may be one you'd like to see. Featured will be the best the state has ever had with the new implement (2002), Karlee McQuillen of Westmont-Hilltop. In early May, she had the best throw of her career, going 161-05. McQuillen threw 147-01 at her District 6 meet, but that was with a wet toe-board due to spotty rain. In addition to the elements, she had three TV stations camped out to film the new state champ. Talk about pressure. But this junior is used to pressure. She is the starting point guard for her school's two-time state runner-up in basketball. And she's coachable. Just before her state-best throw, her coach pulled her aside and told her to "throw it really, really, far." She said she took his word for it, and the 161-05 throw was "absolutely perfect." Her best before that throw had been her 2nd place 139 in 2005. She will have a seasoned competitor in AA, 2005 state champ Elisha Jones, a junior from Eisenhower. After states, she will get some experience for the future by competing at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in mid-June, and the USATF Junior Championships in Indianapolis, where she will face college freshmen. For 2006-2007, she says she owes it to her school to play basketball. "I don't want to disappoint anybody. We gotta make it back to Hershey."
Defending High Jump champ Brittany Maun of Reynolds should fare well. She has a 5-06 seed, but has to watch out for Hughesville junior Rebecka Newhart, who has cleared 5-05. The Pole Vault will be close. Defending champ Amber Gaffey of Susquehanna Community, has not matched her winning 11-03 height of 2005. Saucon Valley junior Jackie Meissner has cleared 11-09, while Bethlehem Catholic junior Keri McDermott has matched Gaffey's 11-00 for 2006. In the Long Jump, there are 11 girls over 17 feet. But Chartiers Houston senior Brianna Liebold has gone 17-04.50 this season, and won in a jump of 18-05 in 2005. Liebold is also the defending champion in the Triple Jump with her 37-10.25 effort. There are three girls within striking distance, including Rachel Hughes of North Schuylkill at 36-08, Casey Ord of Palmerton at 36-10, and Saucon Valley's Meissner, at 37-05.25. In the Shot Put, no one will get close to defending champ Allyn Laughlin. She is over 48 feet in her sleep... and her 50' effort a few weeks ago is way ahead of anyone in her class, let alone the state. Last year it was Ryan Whiting. This year it's Allyn Laughlin. And in the Discus, defending champion Natalie Clickett has a throw over eight feet ahead of her nearest competition, at 145-11. She won last year at 140-07, which is still ahead of anyone near her.
AAA GIRLS
Jacobs, Iheoma, Krais, Costello, Shump, Regan add more state titles. Hannon vs Gehret, the final jump-off.
West Chester Henderson is the defending champ in the 4x100, but they will have a race on their feet, coming in as the #5 team in PA. All but one of the top ranked teams in the state are in the four heats, including PA#2 Coatesville, #3 Simon Gratz, #4 Lower Merion, and #6 Council Rock South. Central Bucks West is the returning titleholder in the 4x400, with returning runner-up West Chester Henderson there as well. Henderson threw down a big 3:53.82 at the District 1 meet. Joining these teams in the final should be Conestoga, anchored by Liz Costello, and Strath Haven, along with the best of District 7, Norwin. The 4x800 will provide its usual excitement. Hatboro-Horsham is the defending champs, but they have not come close this season to the 9:13.84 already run by Central Bucks West. Look for Conestoga or Allentown Central Catholic to challenge. Conspicuous by their absence will be West Chester Henderson and their 9:17.01. Megan Durkee is out with a stress fracture, and the team did not race at District 1.
Look for Laurel Highlands' Breehana Jacobs to expand her dominance in the Sprints. She is the returning champ in the 100 Meter Dash, and returning runner-up in the 200 Meter Dash. Her 11.72 is PA#1 and faster than the time in which she won in 2005. Pushing her to a PR will be Tierra Flowers of Coatesville and Clarenchell Tate of Simon Gratz, both of whom have 11.89's this season. A rising star is Chamberburg's Anyssa Barbour, who has a 12.09 in the books. Jacobs has a 23.91 from her District meet. She'll go faster. The only one who could push her in the 200 final is Council Rock South's Ije Iheoma, a sophomore who has run 24.80, unchallenged. Iheoma is the defending champion in the 400 Meter Dash. She has already run within .01 of her winning time in 2005. But Norwin junior Megan Duncan has run a 55.90, so Iheoma will have to PR to retain her title. Schenley's Kaetlyn Brown will also be in the hunt.
When you talk Hurdles in PA for this year and the next two, you won't be able to NOT mention Methacton sophomore Ryann Krais. You can call her 13.91 at her district meet wind-aided. But 2.7 doesn't push you that fast without some real talent behind it. In the 100 Meter Hurdles, Krais will get a race from William Allen's Briana Broyles, and Pine-Richland's Terhea Doaty, a junior, who has a 14.3 this season. By the way, the 13.91, with a legal wind, beats the current PIAA record held by Olympian Dawn Burrell, set in 1991. Krais is the defending champion in the 300 Meter Hurdles. In this race, Broyles should be close. She has run a 42.91, while Krais has a season best of 42.68. The PIAA record of 42.11 run by Merion Mercy's Tiffany Abney in 2002 will be history on Saturday.
Somebody is going under 2:10 in the 800 Meter Run. That's what it'll take to win this match that includes defending champ Serita Lachesis of Wissahickon who has a 2;12.13 this season; District 1 champ Shaniel Chambers of Chester, with a 2:11.22; and 2005 runner-up Chanelle Price of Easton, who ran 2:13.64 at District 11 champs. Central Bucks West's Anna Aagenes, runner-up at District 1, is not running the open 800. One of the stories in the 1600 Meter Run is who is not running. 2005 state champ Sarah Morrison, a Chambersburg junior, was hit with Mono during indoor, and, while she is training again, was not able to get back into sub-5:00 shape in time for this meet. The top returnee is also one of the favorites... Lisa Vienneau of Strath Haven. She has run a solo 4:57.26. But look for Conestoga senior Liz Costello to pad her incredible senior resume with a 1600 title. She has run sub-5 twice, both during indoor, and is in that kind of shape again. Vienneau won't back down, so this one could be very fast. Vienneau will be coming off the morning's 3200, so that could cost her a few valuable seconds. Challenging will be D11 champ Meghan Burns of Allentown Central Catholic, and District 7 champion Natalie Bower, a Latrobe freshman, and #1 runner on their state championship AAA cross country team. The 3200 Meter Run will have one tactic... leave the others behind as quickly as possible. Leading this assault will be Big Spring junior Lara Crofford, the top returnee who was 6th in 2005; Carly Hamond of West Chester Henderson, who has run 10:55.16; Vienneau, who has a 10:57.1 in the books; and Penn Hills senior Kaitlin Grimm, who is running the best times of her career, including a May 5 10:57.82.
Two of the best athletes in the meet will go jump vs. jump in three events, the High Jump, the Long Jump, and the Triple Jump. This year, Erin Hannon of Bradford is not jumping on a broken leg, a condition that was diagnosed within a week after she finished 2nd in the Triple Jump in 2005. This year, fellow senior Rachel Gehret of Altoona is also motivated by the fact that this will be her final time on the state high school stage. Two of the three one-on-one battles will be waged Friday, the High Jump and Long Jump. Both Hannon and Gehret have cleared 5-8 this season. Hannon has a 5-10 indoor jump on her resume. It'll be fun to watch. Hannon has a best of 18-07.50 from Indoors... while Gehret has a 19-00.50 from her District 6 meet. Mixing it up with these two will be Pocono Mountain West junior Anita James, who matched Gehret's 19+ at her District meet. Gehret was 2nd in 2005 with a 19-01.25 jump. In the Triple Jump, Hannon turns the tables on Gehret. Hannon has a PR of 40-00 this season, and was 2nd in 2005 with a 39-03 jump (on that problem leg). Gehret was 3rd at 38-01.25, but won the title as a sophomore with a jump of 39-03. Hannon was 2nd that year. Get the drift? The Triple Jump will be on Saturday. Hannon will have the added effort of the 100 Hurdles trials on Friday. The Shot Put in AAA is not as clear-cut as AA. While there are several girls over 40' this season, two have separated themselves from the pack. Defending champ Karen Shump, a Penncrest sophomore, has been improving the past few weeks, as planned. She threw 45-04.50 in late April. Hempfield senior Samantha Fetter has a 43-11.75 from her District meet. Shump and Fetter will square off in the Discus as well. Shump has a 133 throw this season, and Fetter is the top seed at 133-09. The top returnee from 2005 is Susquehanna Township's Caitlyn Green. Lampeter-Strasburg sophomore Jenna Witmer is also over 132 this season. In the Javelin, Chambersburg's Lorraine Hill is the top seed, and has thrown 146-11, a mark that gave her top American at the Penn Relays. Meghan Briggs, a Palmyra senior, is the top returnee. She has thrown 141-04. And in the Pole Vault, it will be Lindsay Regan's final bow on the state stage. The Easton senior is UCLA-bound and coming off her 2nd Penn Relays title. She no-heighted in 2005, after winning the state AAA title in 2004. She had a back strain during the start of indoor due to a cheerleading injury, but has been back to training. She is the top seed at 12-9, and holds a PA-best of 13-06 from the 2005 season. Her challengers include Becky Frey of Liberty, Brook Borso of Whitehall, teammate Abby Schaffer, Caitlin Hewitt of Latrobe, the defending champ, and Beki Finn of Liberty. Look for Regan to be her usual all smiles before, during and after her final state title.
AAA GIRLS TEAM PREVIEW BY BILL COREN, STRATH HAVEN
As usual the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP will be determined on how well a team's #1 and/or #2 athlete performs. This is especially true this year due to the fact that many of the TOP TEAMS' athletes are competing in the same individual and relay events (Krais/Hannon/Gehret---Jacobs/Flowers---Costello/Price/Vienneau). The TOP 8 TEAMS appear to be (in alphabetical order)--Bradford-Coatesville-Conestoga-Easton-Laurel Highlands-Methacton-North Allegheny-Strath Haven. Here is a prediction based on seeds, 2005 results, 2006 indoor results, and "intuition"!!! TEAMS are listed in order by what I think are their expected points and maximum points------1) EASTON (36/52) 2) METHACTON (32/36) 3) CONESTOGA (31/36) 3) COATESVILLE (31/42) 5) BRADFORD (24/33) 5) STRATH HAVEN (24/37) 7) LAUREL HIGHLANDS (23/30) 8) NORTH ALLEGHENY (20/31) WE ALL CAN'T WAIT!!!!
AA BOYS
Kanuch will lead Westmont-Hilltop to a state title. Walker gets his 1st and a PIAA record, too.
One of the top seeds in the 4x100 should be on top of the podium with a title. Those include Danville, Greencastle-Antrim, Bethlehem Catholic, Pine Grove, Fairview, Trinity (3), or Kutztown. Just as in the shorter relay, in the 4x400, there is no clear-cut favorite. Look for Bethlehem Catholic, Montoursville, Chartiers-Houston, Burrell or Girard College to come out on top. In the 4x800, the defending champions are from Springfield-Montco. They haven't posted the times this year that have come from Trinity (3), Delone Catholic, North East or Lakeland.
Connecticut-bound running back Brad Kanuch is in top shape, healthy, and ready to take two of his possible four state titles on the track in the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 Meter Dash. He is the top returnee in the 100, having run a 10.84 in 2005. That is the seed time of one of his main challengers, Holy Name's Christopher Muvdi, who was 3rd in 2005. Also in the mix will be Oley Valley senior Brad Dierolf, who has a 10.94 this year. Kanuch is the defending champ in the two turn sprint, and currently has a PA#5 time of 21.90, faster than his winning 22.33 in 2005. Bristol's Steve Johnson has run 21.94. This'll be close. The 400 Meter Dash had five seniors in the top five spots last year. Three guys have run under 50 seconds this season, Mike Cadau of Mahanoy Area, Johnson from Bristol, and Derek Moye of Rochester. You probably remember Rochester for producing 100 meter world champ Lauryn Williams. Valley junior Toney Clemons will move up one spot to 1st in the 110 Meter Hurdles. He has a 14.3h this season. Should he falter, Wyalusing senior Jason Naugle or Quaker Valley senior Darren Rogers will be more than happy to cross the line in first. In the 300 Meter Hurdles, 2005 runner-up Brandon Tress of Bible Baptist has the 3rd fastest seed time of 39.82. Tamaqua's Derrik Keich has a PS#5 time of 38.71 from his district meet, and East Juniata's TJ Breya has run 39.65.
Three seniors are gone from the 800 Meter Run group that medaled in 2005. Happy to take the top spot will be Camp Hill's Adam Smith, who has a PA#2 time of 1:53.05. He got caught in traffic on the final turn at Mid-Penns, and will be racing the AAA clock as much as his chief competitor, Jamar Jones of Engineering & Science, who has posted a PA#6 mark of 1:54.16. Two others have run under 1:56, including Mike Cadau of Mahanoy Area, and Eric Yeager of Bethlehem Catholic. The 1600 Meter Run should belong to Springfield-Montco's Matlack Gillin. The senior has a 4:19.75 he ran at the Penn Relays, and only Mark Bucklaw of Lakeland, Mike Podlesnik of Meyersdale, Kyle Jones of Youngsville and Josh Neyhart of Kutztown are in the same time zone. Missing from the 1600 will be this year's 3200 Meter Run champion Jake Walker of Ellwood City, who has a 4:13.26 from this year's Baldwin Invitational. His 8:21.94 3000 at the Penn Relays converts to less than 9 minutes for the 3200. His goal is to break Chris Dugan's 1997 PIAA record of 9:04.09, and to crack 9. Plus with a possible sub-9 coming in AAA following his race, he'll be looking to have the best time on the day and the year. It will be his first state title after taking 2nd in this race in 2005.
The High Jump will feature three guys clearing over 6-5, including Cody Cipalla of Northwestern, Danville's Josh Perruquet (6-6), and Penn Cambria's Andrew Choros (6-6). After running the Prelims and Semis of the 100 and 200, Westmont-Hilltop's Brad Kanuch could well have enough energy to win two field events. He'll get the Triple Jump out of the way first thing Friday, where he is the defending champion. Tyrone's Trey Brockett, Lewisburg's Drew Miller and Bedford's John Marshall are all over 45' this season. Kanuch is over 46. On Saturday, he'll see what he has left as he competes in the morning in the Long Jump, where he is the top returnee. Mike Cadau of Mahanoy Area and Robbie Clews of North Schuylkill are seeded ahead of him. Clews has a PA#5 mark of 22-07. A big jump by any of the three will win it. There are two clear favorites in the Shot Put. Denes Veres, a Riverside junior has a season-best of 60-10, which is PA#2, and Center senior Ashton Cobb has thrown 55-09. The Discus features defending champ Chad Yurchick of Johnsonburg, who has thrown 164-07 this season. The PA#1 thrower, Joe Kovacs of Bethlehem Catholic, has a mark of 176-05 from his district meet. And Montoursville senior Logan Wolfe threw 163-02 to garner the 2nd seed. Five graduated seniors from 2005 open some doors in the Javelin. Danville senior Travis Miller has a PA#1 throw of 208-06. Only three guys have thrown over 190, including Bryan Zimmerman of Freeport (194-00), Nick Erdesky of Hickory (192-01), and Matt Schandelmeier of Moniteau, (193-06). Kane sophomore D.J. Horton is the top seed in the Pole Vault. He has a season-best of 14-01. Tamaqua's Bryant Butala has cleared 13-09, the same as Catasauqua's Tony Strein.
In the team competition, Westmont-Hilltop should run and jump away with it. Not only do they have the potential for 40 points from Kanuch, they have strong athletes in a lot of other events. They lost by two to a great Aliquippa team last year. Expect them atop the podium in 2006.
AAA BOYS
Gratz steps back in individual events to improve relays. A Miller will win the 1600. Carter could take two. Springer could pop under 9. Look up during the high jump – way up.
The relays in the Boys' AAA will be smokin'! From the one-lap to the eight laps, there won't be a single heat or final not worth watching. Defending 4x100 champion Central Dauphin East is among the top seeds. But the Philadelphia teams, after a year of getting used to the PIAA system, and a year to sharpen their competitive focus on district rival Simon Gratz, are bringing two very strong teams in Martin Luther King and Germantown High. Gratz has the top seed at 42.24, Germantown the 2nd at 42.54 and King the 6th at 42.84. But there is no margin for error, as CD East, Central Bucks South, North Penn, Harrisburg, Altoona and New Castle could get the stick around just as fast. The final event of the day could seal the deal for another Mid-Penn League team to take the state title. Or, it could give it to a Philly-area team. It all depends on whether the sometimes magical art of passing the baton makes a team disappear. If they have the legs after the prelims and semis, Simon Gratz should win the 4x400. The only individual events that any of their top runners are doing is the 100, 200 or 300 Hurdles. No 400, 800 or 1600's. That means they'll be much fresher than last year. Fresh, they ran a 3:14.55 at the Penn Relays, the top American time. Cumberland Valley posted a 3:17.36 at Penn, and just missed the Championship of America. Harrisburg has a 3:19.01 mark this season, and North Penn has a 3:20.64. But 3:14 is really a different world. If Gratz gets the stick around, they get the win. Cumberland Valley will be ready to pounce if there is an opening. And Harrisburg showed their stuff with their indoor upset of Gratz. Cumberland Valley is the defending champ. In the 4x800, there was absolute fireworks with Simon Gratz and North Penn at the Penn Relays. Their 7:45.66 and 7:46.38, respectively, were the top two American times. Add Wissahickon's 7:50.73 and West Chester Henderson's 7:51.58 late season times to the mix, and you can imagine a final to behold. The PIAA record of 7:36.24 is probably out of reach, but if it's cool enough when they run, it make take 7:39 to win it.
The clock will tell the tale with all the great sprinters in this year's short stuff. Defending 100 Meter Run champ Da'Rel Scott of Plymouth-Whitemarsh, a senior, is not running track this spring. But Andre Nelson of Springfield-Delco, Anthony Bishop of Martin Luther King, Rushane Scott of William Allen, and Kenneth Talley of Simon Gratz, are. Don't blink. You'll miss it. Kenneth is also one of the top seeds in the 200 Meter Dash with his 21.54. Bensalem's Reggie Carter could be the big winner of the sprints. He has a 21.32 on the books, and was 2nd in 2005. William Allen's Scott has run a PA#2 (tied) 21.4. Kevin Talley has a 21.84 seed, Freedom's Jeff Giglio has a PA#4 21.64 recorded, and New Castle's Mike Pappas has a PA#2 21.4 (tied). Step back from the turn and watch the track ignite. And the same goes for the 400 Meter Dash, where defending champ Reggie Carter is the top seed at 47.73. He'll be pushed or passed by Cumberland Valley senior David Stonfer, who is now completely healthy. And Red Lion senior Eddie Kiser could be poised to challenge both those one lap stars. Harrisburg's Delon Isom is the defending 110 Meter Hurdles champion. He is seeded 3rd after not being pushed at the District 3 meet. The top seed is Chichester's Carrington Queen. He looked magnificent in his wind-legal 14.00 at the District 1 meet. Abington's Jarret Eaton posted a 14.33 for the 3rd seed, while Ryan Ferguson of Selinsgrove has a 14.63, good for the 4th seeds. In the 300 Meter Hurdles, Carrington Queen is the defending champion. But the top three times in the state belong to three guys in the last heat, Isom with a PA#1 38.31, North Hills' Matt Timko with a PA#2 38.3, and New Castle's Steven Whetzel with a PA#3 38.4. And Jarrett Eaton of Abington has the PA#4 time of 38.97.
The 800 Meter Run will be very fast. Central Dauphin's Andrew Rotz has the top time in PA at 1:52.64. Also in the race will be PA#3's Jared Weaver of Conestoga Valley with his 1:52.9, and PA#5's Matt Gordon of Upper Dublin with his 1:53.51. Brad Miller of Manheim Township, who has run 1:53.2, has opted for the 1600. If you're looking for a spoiler, it could be Red Land's Aaron Kauffman who won indoor states with a 1:55.34. Which brings us to someone else who make get a state championship for the first time. One Brad Miller, who has spent his high school career as one of the fastest in PA, but always the 2nd fastest in his home. Twin brother Craig is out with an ankle injury. He will be missed. We'll never know what he could have done if completely healthy his senior year. But now it's Brad's turn. And while his 4:16.65 is the top seed time in the 1600 Meter Run, he is capable of going much faster. If you don't lose him on the first three laps, you can kiss your chance at a title goodbye. You won't lose him. Remember, this is Brad's first full year of training, and first full year of good health. He just doesn't look like Craig, he has that potential, as well. Max Brown of North Allegheny is the 2nd seed at 4:16.82. Lucas Zarzeczny of Northgate has a 4:16.8 this season. Radnor's Sean Mahoney was 3rd in 2005, and he always races well when it counts. One unknown is the training track of Conestoga Valley sophomore Vince McNally. If he's close to the shape he was in last fall when he ran 15:03 at the Gettysburg Invitational. forget everything I just said. Also missing from this race will be Keith Capecci of Council Rock North. Capecci stepped on a stone and sustained some ligament damage to his foot, forcing him to miss his conference and district meets. And the other distance star we'll all miss in addition to Miller and Capecci, is Hatboro-Horsham's Josh Hibbs. Josh has had achilles tendon problems, and has shut down for the season. Best of luck in college guys! Which brings us to the next star on the PA distance stage. Unionville's Paul Springer was an understudy on his own team to Colin Leak last year. Springer obviously learned well. His solo 9:03.58 in the 3200 Meter Run at the District 1 meet has a lot of his competitors coming up with new strategies. The only one that works is, run faster. But his time shouldn't be too much of a surprise after his 8:28.65 at Penn. Now, can he break 9 right after Walker makes his attempt? It'll be fun to watch. The defending champ is Cumberland Valley senior Curtis Bixler, who fended off mono earlier this spring and is coming off an 8:34.53 at Penn. He'll have to pick it up a notch to match Springer.
The High Jump is definitely worth watching this year. There could be a battle at 7' or more between New Castle senior Josh Jones, who cleared that height in a dual meet, and had a 6-9 jump at his district meet. And Upper Darby senior Dominique Asbury cleared 6-11. In the Long Jump, Altoona's Steve Pierce is the top seed at 22-10.50, which is PA#1. Mike Edwards of Liberty owns the PA#2 jump of 22-09. And in fact, there are nine others with jumps over 22', including the indoor state champion, Scott Henkelman of Strath Haven. The Triple Jump has one jumper who has topped 47'. McCaskey's Caesar Westbrook went 47-03 at the Penn Relays. He finished 3rd in 2005. Parkland's John Carelli is the top seed at 46-09.75. North Penn's Brandon Turner is the 2nd seed, and has a PA#2 46-10.50. Be sure to look for the two Glen Mills throwers in the Shot Put. Nathan Stewart has the top throw in PA with his 61-06.25, and teammate Robert Williams has a PA#3 of 60-00. Whitehall junior Andrew Fahringer is the top seed in the Discus at 170-00. But Gateway senior Chris Warning has the PA#2 throw of 172-02, and Cumberland Valley's Adam Thielemann has a PA#3 throw of 171-02. Fahringer is also the top seed in the Javelin with a 198-01 throw, which is currently PA#3. Josh Hostetler of Selinsgrove has thrown 203-01, PA#2, and Sam Eck of Jersey Shore has thrown 194-00. The battle in the Pole Vault should come down to two western PA guys, Jared Jodon of Laurel Highlands, and Sean Gil of North Allegheny. Jodon has gone over 16-02 and Gil has cleared 16-01.
For the team title, pencil in Cumberland Valley. Sprints. Distance. Throws, Relays. Done. Simon Gratz could be close.