Welcome back to the PA Great 8, a weekly feature during the track season with the top 8 athletes in every state contested event with some extra statistics attached to it.
Through the 1st month of the season, PA athletes have been off to a flying start with performances cracking the national top 10 list. Through December, PA male athletes have produced four US#1s, eight US top 3s, 17 US top 5s, and 31 performances inside the national top ten!
The man of the hour in the early going has been senior Wellington Zaza of Garnet Valley. In the early going, all of his performances have produced US#1 performances. He ran the US#1 time in the 60 meter hurdles 3 times in a week, capping it off with a 7.97 win at the Burdette Classic on December 28. At the same meet, he competed in his first triple jump of the season and won with a US#1 mark of 48-10, an indoor best. Before Zaza started his season, Tim Moses of Palmyra started off the indoor season with a lifetime best and US#1 clearance of 16 feet in the pole vault, setting the bar very high for his fellow competitors. The final US leader in PA comes from a quick 60 meter dash at State College led by a 6.6 hand time performance from Ebriham Britton of State College, leading a congested leaderboard in the event.
Outside of the national leading performances, the events on the guys side have been the 3000 meter run, the long jump, and the 200 meter dash. In the 3000, PA holds the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th spots on the US list led by NXN team finalist Dan Savage of Cardinal O'Hara, who ran 8:47.94 to hold off Foot Locker finalist Max Norris of Harriton (8:48.29). Overall, 6 runners have cracked 9:01 after the first month of the season. In the 200 meter dash, 7 of the top 8 marks are under 23 seconds. Swenson's Niager Mathis leads the way with a time of 22.69 from the Burdette Classic, good for US#7 honors. The long jump has a congested top three with 2012 state leader Cody Mining of Neshaminy trailing Chris Spadaro of Council Rock South (US#3 23-0.75) and Joe Smith of Norristown (US#7 22-9.25).
Other highlights from the first month include the 1-2 Schuylkill Valley shot put duo of US#3 Jason Coon (58-10.25) and US#5 Evan Arnott (57-11.25). They have finished 1-2 at the Bishop Loughlin Games and the Christmas City Relays. Joey Logue of Pennridge broke the US top ten with a meet record US#8 time of 1:57.59 in the 800 at the same meet. Finally, three of the four relays have US top ten sqauds led by a US#2 mark from Penn Wood in the 4x400 meter relay (3:23.49), a US#3 mark from Norristown in the 4x200 meter relay (1:30.99), and a US#5 mark from Pennsbury in the 4x800 meter relay (8:05.67).
| 1. | 6.62 | Joe Smith | PA Norristown | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Bishop Loughlin Games |
| 2. | 6.63 | Mike Brown | PA Norristown | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Bishop Loughlin Games |
| 3. | 6.67p | Deondre Thompson | PA Central Dauphin East | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 4. | 6.70 | Brandon Bossard | PA Methacton | 2013 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 5. | 6.74p | Josh Boyer | PA Lower Dauphin | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 6. | 6.77 | Najee Johnson | PA Pottstown | 2014 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 7. | 6.79 | Sean Collins | PA Carlisle | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 8. | 6.80p | Shaheen Dow | PA Glen Mills Schools | 2014 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 1. |
6.84h |
Ebriham Britton | PA State College Area High School | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 2. |
6.94h |
Dreux Stamford | PA Altoona Area | 2014 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 3. |
6.94h |
Caleb Belle | PA Williamsport Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 4. |
6.94h |
Anthony Finochio | PA Altoona Area | 2014 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 5. |
7.02p |
Niager Mathis | PA Swenson Arts & Technology | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. |
7.04h |
Edu Campos | PA Indiana Area | 2014 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 7. |
7.05 |
Joe Smith | PA Norristown | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 8. |
7.07 |
Lamont Veal | PA Cardinal O Hara | 2014 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 1. |
22.69 |
Niager Mathis | PA Swenson Arts & Technology | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 2. | 22.74h | Ebriham Britton | PA State College Area High School | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 3. |
22.80 |
Eric Purnell | PA Malvern Prep | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 4. |
22.82 |
Josph Spearman | PA Delaware Valley Charter | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. | 22.87 | Malik Jones | PA Roman Catholic | 2014 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 6. |
22.91 |
Todd Townsend | PA Neumann Goretti | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 7. |
22.94h |
Dreux Stamford | PA Altoona Area | 2014 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 8. | 23.06 | Tyler Whitmore | PA Upper Moreland | 2015 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 1. |
51.22 |
Dave Stellato | PA Wissahickon | 2014 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 2. |
51.34 |
Niager Mathis | PA Swenson Arts & Technology | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 3. | 51.65 | John Lewis | PA Cheltenham | 2015 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 4. | 51.74h | Sean Gipson | PA Bellefonte Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 5. | 51.84 | Malik Jones | PA Roman Catholic | 2014 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 6. |
51.97 |
Nick Stenderowicz | PA Pennridge | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 7. |
52.05 |
Cristian Hunter | PA Penn Wood | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 8. | 52.13 | Shakur Hamilton | PA Penn Wood | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 1. |
1:57.79 |
Joseph Logue | PA Pennridge | 2014 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 2. | 1:58.58 | Jeffrey Wiseman | PA Council Rock South | 2014 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 3. | 1:58.79 | Brad Rivera | PA Bensalem | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 4. | 1:59.55 | Shawn Wolfe | PA Annville-Cleona | 2013 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 5. | 2:00.62 | Dan Alexander | PA Lower Moreland | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 6. | 2:00.81 | Avery Scripture | PA Upper Perkiomen | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 7. | 2:01.32 | Cristian Hunter | PA Penn Wood | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 8. | 2:02.37 | Kyle Francis | PA Bensalem | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 1. |
4:26.27 |
Jack Huemmler | PA Strath Haven | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 2. | 4:28.13c | Vinny Todaro | PA Big Spring | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 3. | 4:29.01 | Brad Rivera | PA Bensalem | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 4. | 4:30.16 | Dan Savage | PA Cardinal O Hara | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 5. |
4:30.71 |
Jack Macauley | PA North Penn | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. | 4:30.87 | Connor Harriman | PA Pennsbury | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 7. | 4:31.54 | Will Mcdermott | PA Msgr Bonner & Abp Prendergast HS | 2013 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 8. | 4:33.87 | Ernie Pitone | PA Cardinal O Hara | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 1. | 8:47.94 | Dan Savage | PA Cardinal O Hara | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 2. | 8:48.29 | Max Norris | PA Harriton | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 3. |
8:51.92 |
Chris Berry | PA Central Bucks West | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 4. |
8:52.63 |
Will Mcdermott | PA Msgr Bonner & Abp Prendergast HS | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. | 9:00.14 | Jack Macauley | PA North Penn | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 6. | 9:00.90 | Ben Szuhaj | PA Penn Charter | 2015 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 7. | 9:05.79 | Ross Wilson | PA Council Rock North | 2014 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 8. | 9:09.16 | Matt Willig | PA Great Valley | 2014 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 1. | 7.84h | Eric Hertzog | PA Tamaqua Area | 2013 | 11/30/2012 | Lebanon Valley College HS Invitational #1 |
| 2. | 7.99 | Donaldo Benjamin | PA Imhotep Institute Charter HS | 2014 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 3. | 8.12 | Teraje Smith | PA Glen Mills Schools | 2014 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 4. | 8.15 | Yousef Lundi | PA Spring Ford | 2013 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 5. | 8.16 | Carter Taylor | PA Nazareth Area | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 6. | 8.25 | James Waters | PA Central Dauphin East | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 7. | 8.25 | reilin mejia | PA J.P. McCaskey | 2013 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 8. | 8.26p | Steven Fiorentino | PA Methacton | 2014 | 12/19/2012 | Hill School Invitational |
| 1. |
7.97 |
Wellington Zaza | PA Garnet Valley | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 2. | 8.14p | Todd Townsend | PA Neumann Goretti | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 3. |
8.29 |
Tyler Horton | PA Bethlehem Catholic | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 4. |
8.31 |
Eric Hertzog | PA Tamaqua Area | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 5. | 8.34 | Anthony Bullaro | PA Pennsbury | 2013 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 6. | 8.39 | Jeremiah Agrio | PA Archbishop Ryan | 2013 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 7. |
8.44 |
Joseph Ho | PA Msgr Bonner & Abp Prendergast HS | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 8. |
8.52 |
Ronnie Deliseo | PA Pittston | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 1. |
1:30.99p |
PA Norristown | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 2. |
1:31.54p |
PA Pennsbury | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 3. |
1:33.26p |
PA Penn Wood | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 4. |
1:33.54 |
PA Wissahickon | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. |
1:33.80 |
PA Cheltenham | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. |
1:33.98 |
PA Imhotep Institute Charter HS | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 7. |
1:34.11p |
PA Roman Catholic | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 8. | 1:34.50 | PA Glen Mills Schools | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 1. |
3:23.49 |
PA Penn Wood | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 2. |
3:29.07 |
PA Pennridge | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 3. |
3:29.92 |
PA Pennsbury | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 4. |
3:31.26 |
PA Roman Catholic | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. |
3:31.99 |
PA Cheltenham | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. |
3:33.45 |
PA North Penn | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 7. |
3:33.81 |
PA Central Bucks West | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 8. |
3:34.64 |
PA Phoenixville Area | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 1. |
8:05.67 |
PA Pennsbury | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 2. | 8:12.08 | PA Bensalem | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 3. | 8:17.98 | PA LaSalle College High School | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 4. |
8:20.27 |
PA North Penn | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. |
8:20.79 |
PA Abington | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 6. | 8:24.40 | PA Penn Wood | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 7. | 8:24.81 | PA Downingtown East | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 8. | 8:26.05 | PA Downingtown West | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 1. | 10:49.46 | PA Pennsbury | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 2. |
10:49.46 |
PA Downingtown West | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 3. |
10:51.94 |
PA Great Valley | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 4. | 11:03.10 | PA Penn Charter | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 5. |
11:06.15 |
PA Annville-Cleona | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 6. | 11:07.09 | PA Methacton | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 7. | 11:08.55 | PA Central Bucks East | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 8. | 11:09.29 | PA Twin Valley | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 1. | 23-0.75 | Chris Spadaro | PA Council Rock South | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 2. |
22-9.25 |
Joe Smith | PA Norristown | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Bishop Loughlin Games |
| 3. |
22-9 |
Cody Minnig | PA Neshaminy | 2013 | 12/27/2012 | Marine Corps Holiday Classic |
| 4. |
22-0.75 |
Nolan Hay | PA Parkland | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 5. | 21-10.75 | Shaquille Thomas | PA Coatesville | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 6. | 21-8 | Anthony Bullaro | PA Pennsbury | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 7. | 21-7 | Eric Purnell | PA Malvern Prep | 2013 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 8. | 21-3 | Devin Miller | PA Williamsport Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 1. |
48-10 |
Wellington Zaza | PA Garnet Valley | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 2. |
44-9.5 |
Marquis Seamon | PA Father Judge | 2014 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 3. | 44-6.75 | Chris Spadaro | PA Council Rock South | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 4. | 44-4.75 | Kyree Willis-Lear | PA Cheltenham | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 5. |
43-6 |
Jared Alston | PA North Penn | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. |
43-3.5 |
Milton Hearns | PA Downingtown East | 2013 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 7. | 43-0.75 | Corey Muggler | PA LaSalle College High School | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 8. | 43-0.75 | Brennan Luciano | PA Altoona Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 1. | 6-7 | Charles Wilson-Adams | PA Tyrone Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 2. | 6-4 | Elon Rembert | PA Great Valley | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 3. | 6-4 | Elizae McDonald | PA Coatesville | 2013 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 4. | 6-3 | Tim Deley | PA Central Bucks South | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 5. | 6-3 | Randall Johnson | PA Central Bucks South | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 6. | 6-3 | Saybrim Medina | PA Phoenixville Area | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |
| 7. | 6-3 | Mike Koller | PA LaSalle College High School | 2014 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 8. | 6-2 | Detrick Kimbrough | PA Coatesville | 2013 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 9. | 6-2 | Adam Karl | PA Hempfield (3) | 2014 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 10. | 6-2 | Sam McCloy | PA Central Mountain | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 1. | 16-0 | Timothy Moses | PA Palmyra | 2013 | 11/30/2012 | Lebanon Valley College HS Invitational #1 |
| 2. |
14-0 |
Brian Shaeffer | PA Saint Joseph's Prep | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 3. | 13-9 | Nelson Beimfohr | PA Oxford Area | 2013 | 12/14/2012 | Franklin & Marshall HS Season Opener Meet #1 |
| 4. | 13-9 | Kolby Koeck | PA Altoona Area | 2013 | 12/20/2012 | State College HS Invitational #1 |
| 5. | 13-6 | Zeb Yoder | PA Chambersburg | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 6. |
13-6 |
Ryan Pierson | PA Spring Ford | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 7. | 13-0 | Vincent Esposito | PA North Penn | 2013 | 12/08/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #1 |
| 8. |
13-0 |
Ryan Wilkes | PA Valley View | 2015 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 1. |
58-10.25 |
Jason Coon | PA Schuylkill Valley | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 2. |
57-11.25 |
Evan Arnott | PA Schuylkill Valley | 2013 | 12/29/2012 | Wm. H. Emrey Christmas City Relays |
| 3. | 51-11.5 | Luke Persichetti | PA LaSalle College High School | 2013 | 12/22/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #3 |
| 4. |
51-8 |
Shawn Scornaienchi | PA Father Judge | 2014 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 5. |
51-6.5 |
Darrik Muroski | PA Coatesville | 2014 | 12/28/2012 | Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic |
| 6. | 50-9 | Morgan Shigo | PA Fleetwood Area | 2014 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 7. | 50-4.5 | Anderson Novalin | PA William Penn | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | Dickinson College HS Invitational #1 |
| 8. | 50-3.75 | Dan Herbster | PA Garnet Valley | 2013 | 12/15/2012 | TFCAofGP Meet #2 |