PIAA T&F State Championships 2007

From time to time we get historical questions that are not as simple as just checking the meet archives or sending a well-placed email or two. And during the past month, we have received two questions that fit in that category. It didn't take long for the answers...

To order podium photos from the 2007 PIAA Track & Field State Championships, call

  The NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships will be on Saturday June 9th, and the Prefontaine Classic will be telecast June 10th. And you can now order DVDs of the PCN broadcast of the 2007 PIAA Track & Field State Championships.

The 2007 All State Outdoor Track and Field Team was selected by a committee of the PTFCA on 6/8 taking into consideration honors won, quality and consistency of performance and head-to-head competition. Congratulations to all the new All-State athletes, and Coaches and Athletes of the Year.   (2007 Athletes of the year, Breehana Jacobs, Ryann Krais, Joe Berry)

 Photo Galleries by Don Rich, Timothy O'Dowd and Megan Clugh... plus Video by theazn of the PIAA Track & Field State Championships @ Shippensburg University. Photo: Altoona sophomore Bethany Lender, and McDowell senior Ajla Glavasevic, were 3rd and 1st, respectively, in the AAA triple jump. 

Photo Gallery by Megan Clugh of both days of the 2007 PIAA T&F State Championships @ Shippensburg University

A former wrestler grapples gold in the javelin. Banks desposits gold in shot and discus, while teammate Kanala adds gold and silver. Shump three-peats. Kovacs gets his record. Seymour writes her own history, by not allowing history to repeat itself. Speare grabs another medal in chase mode. And Robeson HS shows their mettle at any distance in the relays.  (Shatievah Lewis hands off to Rochelle Hill-Hunter in the 4x100)

Kim Kanala relaxed and PRed twice in two days in two events, and got silver and gold for her efforts. The North Penn 4x800 tradition lives. One 800 provided a near record, and the other provided a measure of revenge. And two sprinters, Breehana Jacobs and Brandon Bing, dazzled the crowd multiple times. In the 100, a surprise winner (in photo by Timothy O'Dowd, IrishRunner.com) Plus many more of the stories that make the PIAA T&F Champs one of the best meets in the US.

ALL RESULTS POSTEDComing all week: splits, stories, pix, video! Saturday summaries posted. Plus 1st two of three major photo galleries... Chanelle Price runs from the front to 2:05.85 and anchors winning 4x800 and 2nd place 4x400. Breehanna Jacobs completes her triple gold run, 11.64, 53.58, and 24.10. Ryann Krais 13.73 100H, 42.04 (41.84 trials) 300H. Brandon Bing runs 46.84 and 21.33 for double gold in the 400 and 200. Neely Spence runs from the front to post a 4:50.98. Andrew Rotz hits 1:51.65 in the 800. Philly schools Swenson (girls) and Engineering & Science (boys) sweep AA teams. It's Easton girls and McDowell boys in AAA. Hempfield's Kim Kanala PRed in the shot put on Friday for 2nd, and came back on Saturday to PR again in the discus, winning AAA girls (photo by Don Rich)  Photo Galleries by Don Rich, Timothy O'Dowd and Megan Clugh... plus Video by theazn of the PIAA Track & Field State Championships @ Shippensburg University

Photo Gallery by Timothy O'Dowd (IrishRunner.com) of Saturday May 26 action at the PIAA State T&F Championshps

Photo Gallery by Don Rich of both days of the 2007 PIAA Track & Field State Championships @ Shippensburg University

 Breehana Jacobs, Chanelle Price, Ryann Krais and Devan Coon all showed signs of the great races to coming on Saturday. We'll be posting event summaries this evening, along with full reports on the field event finals, including a AA record in the shot put by Joe Kovacs (in photo)  of Bethlehem Central Catholic with his throw of 64-10.75. Favored 4x100 Altoona boys relay DQed on uniform violation...

The 2007 PIAA State Track & Field Championships is the annual show worth its weight in spikes. On every turn, on every runway, on every handoff and throw, everything is on the line. And these are the athletes and teams who have earned their way here... to have a chance to PR, to medal, and for the fortunate few, to win a state title. All week we'll have stories and previews. First up is the rare air occupied by two AAA pole vaulters. Thur: Relays / Jumps & Vaults Wed: Sprints /Throws / Distance Jumps/Vault: The battle will be waged at over 16' by Joe Berry and Justin Germain.Rebekah Newhart and Kristin Brandt are the top two triple jumpers in PA, but they're in different classes. Watch the AAA boys. It's always a battle at some incredible distances. Ryann Krais was over 20 in the LJ when it counted. This counts. Relays: AAA or AA doesn't matter. Gwynedd-Mercy is good and fast. They could add their first AAA crown in the 4x800. The AAA boys could be dipping into the mid-7:40's. The guy's 4x100's will be smokin'. Stick-handling is the decider. And the 4x400's could be the highlight, especially if Krais and Price are close to each other on the final exchanges. Distance: Don't miss the Chanelle (as in Price) (photo by Don Rich from 2007 Penn Relays Carnival) show in the AAA 800. Neely Spence is going the 1600 route, but has a resurgent Sarah Morrison ready to pounce. Carly Seymour and Kara Millhosue reprise their battle of 2006. Lara Crofford is better than ever at 3200. AA's Jamar Jones has the best 800 in PA, but the AAA Andrews, Rotz and Lobb don't want it to stay that way. It's soph vs. senior in the AAA 1600 as prodigy TJ Hobart battles Jason Weller. And Paul Springer is going for another record in the 3200, already owing the fastest 3000, 3200 and 2-miles ever run by a PA prep athlete in outdoor.  Throws: Karen Shump has improved her discus so much, it may even be her best event. But she's still closer to 50' in the shot. Karlee McQuillen has some competitors closing in, but her best is still the class of PA. Joe Kovacs should take two AA events. Eric Skedel is the top jav in the meet and competing in AA. With Andy Fahringer's injury, Justin Shirk is the top seed in AAA jav. Zane Parr and Wes Banks battle in AAA shot.  Sprints: Ryann Krais, Breehana Jacobs, Devan Coon, Jarrett Eaton, AJ Alexander, Khaliff Featherstone, and Brandon Bing headline a very fast lineup.  Tue: Devan Coon Don't let her seemingly diminutive stature fool you. This girl is pure power. Pistons for legs. A heart for competition. And a taste for training that would punish most who would dare to make the attempt. And it all comes together in a sprint package known as Devan Coon... Mon: Justin Germani & Joe Berry This is rare air. There are now two Pennsylvania pole vaulters who are not only reaching for PIAA meet and state records, they're reaching for a state title. Both are seniors, good friends, tough competitors, and well aware that they are not the only ones who could win the AAA championship because there are quite a few other talented vaulters over 15'. So they're all about taking care of business first, and letting the rest take care of itself. 

All PIAA Results Posted (except D8) Thanks to Mark Byers, the PIAA and many district reps!  Highlights or Summaries posted for most meets we have results for Photo Galleries posted for D1 AA/AAA Day 2, D6AA,  D3 AA/AAA Day 1, and D10AAA. Video posted for D1 AAA Day 2  Posted Monday: Story on Justin Germani's record vault and his coming match-up with Hatboro-Horsham's Joe Berry. Coming Tuesday:  Meet super junior sprinter Devan Coon of Schuylkill Valley, who ran sub-25 in the prelims, semis and finals at District 3. She's the top seed in the AA 200 and 400. Coming Wednesday & Thursday: Previews.  Highlighting the week... PIAA DISTRICT 1 AA: Rustin's Nicole Powell swept the 100, 200 and 400 in 12.46, 25.49 and 58.78. Saint Basil's Kathlen Davies went 2:17.23 in the 800 and 5:01.73 in the 1600. Basil also swept the three relays, running 51.12, 4:07.27 and 9:46.39 - AAA: Cheltenham's Brandon Bing swept the bookend sprints, going 10.74 in the 100 and 48.85 for 400, but in the 200, he was caught at the line by North Penn's Chris Dollinger. Paul Springer of Unionville went through the 1600 of the 3200 meter run in a comfortable 4:42, then put the hammer down over the final three laps, splitting a 1600 of 4:19 and a last 800 of 2:04.5. His 9:01.75 was a meet record. Boyertown's Jason Weller was 2nd at 9:05.15, and came back to win the 1600 in 4:15.19. Jerret Eaton, Abington, swept the hurdles. North Penn took back PA#1 in the 4x800, running 7:48.30. Junior star Ryann Krais garnered ten points for her team on Friday with her best just of the year, at 19-00.00. She came back on Saturday to win the 100 hurdles in a PR 13.89 and then the 300 in 42.89. Her 42.13 in the prelims came on Friday. She then anchored the Methacton 4400 to a PA#2 3:53.40. Council Rock South sprinter Ije Iheoma went 24.80 and 55.65 for the 200-400 double. Chester's Shaniel Chambers ran 2:11.08 for 800 and 55.94 for 400. Gwynedd Mercy proved that AA or AAA, they've still got a great 4x800. They won District 1 (after being the top PA team at the Penn Relays), in 9:19.01. And Karen Shump stayed in the upper 40's in the shot put, throwing 48-03.25 on Friday, and then PRed again in the discus, throwing a PA#1 154-00.00. |  PIAA DISTRICT 2AA: Dallas takes 4x100 and 4x200, Elk Lake the 4x800 | AAA: Abington Heights dominated both the boys and girls competitions, racking up points by capturing all the relays. Honesdale senior Cassie Schweighofer took the shot and discus | PIAA DISTRICT 3 AA: Devan Coon, Schuylkill Valley, three 200's under 25, plus 56.54 400 win. Boiling Springs' Kara Millhouse, 10:39.92 wins 3200 over Lancaster Mennonite's Lindsey Shertzer, 10:45.14. Shertzer reversed order in the 1600 5:08.18-5:09.19. Boiling Springs wins 4x400 and 4x800. Dan Ciabattoni, Reading Holy Name, wins LJ and TJ. - AAA: Neely Spence, Shippensburg, 4:57.38-Sarah Morrison, Chambersburg, 4:58.94. Lara Crofford, Big Springs, 10:31.44 PA#1 3200. Lhayana Dallas, Harrisburg, sweeps hurdles, and adds HJ. Teammate Tiera Smith, 25.5-57.29. Andrew Rotz, Central Dauphin, 1:53.15 800. Central Dauphin 7:54.67 4x800. Harrisburg 3:19.55 4x400. Waynesboro's terrell Rickard, 6-07.25 HJ. Justin Shirk, Central Dauphin, back over 200, by a foot, in javelin. Robert Dixon, McCaskey, 10.88-Pensyl Alex, Hershey, 10.79. PIAA DISTRICT 4AA: Rachel Houseknecht, Hughesville, 12.79 100, 26.26 200 and 15.13 100 hurdles, Kalyn Fisher, Lewisburg, 59.85 400, 2:18.59 800, Gary Bush, Montoursville 400-800 double, Keenan Michael, Montoursville, 14.81-39.26 hurdles double | AAA: Chad Drzewiecki, Selinsgrove, 15.32-39.60 110-300h. Zane Barr, Williamsport, 60-00.50 shot, 155-06 discus | PIAA DISTRICT 5AA: Tussey Mountain's Jordan Donaldson quickly took care of his states business, going 49.87 in the 400 and 1:57.68 for 800. | PIAA DISTRICT 6AA: Central Cambria's Kelsey Seymour wins 800 in meet record time. Big sis Carly near miss on 1600, but set record in 3200. Both help 4x800 win. Kelsey helps 4x400 qualify for states. Union's Eric Skedel (right) throws 207-02 to win Javelin - AAA: AJ Alexander, Altoona, 10.64 100, 21.97 200, 42.83 4x100, Kristin Brandt, Central Mountain, 16-08 LJ, 38-10.75 TJ, Lynnette Howard, Altoona, 39-11.50 SP, 117-04 DT,  | PIAA DISTRICT 7AA: Derek Moye, Rocheter, puts on a show in the 200 (22.31), 400 (48.63), 4x400 and 4x800. Quaker Valley girls 48.51 4x100. Brian Zimmerman, Freeport, 191-07 javelin. And Quaker Valley senior Christa Rogers won the four golds, taking the 100 hurdles, 100 dash, the 200 dash, and anchored the 4 x 100 to a blisterning 48.51 - AAA: Breehana Jacobs, Laurel Highlands, 11.85 100 24.78 200, 55.21 400, Kim Kanala, Hempfield, 147 Discus, T.J. Hobart, Baldwin, 4:17.97 1600, Wes Banks, Hempfield, 59-03.25 shot put, 181-00  discus | PIAA DISTRICT 9AA: Ben Hahn, Smethport, 1600-3200, Dan Jordan, Redbank Valley, 51-08 shot, 163-11 discus | AAA: Kim Hanslovan of Dubois moved into PA#2 in the javelin, throwing 148-07. She also won the shot put, throwing 37-11.| PIAA DISTRICT 10AA: Raegan Moore, Girard, 12.52-26.09-15.61 (100h) triple, Lauren Zarger, Harbor Creek, 1600-3200, Kristy Woods, Grove City, shot and discus, Michael Stolar, Mercyhurst, 1600-3200, Weston Schaa, Mercer, 6-08 high jump - AAA: McDowell's Alja Glavasevic is #3 in PA in two events. She got close to improving her rank in the long jump with a leap of 18-01.50, and she moved into #3 in the triple jump, going 38-07.75. She also won the shot put with a throw of 39-10, and was 3rd in the 100 hurdles. Oil City's Ogechi Nwokedi won three events as well, taking the 200, 400 and 800. For the boys, it was McDowell's Brice Myers taking the 110 and 300 hurdles. | PIAA DISTRICT 11AA: Joe Kovacs pulled into PA#1 in the shot put with a throw of 63-06. He also won the discus with a toss of 184-10. PIAA - AAA: Easton tuned up for states, showing off their team depth.  Jessica Dorsey ran 25.19 and 57.92 for the 200-400 double. Tara Bright went 15.18 and 46.09 for the hurdles double. And Easton swept the 4x400 and 4x800 relays, running 3:55.37 and 9:24.85. Anchoring both at states will be super-junior Chanelle Price, who went 2:07.96 to win the 800. Whitehall's Andrew Fahringer won the Javelin with a throw of 200-03, but injured his arm on his final attempt at a district record, and will not compete in the jav at states. The injury hampered his discus on Saturday when he threw 161-10, over 20' under his season best. PIAA DISTRICT 12 AA: Shanae Bailey, Swenson, 12.41 100-25.74 200 (after being left in blocks because her hand was up as the gun was fired), anchored 48.50 4x100 & 4:00.00 4x400 - AAA: Jasmine Wanamaker, Girls' High, 25.33 200 59.04 400, 47.49 300 hurdles, anchored 4:11.45 4x400; Simon Gratz junior Khaliff Featherstone won the 400 in a blistering 48.08, won the 800 and anchored the 4x400 to a come-from-behind win |