Welcome to TRACKside – Stories and notes on athletes, teams, coaches and races to be published mid-week during the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. Vaulting to the top of PA | Angling for the Perfect Jump | One Fast Frosh D.J. Horton - Travis Hammaker: There are a few events where the athletes share a bond that is the event itself. No bond is stronger than that which is created by the shared danger and thrill of the pole vault. Kristin Brandt has it all figured out. All she has to do now is get the right day, good competition, great speed, a steady but evenly building run, and just the right amount of height. Then, and only then, will it be the perfect jump. She can see it clearly. In fact, she's done it, only they've all been fouls. State College freshman Chloe Schmidt probably would not think of telling people she is the top freshman runner in the state. But there she is in the rankings. #1 in the mile at 5:00.79 (4:59.05c 1600); #1 in the 800 at 2:16.41, and probably most surprisingly, #2 in the 400 at 57.34. No, the deceptively diminutive and slightly shy 9th grader at State College High School doesn't look at the world that way. You see... comparisons to fellow freshmen just don't seem to be in her nature.
Coverage
Photo Gallery by Don Rich of the February 15 DVGTCA Meet of Champions at Lehigh University
Video of the DVGTCA and TFCAGP Meet of Champions 60 Dashes and Hurdles - plus DVGTCA Shot Put Photo Gallery by Don Rich of the February 16 TFCAGP Meet of Champions @ Lehigh University Photo Gallery by Don Rich of the February 15 DVGTCA Meet of Champions @ Lehigh University Photo: Terence Lee, Carver E&S, sat on the shoulder of Boyertown's Mark Dennin in the 3000, and kicked with 100 to go to win in a PA#3 8:47.93. Dennin was 2nd in 8:50.01. At the Pepsi Classic in New York, Khaliff Featherstone ran a US #2 time in the 400 meter dash with a winning time of 48.29. Montoursville hurdler Michael Keenan went a US#8 7.39 in the 55 hurdles, taking 2nd. Norristown boys rolled in the 800 relay with a 3rd place 1:30.77. Abby Schaffer, Easton, cleared 12-6 to win the pole vault. Brooke Hamscher, Whitehall, was 2nd, going over a PR 12-00. On Friday night at Lehigh University at the DVGTCA Meet of Champs, there were numerous PA#2 performances, including Council Rock South's Ije Iheoma running 25.07 to beat current PA#1 200m runner Shanae Bailey of Swenson. Conestoga's 12:30.64 DMR and Council Rock North's 9:25.33 were PA#2's, while Chester's 3:59.00 4x400 was PA#3. Ryann Krais leapt 18-06 to take over the top state spot in the long jump. Girls' High's Joelle Neilson went 37-06.25 in the triple jump for PA#2. And Conestoga's Whitney Winters ran 7.66 in the trials of the 60 dash for PA#2 (she won the finals, as well.) Germantown Friends' distance guys run well at NYRR's Thursday Night at the Races at the New York Armory. Germantown Friends took full advantage of the delicious distance offerings and savored some good times. Max Kaulbach posted a 9:14.1 2-mile, which converts to a PA#1 3000 of 8:34.1. Terence Lee, Engineering & Science, moved in the top five in the state with a mile of 4:19.9. Downingtown West's Austin Tobelmann went 2:00.4 in the 800. At the USATF Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, former PA high school and college starts James Carney, (Millersville); Dan Mazzacco, Penn State/Baldwin; Ryan Sheehan, Saint Francis/Baldwin; and Maureen McCandless, Pitt/Nazareth Academy, compete in the Open races.