2017 PTFCA State ChampionshipsFeb 22, 2017 by Gordon Mack
2017 PTFCA State Championship Distance Preview
2017 PTFCA State Championship Distance Preview
2017 PTFCA State Championship preview!
By: Dan Beck of MileSplit
The 2017 PTFCA State Championships are going to be LIVE on FloTrack this weekend from State College, PA. MileSplit will be on the ground giving you all the great action from the meet.
Josh Hoey (Bishop Shanahan) / Photo by Steven Pisano
The 800 meters on Saturday will be one of the day's more intriguing events. The state's top three quarter milers are all entered, but two will have earlier events and just one will come in fresh.
Bishop Shanahan's Josh Hoey is the fresh one. Hoey, who transferred to Shanahan from Downingtown West over the summer, was second to his brother Jaxson in the mile a year ago at indoor states. This season, he has run a PA#2 1:54.50 at the Hispanic Games and a PA#2 4:09.30 to win the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. He had an off day at Millrose, but he'll look for redemption here at states. He's decided for the 800 instead of the mile and that decision could pay off with a state title.
Brookville's Ryan Thrush is the current PA#1. Thrush ran 1:54.43 at Youngstown State a few weeks ago. He possesses insanely good range and usually runs a multitude of events each meet. On Saturday, he'll be doubling back in the 800 after running the 400 meters (where he's the PA#2). With minimal recovery, he'll look to summon the energy to battle it out for the win.
Then there's Carlisle's Noah Affolder. Affolder ran 1:54.72 during a busy meet at Ursinus back in mid-January. He'll be running the mile (and possibly the 4x8) before the 800 meters and in search of team points. The senior's talent is undeniable and it wouldn't be shocking to see him compete with Hoey and Thrush in what could be an epic race.
Nick Wagner (Penn Trafford) / Photo by Steven Pisano
Those three are the presumptive favorites, but there are 21 other entries, all gunning for the upset or a spot on the podium. Penn Trafford's Nick Wagner sits at PA#5. He had a really busy indoor season. He struggled through the early part of February, but did pick up a big win at Tri-States on Saturday, running 1:57.98 at Edinboro. Wagner has some speed and will likely put in self in the mix. He's also the lone returning medalist from 2016.
There are plenty of others in that 1:56-1:57 range that all could make some noise on Saturday with a big race. Radnor's Peter Cooke, Pennridge's Matt Eissler, and Pottsville's Collin Ebling finished 3-4-5 back at Kevin Dare in January, all running in the high 1:56s. Any of those three could pull out a big race and a high finish. Cooke was tenth a year ago.
Wyomissing's Joe Cullen won his heat of the 800 at the Yale Track Classic. He's going in fresh and should be a contender. Penn Hills' Isaiah Bailey was second to Wagner at Tri-States and was 11th in this event last winter. William Tennent's Matt Kraus was the winner at MOCs on Saturday and was 12th last year.
Neumann Goretti's Kamil Jihad isn't one to sleep on. Jihad ran 1:52.23 at outdoor states last year. His best this year is a flat-track 1:58.61, but we know the speed and talent is there to possibly nab a high finish from one of the slower sections.
Other contenders include Central Dauphin East's Luke Everidge, Central Bucks West's Jake Claricurzio, Owen J. Roberts' Liam Conway, Wissahickon's Cameron Christopher. This race could get very tactical with a pair of favorites doubling, so make sure you watch for the slower sections, which could and probably will factor in to the overall results of these timed finals.
Boys' 800m Entries:
Two weeks ago, Noah Affolder redeemed himself in a big way at the Millrose Games. A year after easing up before the finish line, costing him the junior boys' mile title at the prestigious meet, Affolder won that Millrose mile in a big way, running an all-time Pennsylvania state record of 4:07.24.
Now Affolder, a Carlisle senior, who transferred from New York over the summer, will look to add a state title on the track. But more important to him, he wants to help his Carlisle squad to a state title that slipped out of their grasp in cross country. Affolder is entered in the mile and the 800. Carlisle also has a 4x8 and DMR entered. Even if he runs the 4x8, Affolder will enter the mile as the heavy favorite (especially after Josh Hoey opted to run just the 800), as he looks for the win and crucial team points.
The second seed in the boys' mile is Noah's brother, Sam Affolder. Sam was fifth at the Millrose Games, running 4:13.45. Expect the brothers to help each other out en route to what they hope is a 1-2 finish. While eyes will be on those two, there are plenty of others looking to spoil Carlisle's party. Who could be the ones that could pull off a big upset?
Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe might be a good bet. Forsythe finished eighth in the Millrose mile in 4:17.13. He has the speed and experience on the big stage and should be ready for a big race on Saturday. He took seventh in the mile from the slow heat last year.
LaSalle's Evan Addison is having a monster winter. Addison won at Ocean Breeze a few weeks ago in a 4:19.25 and showed some good fitness solo-ing a strong 1200 DMR leg at MOCs on Saturday. Expect the junior to try and mix it up with the leaders.
West Chester's Brandon Hontz, Owen J. Roberts' Liam Conway, and Haverford's James Abrahams have all run in the 4:23 range this season. Hontz picked up a notable win at the Carnival in the event and has steadily improved this winter. These three are definite contenders for medals. Kiski Area's Eric Kennedy ran a strong 4:23.14 for 1600 meters at SPIRE a few weeks ago and has run 4:17 outdoors.
Others to watch for are Cumberland Valley's Josh Higgins, South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass, and Springfield (Delco)'s Joe Cardie in a deep mile field.
Boys' Mile Entries:
Nathan Henderson (JP McCaskey) / Photo by Howard Anderson
It will be hard to match the drama and intensity of last year's 3000 meters at indoor states. A pair of seniors---CB East's Jake Brophy and Lake Lehman's Dom Hockenbury---battled to the line in a classic finish that ended with Brophy taking the win after a menacing kick.
We may not get that kind of finish this time around, but we should see a very competitive race in what looks to be a very open field with a number of contenders. There look to be about five entries in the 3K with legitimate claims to the state crown.
The top returner is JP McCaskey's Nathan Henderson. Henderson was an impressive third in this event last year. He was faster at the Carnival than he was a year ago by a few seconds, so that may indicate he's in better shape. Henderson was the runner-up in AAA at XC states to Noah Affolder. There's no Affolder in this race and Henderson would love to get that state title.
It won't come easy, though. Waynesburg Central's Ben Bumgarner looked very strong two weeks ago, running 9:16.14 over 3200 meters at SPIRE. Bumgarner won AA state crown in XC this past fall, and he'll look to add one for himself on the track.
Neshaminy's Rusty Kujdych is another contender. Kujdych led the early part of this race last year, but ended up 13th. He's been stronger this year, though, as evidenced by his XC season that included a PIAA District 1 AAA title. He's been under the radar for much of February, but Saturday could be a big day for the junior.
Besides Henderson, the only other returning medalist from this event last winter is Pleasant Valley's Seth Slavin. He was sixth last year and after a third place finish at the Carnival, has proven he has the fitness for an even better showing this year.
Souderton's Connor McMenamin won the 3K at the MOCs on Saturday. It'll be a quick turnaround for the senior Bucknell recruit. He ran 8:48 last week, and he can't be counted out in this field. He's a savvy racer looking for the biggest win of his career. Another one to watch is Ephrata's Zach Lefever. he ran 8:51 to take second to Henderson at the Carnival. He's another senior in search of a signature win and he has the talent to possibly make that happen Saturday.
Butler's Noah Beveridge has looked strong all season. He ran 8:56 in January. His western PA counterpart, Aaron Pfeil of South Fayette won this past weekend at TSTCAs and he will likely put himself among the leaders.
Boys' 3000m Entries:
Olivia Arizin (Cardinal O'Hara) / Photo by Patty Morgan
There was arguably no event that was deeper than the girls' 800 meters last winter. While much of that firepower won't return, but there is still a ton of talent ready to toe the line on Saturday.
The top returner and the top seed in the 800 is Cardinal O'Hara's Olivia Arizin. Arizin captured the AAA outdoor title in the event, running 2:06.80. This year, she's raced the 800 meters just two times, but did compete in the Millrose Mile and won a 1K at the New Balance Games. She'll be favored to claim her first indoor state title.
The second seed is North Penn's Mikaela Vlasic, who won the Meet of Champs 800 is a strong flat-track time of 2:14.41. Vlasic will likely have 4x800 duties before the open 8, but she should still factor in for sure. Penn Wood's Terri Turner has had another great season. Turner, a senior, ran a PA#3 2:14.64, as well as some fast 400s and 600s this season. She'll enter the race fresh and will challenge up front. Abington's Kelly Jawork will be doubling in the 800 off the mile earlier in the meet. But she's proven that she can pull of a good double, so expect Jawork to be up there.
Cardinal O'Hara's Christine Mancini ran 2:15.23 earlier in the season. Great Valley's Amy Willig has run 2:16.70. Those two sophomores are the top underclassmen in the field, but they've both run some strong races this season.
Northern's Marlee Starliper is coming back from the mile, but she has the potential to place high. So does junior Sarah Crissman of Fleetwood, who has picked up five wins this winter in the 800 meters. West Allegheny's Maddie Salek will be making her indoor states debut, but she's coming off a win at Tri-States and she'll try and ride that momentum int Saturday.
Others to watch for are Downingtown East's Maddie VanBlunk, Greensburg Salem's Malia Anderson, South Fayette's Rachel Helbling and Delco Christian's Maggie Linton.
Girls' 800m Entries:
Abbe Goldstein (Germantown Academy) / Photo by Kyle Brazeil
It was early last winter that we started to really see the breakthrough of Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein. It all led up to Goldstein's incredible run at the Millrose Games, where she won the junior girls' mile in 4:49.06, a massive PR and, in many ways, an upset victory for the senior.
One thing Goldstein doesn't have yet is an indoor state title. Last winter, she was out-dueled by Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson in a great mile race at states. There's no Wilkinson this year and Goldstein will be gunning for that mile title---one she certainly wants really bad.
Unionville's Anna Juul figures to be the one to give Goldstein the best run. We know all about Unionville's ability to peak at the right time and Juul---who ran a PA#2 4:52.24 back in mid-December off XC fitness---is making her way back to that level. Goldstein beat her at Millrose, but we'll see what kind of difference two weeks makes. The future Harvard teammates will be battling it out as opponents on Saturday.
Those are the two girls who have gone sub-5 this season. After that, the race for the medals gets a little murkier. Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler has looked very strong lately. Rittler won the 1600 meters at the Varsity Classic in 5:02.30, then she was a no contest victor at last week's DVGTCA Meet of Champs in the mile. Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw is in he midst of a terrific indoor campaign. Shaw just keeps improving. She dropped a 5:03.77 1600 at YSU and then last week she took home the TSTCA title in the mile.
Downingtown West's Emma Planck ran 5:05.96 in January at Yale. The veteran should figure to be in the mix. Northern freshman Marlee Starliper was an impressive second at the Carnival a few weeks ago. Third in that race was Abington's Kelly Jawork. Both Starliper and Jawork will be serious medal contenders.
Others looking to get in the conversation for medals include: Greencastle-Antrim freshman Taryn Parks, Greensburg Central Catholic's Moira O'Shea, Notre Dame's Jessica Schneider, Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis, Souderton's Emily Bonaventure, and Owen J. Roberts' Allison Brunton.
Girls' Mile Entries:
Photo by Don Rich
The final girls open event of the day will feature what should be a great matchup between two of the state's premiere distance runners. Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein vs. North Allegheny's Clara Savchik.
Goldstein, who ran a 9:48.75 3K at Ursinus earlier this season, will be doubling back from the mile. Despite that, the senior has proven she's fit enough to come back and put down a fast time. Savchik has opted to run the 3000 fresh. Savchik has run 10:01.59 in the event and that came off a double. There could definitely be some late meet fireworks in this one.
Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler can't be counted out either, though. Rittler, like Goldstein, will be coming back from the mile, but her fitness has shown to be at a high level entering Saturday. Rittler battled Savchik to the line back in January at Kevin Dare, and she'll look to hang with the leaders once again (and pick up some more crucial team points).
Conestoga's Dominique Shultz ran 10:15 in the 3K back at Kevin Dare. She's run a few one miles since then, but she'll return to the 15-lapper on Saturday, looking for a high finish. Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch will be strong in this field. Last week, Yourkavitch ran 10:16 to win at the State College Invite and get into states.
Pennridge's Monika Brill has decided to run the 3000 meters, after a 10:20 in the event back in January. Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah is one to watch. She was fifth in that stacked Kevin Dare 3K back in January. Central Bucks West's Megan Kolbe is another one that should be up there in this race.
Girls' 3000m Entries:
CHECK OUT MILESPLIT'S SPRINT AND FIELD PREVIEWS HERE
The 2017 PTFCA State Championships are going to be LIVE on FloTrack this weekend from State College, PA. MileSplit will be on the ground giving you all the great action from the meet.
Boys' 800m Preview
Josh Hoey (Bishop Shanahan) / Photo by Steven Pisano
The 800 meters on Saturday will be one of the day's more intriguing events. The state's top three quarter milers are all entered, but two will have earlier events and just one will come in fresh.
Bishop Shanahan's Josh Hoey is the fresh one. Hoey, who transferred to Shanahan from Downingtown West over the summer, was second to his brother Jaxson in the mile a year ago at indoor states. This season, he has run a PA#2 1:54.50 at the Hispanic Games and a PA#2 4:09.30 to win the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. He had an off day at Millrose, but he'll look for redemption here at states. He's decided for the 800 instead of the mile and that decision could pay off with a state title.
Brookville's Ryan Thrush is the current PA#1. Thrush ran 1:54.43 at Youngstown State a few weeks ago. He possesses insanely good range and usually runs a multitude of events each meet. On Saturday, he'll be doubling back in the 800 after running the 400 meters (where he's the PA#2). With minimal recovery, he'll look to summon the energy to battle it out for the win.
Then there's Carlisle's Noah Affolder. Affolder ran 1:54.72 during a busy meet at Ursinus back in mid-January. He'll be running the mile (and possibly the 4x8) before the 800 meters and in search of team points. The senior's talent is undeniable and it wouldn't be shocking to see him compete with Hoey and Thrush in what could be an epic race.
Nick Wagner (Penn Trafford) / Photo by Steven Pisano
Those three are the presumptive favorites, but there are 21 other entries, all gunning for the upset or a spot on the podium. Penn Trafford's Nick Wagner sits at PA#5. He had a really busy indoor season. He struggled through the early part of February, but did pick up a big win at Tri-States on Saturday, running 1:57.98 at Edinboro. Wagner has some speed and will likely put in self in the mix. He's also the lone returning medalist from 2016.
There are plenty of others in that 1:56-1:57 range that all could make some noise on Saturday with a big race. Radnor's Peter Cooke, Pennridge's Matt Eissler, and Pottsville's Collin Ebling finished 3-4-5 back at Kevin Dare in January, all running in the high 1:56s. Any of those three could pull out a big race and a high finish. Cooke was tenth a year ago.
Wyomissing's Joe Cullen won his heat of the 800 at the Yale Track Classic. He's going in fresh and should be a contender. Penn Hills' Isaiah Bailey was second to Wagner at Tri-States and was 11th in this event last winter. William Tennent's Matt Kraus was the winner at MOCs on Saturday and was 12th last year.
Neumann Goretti's Kamil Jihad isn't one to sleep on. Jihad ran 1:52.23 at outdoor states last year. His best this year is a flat-track 1:58.61, but we know the speed and talent is there to possibly nab a high finish from one of the slower sections.
Other contenders include Central Dauphin East's Luke Everidge, Central Bucks West's Jake Claricurzio, Owen J. Roberts' Liam Conway, Wissahickon's Cameron Christopher. This race could get very tactical with a pair of favorites doubling, so make sure you watch for the slower sections, which could and probably will factor in to the overall results of these timed finals.
Boys' 800m Entries:
Event 12 Boys 800 Meter Run (24)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 1:50.55 3/1/2014 Kyle Francis, Bensalem
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Affolder, Noah 12 Carlisle
2 Bacchus, Aqeel 12 Bensalem
3 Bailey, Isaiah 12 Penn Hills
4 Binda, Dylan 10 Grnsburg Salem
5 Christopher, Cameron 12 Wissahickon
6 Claricurzio, Jake 11 CB West
7 Conway, Liam 11 O J Roberts
8 Cooke, Peter 12 Radnor
9 Cullen, Joe 11 Wyomissing
10 Delisle, Hudson 11 Quakertown
11 Dupell III, Robert 11 St Joe Prep
12 Ebling, Collin 11 Pottsville
13 Eissler, Matt 10 Pennridge
14 Everidge, Luke 12 CD East
15 Hoey, Josh 11 Bish Shanahan
16 Jihad, Kamil 11 Neumann Gore
17 Jones, Derek 12 Cathedral Prep
18 King, Frankie 12 Grnsburg Salem
19 Klick, Derin 12 Lebanon
20 Kraus, Matt 12 William Tennent
21 Scratchard, Jed 11 Pennsbury
22 Thrush, Ryan 12 Brookville
23 Wagner, Nick 12 Penn Trafford
24 Whitfield, David 12 Bonner/Prendie
Boys' Mile Preview
Two weeks ago, Noah Affolder redeemed himself in a big way at the Millrose Games. A year after easing up before the finish line, costing him the junior boys' mile title at the prestigious meet, Affolder won that Millrose mile in a big way, running an all-time Pennsylvania state record of 4:07.24.
Now Affolder, a Carlisle senior, who transferred from New York over the summer, will look to add a state title on the track. But more important to him, he wants to help his Carlisle squad to a state title that slipped out of their grasp in cross country. Affolder is entered in the mile and the 800. Carlisle also has a 4x8 and DMR entered. Even if he runs the 4x8, Affolder will enter the mile as the heavy favorite (especially after Josh Hoey opted to run just the 800), as he looks for the win and crucial team points.
The second seed in the boys' mile is Noah's brother, Sam Affolder. Sam was fifth at the Millrose Games, running 4:13.45. Expect the brothers to help each other out en route to what they hope is a 1-2 finish. While eyes will be on those two, there are plenty of others looking to spoil Carlisle's party. Who could be the ones that could pull off a big upset?
Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe might be a good bet. Forsythe finished eighth in the Millrose mile in 4:17.13. He has the speed and experience on the big stage and should be ready for a big race on Saturday. He took seventh in the mile from the slow heat last year.
LaSalle's Evan Addison is having a monster winter. Addison won at Ocean Breeze a few weeks ago in a 4:19.25 and showed some good fitness solo-ing a strong 1200 DMR leg at MOCs on Saturday. Expect the junior to try and mix it up with the leaders.
West Chester's Brandon Hontz, Owen J. Roberts' Liam Conway, and Haverford's James Abrahams have all run in the 4:23 range this season. Hontz picked up a notable win at the Carnival in the event and has steadily improved this winter. These three are definite contenders for medals. Kiski Area's Eric Kennedy ran a strong 4:23.14 for 1600 meters at SPIRE a few weeks ago and has run 4:17 outdoors.
Others to watch for are Cumberland Valley's Josh Higgins, South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass, and Springfield (Delco)'s Joe Cardie in a deep mile field.
Boys' Mile Entries:
Event 8 Boys 1 Mile Run (20)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 4:09.56 3/1/2015 Sam Ritz, Germantown Acad
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Abrahams, James 12 Haverford Twp
2 Addison, Evan 11 LaSalle Coll
3 Affolder, Noah 12 Carlisle
4 Affolder, Sam 10 Carlisle
5 Boyd, Jarrett 12 Freedom Area
6 Brown, Sean 12 Roman Cathol
7 Cardie, Joseph 12 Springfield Delc
8 Conway, Liam 11 O J Roberts
9 Dineen, Kevin 12 Holy Ghost Prep
10 Forsythe, Tristan 11 Winchester Thur
11 Higgins, Josh 12 Cumberland Val
12 Hontz, Brandon 12 W C Rustin
13 Kennedy, Eric 12 Kiski Area
14 Lennon, Callahan 12 Holy Ghost Prep
15 Matsumura, Thomas 11 Sthrn Lehigh
16 Mihalak, Colin 12 Coatesville
17 O'Toole, Brendan 11 North Penn
18 Owori, Sam 10 Seneca Valley
19 Schulte, Jacob 12 Bishop McCort
20 Snodgrass, Sam 11 South Fayette
Boys' 3,000m Preview
Nathan Henderson (JP McCaskey) / Photo by Howard Anderson
It will be hard to match the drama and intensity of last year's 3000 meters at indoor states. A pair of seniors---CB East's Jake Brophy and Lake Lehman's Dom Hockenbury---battled to the line in a classic finish that ended with Brophy taking the win after a menacing kick.
We may not get that kind of finish this time around, but we should see a very competitive race in what looks to be a very open field with a number of contenders. There look to be about five entries in the 3K with legitimate claims to the state crown.
The top returner is JP McCaskey's Nathan Henderson. Henderson was an impressive third in this event last year. He was faster at the Carnival than he was a year ago by a few seconds, so that may indicate he's in better shape. Henderson was the runner-up in AAA at XC states to Noah Affolder. There's no Affolder in this race and Henderson would love to get that state title.
It won't come easy, though. Waynesburg Central's Ben Bumgarner looked very strong two weeks ago, running 9:16.14 over 3200 meters at SPIRE. Bumgarner won AA state crown in XC this past fall, and he'll look to add one for himself on the track.
Neshaminy's Rusty Kujdych is another contender. Kujdych led the early part of this race last year, but ended up 13th. He's been stronger this year, though, as evidenced by his XC season that included a PIAA District 1 AAA title. He's been under the radar for much of February, but Saturday could be a big day for the junior.
Besides Henderson, the only other returning medalist from this event last winter is Pleasant Valley's Seth Slavin. He was sixth last year and after a third place finish at the Carnival, has proven he has the fitness for an even better showing this year.
Souderton's Connor McMenamin won the 3K at the MOCs on Saturday. It'll be a quick turnaround for the senior Bucknell recruit. He ran 8:48 last week, and he can't be counted out in this field. He's a savvy racer looking for the biggest win of his career. Another one to watch is Ephrata's Zach Lefever. he ran 8:51 to take second to Henderson at the Carnival. He's another senior in search of a signature win and he has the talent to possibly make that happen Saturday.
Butler's Noah Beveridge has looked strong all season. He ran 8:56 in January. His western PA counterpart, Aaron Pfeil of South Fayette won this past weekend at TSTCAs and he will likely put himself among the leaders.
Boys' 3000m Entries:
Event 16 Boys 3000 Meter Run (12)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 8:22.65 2/25/2006 Craig Miller, Manheim Twp.
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Beveridge, Noah 11 Butler
2 Bumgarner, Ben 12 Waynesburg Cent
3 Griffen, Will 12 Cheltenham
4 Henderson, Nathan 12 J.P. McCaskey
5 Kujdych, Rusty 11 Neshaminy
6 Lederer, Avery 11 Penncrest
7 Lefever, Zach 12 Ephrata
8 McMenamin, Connor 12 Souderton
9 Pfeil, Aaron 12 South Fayette
10 Rahill, Sean 11 William Tennent
11 Scarpill, Matthew 12 CB South
12 Slavin, Seth 12 Pleasant Valley
Girls' 800m Preview
Olivia Arizin (Cardinal O'Hara) / Photo by Patty Morgan
There was arguably no event that was deeper than the girls' 800 meters last winter. While much of that firepower won't return, but there is still a ton of talent ready to toe the line on Saturday.
The top returner and the top seed in the 800 is Cardinal O'Hara's Olivia Arizin. Arizin captured the AAA outdoor title in the event, running 2:06.80. This year, she's raced the 800 meters just two times, but did compete in the Millrose Mile and won a 1K at the New Balance Games. She'll be favored to claim her first indoor state title.
The second seed is North Penn's Mikaela Vlasic, who won the Meet of Champs 800 is a strong flat-track time of 2:14.41. Vlasic will likely have 4x800 duties before the open 8, but she should still factor in for sure. Penn Wood's Terri Turner has had another great season. Turner, a senior, ran a PA#3 2:14.64, as well as some fast 400s and 600s this season. She'll enter the race fresh and will challenge up front. Abington's Kelly Jawork will be doubling in the 800 off the mile earlier in the meet. But she's proven that she can pull of a good double, so expect Jawork to be up there.
Cardinal O'Hara's Christine Mancini ran 2:15.23 earlier in the season. Great Valley's Amy Willig has run 2:16.70. Those two sophomores are the top underclassmen in the field, but they've both run some strong races this season.
Northern's Marlee Starliper is coming back from the mile, but she has the potential to place high. So does junior Sarah Crissman of Fleetwood, who has picked up five wins this winter in the 800 meters. West Allegheny's Maddie Salek will be making her indoor states debut, but she's coming off a win at Tri-States and she'll try and ride that momentum int Saturday.
Others to watch for are Downingtown East's Maddie VanBlunk, Greensburg Salem's Malia Anderson, South Fayette's Rachel Helbling and Delco Christian's Maggie Linton.
Girls' 800m Entries:
Event 11 Girls 800 Meter Run (24)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 2:04.96 2/24/2007 Chanelle Price, Easton
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Anderson, Malia 10 Grnsburg Salem
2 Arizin, Olivia 12 Card O'Hara
3 Carroll, Kyra 11 Penn Wood
4 Crissman, Sarah 11 Fleetwood
5 Gelvin, McKenzie 12 McConnellsburg
6 Helbling, Rachel 11 South Fayette
7 Higgins, Tara 11 Penncrest
8 Jawork, Kelly 12 Abington
9 Kirk, Lizzy 11 Pennsbury
10 Lebo, Meg 10 Carlisle
11 Linton, Maggie 12 Delco Christian
12 Mancini, Christine 10 Card O'Hara
13 Ramsey, Anna 12 Greater Latrobe
14 Ross, Hayley 11 Wissahickon
15 Roumpz, Caroline 11 D-Town East
16 Salek, Maddie 11 West Allegheny
17 Schneider, Jessica 10 Notre Dame
18 Simms, Liz 10 Butler
19 Starliper, Marlee 9 Northern
20 Stovall, Sydni 12 Springfield Mont
21 Turner, Terri 12 Penn Wood
22 VanBlunk, Maddy 12 D-Town East
23 Vlasic, Mikaela 12 North Penn
24 Willig, Amy 10 Great Valley
Girls' Mile Preview
Abbe Goldstein (Germantown Academy) / Photo by Kyle Brazeil
It was early last winter that we started to really see the breakthrough of Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein. It all led up to Goldstein's incredible run at the Millrose Games, where she won the junior girls' mile in 4:49.06, a massive PR and, in many ways, an upset victory for the senior.
One thing Goldstein doesn't have yet is an indoor state title. Last winter, she was out-dueled by Friends' Central's Gabrielle Wilkinson in a great mile race at states. There's no Wilkinson this year and Goldstein will be gunning for that mile title---one she certainly wants really bad.
Unionville's Anna Juul figures to be the one to give Goldstein the best run. We know all about Unionville's ability to peak at the right time and Juul---who ran a PA#2 4:52.24 back in mid-December off XC fitness---is making her way back to that level. Goldstein beat her at Millrose, but we'll see what kind of difference two weeks makes. The future Harvard teammates will be battling it out as opponents on Saturday.
Those are the two girls who have gone sub-5 this season. After that, the race for the medals gets a little murkier. Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler has looked very strong lately. Rittler won the 1600 meters at the Varsity Classic in 5:02.30, then she was a no contest victor at last week's DVGTCA Meet of Champs in the mile. Upper Saint Clair's Savannah Shaw is in he midst of a terrific indoor campaign. Shaw just keeps improving. She dropped a 5:03.77 1600 at YSU and then last week she took home the TSTCA title in the mile.
Downingtown West's Emma Planck ran 5:05.96 in January at Yale. The veteran should figure to be in the mix. Northern freshman Marlee Starliper was an impressive second at the Carnival a few weeks ago. Third in that race was Abington's Kelly Jawork. Both Starliper and Jawork will be serious medal contenders.
Others looking to get in the conversation for medals include: Greencastle-Antrim freshman Taryn Parks, Greensburg Central Catholic's Moira O'Shea, Notre Dame's Jessica Schneider, Oakland Catholic's Lauren Finikiotis, Souderton's Emily Bonaventure, and Owen J. Roberts' Allison Brunton.
Girls' Mile Entries:
Event 7 Girls 1 Mile Run (20)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 4:42.58 3/1/2014 Brianna Schwartz, Shaler Area
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Bonaventure, Emily 11 Souderton
2 Brunton, Allison 12 O J Roberts
3 Burd, Emily 12 Friends' Central
4 Constable, Carlee 12 Villa Maria Acad
5 Finikiotis, Lauren 12 Oakland Cath
6 Goldstein, Abbe 12 Germantown Acad
7 Jawork, Kelly 12 Abington
8 Juul, Anna 12 Unionville
9 Kasitz, Gillian 12 Boyertown
10 Kopchak, Rylee 11 Card Wueri North
11 Lebo, Meg 10 Carlisle
12 Locker, Katie 9 Elizabethtow
13 Mowery, Kaylee 11 Chambersburg
14 O'Shea, Moira 12 Grnsburg Central
15 Parks, Taryn 9 G-Castle-Antrim
16 Planck, Emma 12 D-Town West
17 Royds, Miranda 12 Hatboro Hors
18 Schneider, Jessica 10 Notre Dame
19 Shaw, Savannah 11 Upper St Clair
20 Starliper, Marlee 9 Northern
Girls' 3,000m Preview
Photo by Don Rich
The final girls open event of the day will feature what should be a great matchup between two of the state's premiere distance runners. Germantown Academy's Abbe Goldstein vs. North Allegheny's Clara Savchik.
Goldstein, who ran a 9:48.75 3K at Ursinus earlier this season, will be doubling back from the mile. Despite that, the senior has proven she's fit enough to come back and put down a fast time. Savchik has opted to run the 3000 fresh. Savchik has run 10:01.59 in the event and that came off a double. There could definitely be some late meet fireworks in this one.
Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler can't be counted out either, though. Rittler, like Goldstein, will be coming back from the mile, but her fitness has shown to be at a high level entering Saturday. Rittler battled Savchik to the line back in January at Kevin Dare, and she'll look to hang with the leaders once again (and pick up some more crucial team points).
Conestoga's Dominique Shultz ran 10:15 in the 3K back at Kevin Dare. She's run a few one miles since then, but she'll return to the 15-lapper on Saturday, looking for a high finish. Chambersburg's Abby Yourkavitch will be strong in this field. Last week, Yourkavitch ran 10:16 to win at the State College Invite and get into states.
Pennridge's Monika Brill has decided to run the 3000 meters, after a 10:20 in the event back in January. Vincentian Academy's Marianne Abdalah is one to watch. She was fifth in that stacked Kevin Dare 3K back in January. Central Bucks West's Megan Kolbe is another one that should be up there in this race.
Girls' 3000m Entries:
Event 15 Girls 3000 Meter Run (12)
===============================================================================
State Meet: 9:36.45 3/1/2014 Tessa Barrett, Abington Heights
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Abdalah, Marianne 12 Vincentian Acad
2 Brill, Monika 12 Pennridge
3 Dyer, Olivia 11 North Penn
4 Goldstein, Abbe 12 Germantown Acad
5 Hutton, Brooke 11 Coatesville
6 Kolbe, Megan 12 CB West
7 McLain, Maddie 11 Eastern York
8 Rittler, MaryGrace 11 Cheltenham
9 Savchik, Clara 11 North Allegh
10 Scheinbecker, Teaghan 11 Perk Valley
11 Shultz, Dominique 11 Conestoga
12 Yourkavitch, Abby 11 Chambersburg
CHECK OUT MILESPLIT'S SPRINT AND FIELD PREVIEWS HERE
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