Uche Nwogwugwu (North Penn) / Photo by Patty Morgan
Pennsylvania Track Classic Preview
It's week one of the schedule and that means it's time for the PA Track Classic at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Some strong individuals, mostly from District 1 schools, are set to open up Saturday. Let's delve into the action.
GIRLS
The 400 meters will be one of the day's premiere races. North Penn's Uche Nwogwugwu, fresh off an indoor state title in the event will begin her title defense on Saturday. She'll get a good race from freshman sensation Mykala Perry. Perry of Neumann Goretti took third at indoor states and will be one of the more exciting girls to keep an eye on this spring.
Terri Turner (Penn Wood) / Photo by Patty Morgan
Watch for another indoor state champ---Terri Turner of Penn Wood---in the 800 meters. Turner went 2:08 indoors to win the state title and she'll open up her outdoor season Saturday. She's the defending champ at this meet. Cardinal O'Hara's Christine Mancini and Penn Wood's Kyra Carroll are also in this race, which should produce some quick times.
Carroll's also entered in the 1600 meters earlier in the day. The top seeds there are Abington's Kelly Jawork and Souderton's Emily Bonaventure. In the 3200 meters, North Penn's Olivia Dyer, the defending PA Track Classic winner, is seeded first.
Penn Wood's Janae Pitt will look for a strong start to her season in the hurdles. She's the top seed in the 100 hurdles and seeded second in the 300 hurdles. The top seed there is Neumann Goretti's Sydni Townsend in her lone open event of the day.
Penn Wood's latest sprint star, Tatiyana Laylor, will take to the track for her first outdoor meet. The junior made a big impact this winter in the sprints, taking sixth in the 60 meters at the indoor state meet. She'll be looking to drop a quick 100 meter time. She'll return for the 200 meters later in a strong race that also includes Souderton's Cara Jackson, Hershey's Lauren Epler, and Penn Wood's Elicia Moore.
Janese Lynch (Neumann Goretti) / Photo by Kathy Leister
In the throws, watch for Neumann Goretti's Janese Lynch. Lynch is coming off a strong indoor season that saw her take second in the shot put. She's the top seed in both the shot put and discus. But watch for Abington's Sianni McLeod and Dock Mennonite's Sabrina Demitrius, who could provide a challenge.
Souderton's Moira O'Malley, a multi-time state medalist, will open up her season in the high jump. She'll be a strong favorite there. Springside Chestnut Hill's Elizabeth Jefferson will be the one to watch in the pole vault. Nwogwugwu, who is the top seed in the 400 meters, will also contest the triple jump. This will be her first jumping competition since last spring. Her North Penn teammate, Natalie Kwortnik, will be favored in the long jump.
In the relays, watch for North Penn to put down some fast times. They are coming off breaking their own indoor state record in the 4x800 meter relay a few weeks ago at indoor nationals. Meanwhile, the reigning indoor and outdoor state champs, Penn Wood, will look to close out the meet well in the 4x400.
Austin Kratz (Dock Mennonite) / Photo by Ethan Rissell
BOYS
Last year, we saw a great start to the spring season from Dock Mennonite's Austin Kratz at the PA Track Classic. He'll be looking for a similar start this season. Kratz is entered in the 100, 200, and 400. We'll see if he decides to go for the triple. Kratz will be favored in the 100 and 200 meters. In the 400 meters, look for Abington's Aaron Sooknanan and O'Hara's Obinna Iherjirka.
The distance events will feature tons of talent. In the 1600, Hershey's Andrew Sullivan, Springfield-Delco's Joseph Cardie, and Neumann Goretti's Kamil Jihad are among the top seeds. Expect some quick early-season times there. In the 800 meters, Penn Wood's Dennis Manyeah will take to the track in a race that also features Springfield-Delco's Liam Galligan. We haven't seen Galligan race since the Briarwood Invitational during the XC season. Souderton's Connor McMenamin will headline the 3200 field. George School's Jeffery Love and Southern Lehigh's Thomas Matsumura are also entered there.
Souderton's Stephen Scott is the top seed in the 300 meter hurdles and the 110 high hurdles. Scott took fifth at outdoor states last spring in the 300 hurdles. Manyeah is also entered in the event. He's a versatile middle distance/high jump hybrid, so he may have the potential to put down a good time here. Speaking of which, Manyeah is the top seed in the high jump, which also features Lower Merion's James Burton.
Shamar Jenkins (Souderton) / Photo by Kathy Leister
We should see some big performances in the horizontal jumps. Souderton's Shamar Jenkins took home a state title in the triple jump this winter, jumping 48-5 at states. He's entered in both the triple and the long for Saturday. Looking to challenge him will be Upper Dublin's Brian Kaufmann, who had a really strong indoor season as well. Penn Charter's Akeem Blake should be a factor in both as well.
Southern Lehigh's Andrew Rochon will lead the throws. Rochon is the top seed in both the shot put and discus. He'll be one to watch all spring in those events. In the javelin, Conestoga's Aidan Krombolz is seeded first. Upper Dublin's Alex Liu will be favored in the pole vault.