by Don Rich
The performance lists are out for the adidas Outdoor Championships this
coming Friday and Saturday in Raleigh, NC. There may be no meet of
champs in PA, but there will be a meet of PA champs in Raleigh. And two
champs, Steve Hallinan and Frances Koons, are going relays all the way
to help their teams.
Chris Spooner vs. Craig Miller. The best PA senior in years vs. the
sophomore prodigy. Lewisburg's Spooner ran 4:09.91 to win the Penn
Relays, and has gone under 9 for two-miles. Manheim Township's Craig
Miller wasn't tested in PA in his 4:09.33. (I know I'll be watching this
race within the race.)
It'll be Lewisburg vs. Cardinal O'Hara vs. Cumberland Valley in
Saturday's 4x800. Lewisburg has the US#2 of 7:44.44 behind 1:51 anchor
Spooner. Cumberland Valley was 2nd in PA in 7:48.12. And Steve Hallinan
is skipping the individual stuff to help his team in the 4x800 and DMR.
In the High Jump, Octorara's Ryan Fritz will try to make up for a
less-then-expected performance at the State meet when he challenges Juan
Cave (from NJ, but who competes for St. Joseph's Prep). Nicole Smith,
the Erie McDowell junior vs. Simon Gratz senior Angela Wells in the Long
Jump. And AAA 4x400 state champ Conestoga will go against West Catholic
in the 4x400.
But there's a lot more of PA's best competing in Raleigh. For the boys:
Long Jump AAA champ (US#2 24-08) Pete Habbeger of Cedar Crest; 4x400
AAA champs Central Dauphin East; 4x100 AAA champs West Mifflin; pole
vault AAA champ Eric Sparks of Hickory; Discus AAA champ Ryan Whiting of
Central Dauphin (who will also be looking to get back into form in the
Shot Put ); AA Javelin champ Chad Radgowski of South Park; and AAA 110
Hurdles champ Tom Dance of Cathedral Prep (Erie) and runner-up
Carrington Queen of Chichester who were separated by .08.
The girls are also well-represented. As previously mentioned, Frances
Koons of Allentown Central Catholic is passing up one of the best mile
fields in HS history to help her team go for two relay wins, the DMR and
the 4x800. They were 2nd in the 4x800 at States in 9:10.76. Three-time
Pole Vault state champ Lindsay Regan of Easton begins her final few
summer chances at the US sophomore Class record, while being challenged
by senior sister and 2003 PA outdoor champ Courtney; Conestoga's girls
will face national power West Catholic in the 4x400; AAA Javelin champ
Ruby Radocaj of Williamsport will compete after traveling to Golden
West; AAA Discus champ Tayvon Gray of Coatesville (who like Whiting for
the boys), will be looking to improve her Shot Put effort); AAA 2nd
place finisher Erin Hannon of Bradford vs. McDowell multi-event talent
and junior Nicole Smith in the Triple Jump. Smith was 3rd at States;
Smith, also in the High Jump; three of PA's top seven AAA 800 finishers,
Melissa Ferry, Henderson, Gen Gray, Cumberand Valley, and Megan
Hutchinson, Quakertown, all seniors; and Jessica Cickay, Council Rock
North, will finish her HS career racing once again against Kristin Reed,
the Perkiomen Valley sophomore who was 2nd in AAA to Koons in the 1600.
[Editor's Note: After this was written, Frances Koons decided to enter the open mile after all.] |
