LOCAL ATHLETES IN THE MIX AS DISTRICT IV CHAMPIONSHIPS NEAR (2021-05-05)

Northern Tier Sports Report
The District IV Track and Field Championships are less than three weeks away, but the picture isn’t as clear as it usually is in a non-pandemic season.

By now the athletes have competed in multiple invitationals, and not only run against each other, but also have several FAT times under their belts.

This year, though, it’s been almost exclusively dual meets, and, with a couple exceptions, been done with hand times. That doesn’t look to change too much for local athletes, at least until the NTL Coaches’ Invitational next Friday, so that could make for a very interesting district meet.

CLASS AA

BOYS

In general, the boys’ field at districts looks to be wide open in most events outside the short sprints, and hurdles, with several NTL athletes in the mix.

Remember, top two automatically move on to states, then anybody else in the top eight under the state qualifying standard.

SPRINTS

100 SQS 11.3

Southern Columbia’s Braeden Wisloski (10.74) has put down a blazing time in the 100, made more exception that it is FAT. This is the one event where the difference between FAT and hand time is the greatest, so, if a lot of the fastest kids haven’t had a chance to run FAT, they may not be high on the list.

Under the FAT only Wellsboro’s Joseph Grab (11.45) is tied for second, with teammate Jack Poirier (11.6) is also in the top 10 at eighth. When the list is changed to all Wyalusing’s Kashawn Cameron is tied for fourth fastest in the district, even when adding the typical .24 to his 11.0 time, and Troy’s Ridge Spencer (11.34) is seventh.

The point is, outside of Wisloski, there’s a lot of parity at the moment.

200 SQS 22.88

Wisloski (22.12) rules the roost once again, with that time being FAT.

When all times are considered Cameron (23.44) and Spencer (23.44) are both tied for third, with Poirier (23.91) in seventh.

Under FAT only Poirier’s time moves him up to a tie in fourth, while Spencer’s best FAT time of 24.11 puts him in eighth.

400 SQS 50.70

Not a huge difference between FAT and hand times out here in the quarter-mile, as Southern Columbia’s Gavin Garcia (51) leads the field, but four runners have run sub-52 so far this year.

Athens’ Ryan Lasusa (54.44 - hand time) is the only NLT runner in the top 10 for either list - FAT or both.

DISTANCE

800 SQS 1:59.7

Anybody who’s run an 800 knows it’s not really a distance event - maybe a distance sprint - but high school classifies it as one, so here it is. Also, the difference between FAT and hand time is negligible at this point.

South Williamsport’s Quaid Molino (1:59.86) is the only district runner under two right now, but 800 times typically start to fall in the last couple of weeks.

Wyalusing’s Justin Hiduk (2:07) is ranked sixth in the district, the only NTL runner in the top 10 at the moment.

1600 SQS 4:31.13

The mile is similar to the 800, in that times usually start dropping across the board during the final two weeks as runners start to drop other events.

Hughesville’s Hunter Foust (4:30.7) leads the pack, and is the only runner to break the state qualifying time

There are a few NTL runners in the top 10, led by Williamson’s Owen Cummings (4:38.11) in fifth. Hiduk (4:43) is sixth, and NPM’s Noah Shedden (4:44.03) is seventh.

There are a couple others just outside the top 10 in the NTL, so it could be a race to watch, assuming they all run the mile at the Coaches’ Invitational.

3200 SQS 9:48.01

Foust (9:47.92) once again leads the pack, and is the only runner to be under state qualifying time.

Shedden (10:32.19) is the highest NTL runner in sixth, but leads a trio of area runners. Athens’ Matt Gorsline (10:40.86) is seventh, and Cummings (10:43.22) is eighth.

HURDLES

110 HIGH HURDLES SQS 15.5

Going back to shorter events, the difference between FAT and hand time is now greater.

No matter the timing, though, Southern Columbia’s Jake Rose (14.43 - FAT; 14.24 - hand time) is the runaway leader, well under the state qualifying standard.

Troy’s Dustin Hagin (16.05 - FAT; 15.04 - hand time) is second on either list, with Wellsboro’s Samuel Rudy (17.84) 10th when hand times are included. No other NTL runner is in the top 10 under FAT only.

300 HURDLES SQS 40.80

Rose (40.11 - FAT)  is the clear leader once again, as his time is fastest on both lists.

Hagin (43.58 - FAT) is third under FAT only, and fourth by hand time, putting him in contention for a top two spot at districts.

Williamson’s Duncan Kerr (45.03 - FAT, 43.84 - hand time) is seventh under FAT only, and moves up to fourth when all times are considered.

Wyalusing’s Darevin Curlee (46.27) is ranked 10th on the FAT list.

RELAYS

4X100 SQS 44.3

Southern Columbia (42.65) leads the district, with Wellsboro (46.48) currently fourth, and Wyalusing (46.84) in eight. These are with FAT times only, but their positions remain unchanged with hand times.

4X400 SQS 3:29.60

Southern Columbia (3:31.81) leads the district, with Loyalsock (3:32.75) right behind. 

Canton (3:47.2) is the ninth team, with Athens (3:48.59) currently sitting 10th.

4X4800 SQS 8:15.55

Hughesville (8:22.13) has a huge gap on the rest of the field, but Athens (8:49.13) is currently in second, and the only other NTL team in the top 10.

JUMPS

HIGH JUMP - SQS 6’ 4”

There’s a glut at the top when it comes to high jump, with the leader - Mt. Carmel’s Michael Balichik 6-foot, 2-inches - still under the state qualifying standard.

This is one of the events where heights go up as the temperature rises.

Hagin (5-feet, 10-inches) and Wyalusing’s Grady Cobb (5-feet, 10-inches) are tied for fourth with three other jumpers for fourth.

At 5-feet, 8-inches are Canton’s Caiden Williams, and Wyalusing’s Ethan Lewis.

LONG JUMP - SQS 21’ 6”

Cameron (20-feet, 8-inches) now has the longest jump in the district, edging out Warrior Run’s Spencer Tanner (20-feet, 6-inches) by two inches. But this is another event that, as the heat goes up, so do the distances.

It’s also an event with several NTL athletes in the top 10.

Sayre’s Tavone McClenny (19-feet, 11-inches) is currently third, with Spencer (19-feet, 10 1/2-inches) tied fo fourth. Troy’s Colin Loveland (19-feet, 9 1/2-inches) is sixth, with Poirier (19-feet, 8 1/2-inches) also in the top 10, tied for ninth.

It could be an event to watch for local fans.

TRIPLE JUMP - SQS 44’

Central Columbia’s Tanner Stout (42-feet) leads the field, with just three athletes over 40 feet. 

Loveland (39-feet, 4 1/2-inches) is the top NTL jumper in seventh, with Williams (38-feet, 9 1/2-inches) ninth, and Wyalusing’s Nolan Oswald (38-feet, 7-inches) in 10th.

POLE VAULT - SQS 13’ 6”

Bloomsburg’s Aaron Williams (12-feet, 6-inches) leads the district field at the moment, with only Sayre’s Bobby Benjamin (10-feet, 6-inches) in the top 10.

THROWS

DISCUS - SQS 148’

Asher Ellis (143-feet) continues Athens’ tradition of strong throwers, as he currently leads the district by nearly four feet.

But he’s not alone in the from the NTL, with NEB’s Dan Seeley (128-feet, 1-inch) sitting in fourth, and Sayre’s Zach Belles (120-feet, 5-inches) sitting in seventh.

SHOT PUT - SQS 49’ 6”

Ellis (48-feet, 2-inches) is second, just behind Mt. Carmel’s Matt Kelley (49-feet, 4-inches) for the top spot.

Belles (44-feet, 7 1/2-inches) sits in seventh, Seeley (43-feet, 4-inches) is eighth, and Wyalusing’s Jacob Palfreyman (42-feet, 3 1/4-inches) sits in 10th.

JAVELIN - SQS 176’

Ellis (162-feet, 2-inches) is currently second in the javelin behind Montoursville’s Gavin Livermore (169-feet, 10-inches). NEB’s Dan Williams (140-feet, 2-inches) sits in eighth.

GIRLS

While the boys have quite a few athletes in good position as we get closer to districts, the NTL’s girls, outside of high jump, have a lot of work to do to catch those down south.

SPRINTS

100 SQS 12.7

Milton’s Janae Bergey (12.71 - FAT) leads a very strong field in the 100. 

In the FAT list nobody from the NTL is in the top 15, with Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley (13.57) 19th.

When all times are considered Troy’s Anneliese Getola (13.24) and Towanda’s Porschia Bennett (13.24) are tied for 12th.

200 SQS 26.25

Central Columbia’s Liberty Gearinger (26.37 - FAT) leads the field in the 200, with Haley (28.27) the top NTL runner under the FAT only list, sitting at 14th.

Bennett (27.64) is 10th overall when hand times are mixed in.

400 SQS 59.85

Montoursville’s Lily Saul (59.70 - FAT) is the district leader, and one of two who have broken a minute.

Under the FAT list Williamson’s Kyra Daley (1:06.52) leads the area in the 400, sitting 24th in the district.

When hand times are factored in Bennett (1:02), and NEB’s Melanie Shumway (1:04), sit fifth, and 13th respectively.

DISTANCE 

800 SQS 2:20.60

Saul (2:21.22) leads the field in the half-mile as well, with nine girls already running under 2:30.

Shumway (2:38), and Wyalusing’s Catherine Brown (2:38) are both tied for 28th.

1600 SQS 5:18.30

Warrior Run’s Lauren Trapani (5:15.54) leads the field by 12 seconds, with Sayre’s Carrie Claypool (5:58.3) the top NTL runner in 34th.

3200 SQS 11:35

Trapani (11:23.44), again, is the leader of the field, this time by 20 seconds. Claypool (12:54.94) is 17th overall with no other NTL runner under 13 minutes.

HURDLES 

110HH SQS 16.01

Lewisburg’s Siena Brazier (15.76 - FAT) leads the field in the high hurdles, with two girls so far under 16 seconds.

Getola (18.55 - FAT) is the top NTL hurdler in the FAT only list, sitting 19th. Her top hand time of 17.74 puts her 12th, as Williamson’s Chelsea Hungerford (17.94 - hand time) is right behind in 13th.

300H SQS 47.64

Milton’s Riley Murray (47.21 - FAT) leads the district, with two runners under 48 seconds so far this year.

Troy’s Elizabeth Geer (44.83 - FAT), and Sydney Taylor (55.83 - FAT) are tied for 22nd in the FAT only list.

When hand times are factored in Hungerford (53.64) is 19th.

RELAYS

4X100 SQS 50.8

Milton (50.95 - FAT) leads the field, with Troy (54.83 - FAT) and Williamson (55.67 - FAT) both ninth and eighth overall under FAT only.

When hand times are factored in Troy (54.74 - hand time) bumps back to 11th.

4X400 SQS 4:08.75

Lewisburg (4:13.14) leads the district, with four teams having gone under 4:20 so far.

Williamson (4:38) is 11th, with Canton (4:39.10) currently in 12th.

4X800 SQS 9:50.40

Warrior Run (10:04.79) leads the field, with two teams so far under 10:10.

Wyalusing (11:33) is 10th in the district right now, with Towanda (12:00), and Troy (12:05) also in the top 15 at 13th and 14th.

JUMPS

HIGH JUMP SQS 5’ 2”

Things look better for the NTL once we get in the field events, particularly the high jump.

Bennett (5-feet, 7-inches) has led the field from day-1, and nearly got 5-feet, 8-inches on Tuesday.

Right behind her in second is Williamson’s Charlize Slusser (5-feet, 4-inches), who has consistently been above the state standard this season.

Wyalusing’s Hannah Ely (5-feet) is tied for fourth at the moment, as jumpers from down south have started to come on.

LONG JUMP SQS 16’ 11”

Loyalsock’s Sophia Gardner (17-feet, 1/4-inches) has a big lead on the field, though Slusser (16-feet, 3-inches) is just two inches behind second place.

Bennett (15-feet, 1 1/4-inches) is currently seventh as well.

TRIPLE JUMP SQS 35’ 6”

Bloomsburg’s Charly Schlauch (35-feet, 10-inches) leads the field, with Canton’s Courteney Weiskopff (29-feet, 9 1/4-inches) the only NTL jumper in the top 20.

POLE VAULT SQS 10’ 6”

Southern Columbia’s Karly Renn (11-feet) leads the district, with three vaulters over 10 feet so far this season.

Troy’s Olivia Call (8-feet) is currently tied for seventh with six others as the highest NTL athlete.

THROWS

DISCUS SQS 113’

Lewisburg’s Madison Downs (132-feet, 4-inches) leads the field at nearly 15 feet more than the next person.

NEB’s Paige Howell (98-feet, 7-inches) sits in seventh as the only NTL thrower in the top 10.

SHOT PUT SQS 36’ 6”

Downs (36-feet, 4-inch) leads the district, but only by an inch here.

Canton’s Reagan Kelley (31-feet, 4-inch) is the only NTL thrower in the top ten.

JAVELIN SQS 121’

Hughesville’s Alex Snyder (126-feet) leads the district by about a foot-and-a-half. 

Wellsboro has a duo in the top 15 with Alina Pietrzyk (97-feet, 8-inches) in 11th, and Emma Coolidge (94-feet, 10-inches) in 12th.

CLASS AAA

The Athens girls’ are in the bigger classification this season, which comes with pros and cons. 

There are less teams in Class AAA, but there is only one automatic qualifier spot, and the state standards are much higher.

In the 100 Emma Roe (13.16) is in the top four, just behind Shik’s Sophia Feathers (12.80) leading the field. The state qualifying time is 12.5.

In the distance events Emma Bronson (2:35.62) is seventh in the 800, sixth in the 1600 at 5:43.07 and sixth in the 3200 at 12:53.33.

Jersey Shore’s Aubrey Sechrist (2:25.30) leads the 800, with Selinsgrove’s Shaela Kruskie leading the 1600 at 5:22.61, and the 3200 at 11:35.56.

The 800 state qualifying time is 2:18.47, the 1600 time is 5:10, and the 3200 mark is 11:10.

In the discus Athens’ Olivia Bartlow (88-feet, 2-inches) is fifth with Selinsgrove’s Kyleigh Elsayed (119-feet, 7-inches) leading the field. The state mark is 118-feet.

Leah Lichty (4-feet, 6-inches) is tied for fourth in the high jump, with Selinsgrove’s Madison Stebila (5-feet, 4-inches) leading the field. The state mark is 5-feet, 3-inches.

Mya Thompson (15-feet, 9-inches) is tied for fourth in the long jump, with Williamsport’s Jessica Robinson (17-feet, 2-inches) leading the field. The state mark is 17-feet, 9-inches.

Thompson (32-feet, 8 3/4-inches) is second in the triple jump, less than two feet behind Selinsgrove’s Madison Stebila (34-feet, 3-inches). The state mark is 36-feet, 6-inches.

None of Athens’ relays are currently in the top five.