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NTL TRACK & FIELD: TOWANDA'S BENNETT SETS NEW HIGH JUMP RECORD IN WIN AT DISTRICTS (2022-05-22)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — All season long Towanda’s Porschia Bennett had struggled with consistency. On Saturday she put all that behind her at the District IV, Class AA Track and Field Championships, Bennett broke the district record with a 5-foot, 8-inch jump to hold onto the high jump title.

The old record of 5-feet, 7-inches was held by Wellsboro's Reagan Rogers.

“The feeling is unreal, I just can’t believe that I actually did it,” Bennett said. “My goal was to get over 5-6 on the first try, and once I did that, I was a lot more confidence.”


She had a lot of support with her family and coaches there.


“Coach (Mark) Vail just tells me to close my eyes, and visualize myself making it over,” said Bennett. “He just gives me a little pep talk,, which always helps.”


Her first jump at 5-8 she balked on, but then her second she just clipped it with her heels.


“The first jump gave me a lot more confidence because I actually went over it for the first time ever,” said Bennett.


Since she had the title wrapped up, there was no pressure, which also helped.


“I might as well just get a district record,” Bennett remarked.


This is also a big mark to hit as Bennett looks to defend her state title next weekend.


“I have a lot more confidence,” she said. “I feel more consistent, which definitely helps a lot.”


She won’t be going alone, as Anna Dunn ran 59.69 to take fourth in the 400, hitting the state standard in the process, while their 4x400 relay of Bennett, Dunn, Eliza Fowler, and Kelsea Allen-Smith just snuck under the state qualifying time of 4:08.75, taking fourth in 4:08.40.


“I wanted to get out fast, and finish strong,” Dunn said about her open 400 race. 


She’d been close to breaking 60 seconds this season, and, with the warm weather, it was a good opportunity to do it.


Dunn also had Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley to pull her across, running in the lane to her right.


“I stayed on my toes, tried to keep my form,” remarked Dunn. 


Despite coming in less than a second off the state standard, Dunn was surprised of her success.


“I didn’t think I would make it this far,” she said.


Dunn broke 60 seconds in her leg of the 4x400 relay, too, to spur them on to states.


The girls’ 4x100 relay of Bennett, Allen-Smith, Fowler, and Dunn was seventh in 51.49, while Kelci Carle (49.75) came in eighth in the 300 hurdles.


On the boys’ side Mitchell Mosier (12-feet, 6-inches) took third in the pole vault, while Mykee Nowell (11-feet) finished with a personal best to take 17th.


Logan Lambert (41-feet, 10-inches) came in sixth in the triple jump to reach the podium.


Eric McGee (11:15.57) was 15th in the 3200, Dan Storrs (46.60) cameo in 19th in the 300 hurdles. Hannah Ryck (30-feet, 11 1/2-inches) was 17th in the triple jump.


PHOTO CAPTION: Towanda’s Porschia Bennett clears 5-feet, 8-inches in the high jump…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING



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