TRACK & FIELD: DISTRICT IV PREVIEW (2023-05-17)

Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s that time of year again as the best track and field athletes from around the district compete for medals and state berths at Williamsport High School. 

The NTL figures to have its fair share of athletes on the podium, and punching their tickets to states, between both days - Thursday and Saturday.

A full schedule, along with heat sheets for boys and girls, can be found at the District IV website.

The top two in each event automatically qualify for states, everybody after that has to hit the state qualifying mark.

Here are some events to watch:

Class AA

Boys

100

No local athlete is in the top 10 but Danville’s Jackson Clarke (10.84) may give the district record - 10.59 - a run for its money, as long as conditions are good enough Saturday morning.

200

No NTL runner made the finals, but Danville’s Jackson Clarke’s seed time of 21.53 is already faster than the district record of 21.87.

400

Wellsboro’s Jonathan Carl (51.29) is the second seed, just a half second behind state qualifying time of 50.70. Others in the fast heat include Williamson’s Elias Kaufman (51.40) and Troy’s Jacob Hinman (52.19).

800

NP-Mansfield’s Zack Wilcox (1:59.82) comes in as the fourth seed, and just behind state qualifying time of 1:59.70. Others in the fast heat are Williamson’s trio of Nathaniel Welch (2:00.45), Owen Cummings (2:00.51), and Kristian Mizdail (2:01.47). There are three athletes already under state time coming in so hitting that mark will be a must to get to Shippensburg.

1600

Williamson’s Kristian Mizdail (4:23.68) is already under state title of 4:31.13 coming in, and sits as the third seed. He’s the only NTL runner in the fast heat. The top two seeds of East Juniata’s Logan Strawser (4:15.33) and Danville’s Rory Lieberman (4:16.53) have a shot to takedown the district record of 4:14.13.

3200

Williamson’s Kristian Mizdail (9:28.45) comes in as the second seed behind Danville’s Rory Lieberman (9:11.68). His teammate, Nathaniel Welch (9:48.21) is just .2 seconds from state time. 

110H

Troy’s Blake Shedden (16.03) and Williamson’s Duncan Kerr (16.08) are both seeded in the top eight. Shedden is in the first preliminary heat on Thursday with Kerr in the second. Montoursville’s Josiah Schans (14.87) is the top seed, with 15.5 the state qualifying time.

300H

Williamson’s Duncan Kerr (39.98) is the third seed in the event with the top four less than a half second apart. State qualifying is 40.80.

4x100

Wyalusing’s team is the only NTL group in the fast heat at 45.49. 

4x400

NP-Mansfield’s team is the only NTL team in the field at 3:34.90.

4x800

Williamson (8:14.52) is one of four teams that are under the state standard for this really, and all of them are within six seconds of each other. Troy (8:46.63) and NEB (8:53.44) both could end up on the medal stand, as well.

High Jump

Wyalusing freshman Dylan Johns is tied for the top seed at 6-feet, 4-inches, with Wellsboro’s Kyle Mosher (6-feet, 3-inches) just behind them. Both are at or above the state standard of 6-feet, 3-inches.

Pole Vault

Towanda’s Mitchell Mosier (11-feet, 9-inches) is the only NTL vaulter who hit the meet qualifying standard, and is seeded eighth. The state standard is 13-feet, 6-inches.

Long Jump

Troy’s Colin Loveland (21-feet, 6 3/4-inches) is the top seed, and right at the state mark of 21-feet, 6-inches. Wellsboro’s Aiden Gehman (20-feet, 5-inches) is the fifth seed coming in.

Triple Jump

Towanda’s Logan Lambert (43-feet, 3-inches) is the second seed, behind top seed Bloomsburg’s Nasir Heard (45-feet, 9 1/2-inches). Troy’s Colin Loveland (41-feet, 10 1/2-inches) and Wellsboro’s Aiden Gehman (41-feet, 3-inches) are the fifth and sixth seeds. The state qualifying mark is 44-feet even.

Shot Put

Troy’s Avery Sens (46-feet, 4-inches) and Wyalusing’s Jacob Palfreyman (46-feet, 3-inches) are the fourth and fifth seeds in a highly contested field. A little over two feet separate 1-through-5, with state qualifying at 49-feet, 6-inches.

Discus

Canton’s Kyle Kapichok (157-feet, 4-inches) comes in as the top seed, with three over the state qualifying mark of 148-feet. 

Javelin

NPM’s Brody Burleigh (165-feet, 8-inches) is the highest seeded NTL thrower at sixth. The state standard is 176-feet.

Girls

100

Three area girls are knocking on the door for states, led by Athens’ Abby Burgess. The freshman comes in with a seed time of 12.60, under the state standard of 12.70. She’ll be in the third heat of the preliminaries. Canton’s Daveian Crowley (12.78) is in the second heat, with Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley (12.78) in the first heat.

200

Athens’ Abby Burgess (26.32) and Canton’s Daveian Crowley (26.53) are the third and fourth seeds in the 200. State time is 26.25.

400

Towanda’s Anna Dunn (59.69) is the top seed in the quarter, with Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley (1:00.36) the third seed, Canton’s Daveian Crowley (1:01.28) the fourth seed, and Williamson’s Kyra Daley (1:03.86) also in the fast heat. State time is 59.85.

800

NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch (2:24.40) is the top NTL runner in the half, seeded fourth, while Canton’s Camille McRoberts (2:28.38) and Athens’ Emma Bronson (2:30.46) are also in the fast heat. State time is 2:20.60. SCA’s Kate Moncavage (2:14.26) could give the district record of 2:13.20 a run.

1600

NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch (5:10.25) is the second seed in the mile behind SCA’s Kate Moncavage (5:05.57). Also in the fast heat are Athens’ Sara Bronson (5:22.88), Athens’ Emma Bronson (5:32.51), NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar (5:34.91), and Canton’s Camille McRoberts (5:37.02). State time is 5:18.30 and the district record is 5:02.45.

3200

Athens’ Sara Bronson (11:14.56) is the top seed for the 2-mile, with NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch (11:28.20) the third seed. Both are under the state time of 11:35. NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar (12:25.69) also hit meet qualifying.

100H

Towanda’s Kelci Carle (16.67) and Sayre’s Rose Shikanga (16.99) both have a strong chance to make the finals. State qualifying is 16.01.

300H

Troy’s Alyssa Parks (48.91) is the only NTL runner in the short hurdles. State qualifying time is 47.64.

4x100

Towanda (51.44) and Wyalusing (51.98) are both in the fast heat for the 400 meter relay. State qualifying time is 50.80.

4x400

Towanda (4:09.51) is the second seed in the mile relay behind defending state champions Central Columbia (3:58.09). They could give the district record of 3:58.56 a run. Also in the fast heat are Canton (4:13.05) and Troy (4:20.81).

4x800

Athens (10:18.56) and NEB (10:21.62) have the best shot to be on the podium as they come in the fourth and fifth seeds. State time is 9:50.40.

High Jump

Wyalusing’s Hannah Ely (5-feet, 1-inch) is the third seed for the high jump, just one inch under the state mark of 5-feet, 2-inches. Troy’s Alyssa Parks (4-feet, 10-inches), Towanda’s Maris Wise (4-feet, 10-inches), and Wellsboro’s Anika Gehman (4-feet, 10-inches) are also close to the mark.

Pole Vault

Canton’s Kendall Kitchen (9-feet) is seeded sixth, with 10-feet, 6-inches the mark to get to get to states.

Long Jump

Wyalusing’s Hannah Ely (16-feet, 11 1/2-inches) is right at the state qualifying of 16-feet, 11-inches. Athens’ Cassy Friend (16-feet, 5-inches) and Mya Thompson (16-feet, 8-inches) are also close.

Triple Jump

Wellsboro’s Annika Gehman (34-feet, 8-inches) is seeded second in the triple jump, with Wyalusing’s Anna Kipp (33-feet, 5-inches) and Hannah Ely (33-feet, 3-inches), and Athens’ Mya Thompson (32-feet, 11 1/2-inches) also in the second flight. The state mark is 35-feet, 6-inches.

Shot Put

NEB’s Emma Neuber (33-feet, 2 1/2-inches) is seeded sixth, with 36-feet, 6-inches the mark to hit to get to states.

Discus

Canton’s Alexis McRoberts (93-feet, 6-inches) is the top NTL thrower, seeded 10th, with Athens’ Emma Pernaselli (91-feet, 11-inches) right behind her. State qualifying is 113-feet.

Javelin

Wyalusing’s Emilee Otis (100-feet, 11-inches) is the only NTL thrower in the second flight. 121-feet is state qualifying.

Class AAA

Boys

Athens’ Jaden Wright (11.39) is seeded eighth in the 100 with state qualifying time 11.10. 

He’s also seeded sixth in the 200 (23.04) with Kolsen Keathley (23.10) seeded eighth. State time is 22.50.

In the throws Athens’ Josh Martin (160-feet) is seeded seventh with state qualifying at 178-feet.