Out of the 80 individual acceptances from Pennsylvania athletes, 25 percent of them are in the javelin events!
9 of them will be competing in the girls javelin, and the US#2 girls javelin thrower, Madison Wiltrout of Connellsville, will be one of the favorites for a Penn Relays watch. Wiltrout is coming off of a career best 164-11 throw at Greater Latrobe on April 10. She has the best mark this season out of the field of American competitors. She has 16 inch advantage over the nearest competitor.
Jocelen Ruth of Kutztown Area has gone unbeaten in the javelin this season and has recorded the 4th best mark in the state (146-2). Ruth has only been beaten one time in any throwing event thus far this season. Steph Sievers of Daniel Boone had a big 144-2 performance on April 11 that put her in the state top five. That mark was her lifetime best by over 6 feet.
Sophomore Maura Fiamoncini of Mount Carmel has had a breakthrough season and has broken the state top ten for her efforts. Paige Demetriades of Tamaqua has also made the top ten, but will be looking to get back to her 2014 best of 144-1 from last May.
State runner up Sarah Stanley of South Park has only competed one time this season, and that was in a victory at the TSTCA Champs with a mark of 123-1, only her 2nd throw in her last 8 competitions that she failed to break 130. Should she get to her best of 146-11 from last year's state meet, she will certainly put herself in the mix for a top five finish.
The girls pole vault will also have a huge PA influence, as seven girls from the Keystone state will enter the competition on Thursday. Leading the pack will be indoor state champion Tesia Kempski of Bishop McDevitt. The indoor state champion has not let up since winning that gold medal, and she sits as one of only three girls to clear 12 feet indoors or outdoors in 2015. Kempski will be the only one in the field out of that trio on Thursday. Her best this spring is 11-10 at Pan Ram on April 11.
Kennedy Shank of Northern and Megan Fry of State College have recently cleared season bests of 11-9 on Saturday at the Shippensburg Invite, with Shank getting the best of Fry on misses. Jordan Hess of Penn Manor has also cleared 11-9 this season, which is a lifetime best for her, as has Dominique Franco of Council Rock South, who has cleared 11 feet or better in 8 of her last 9 competitions. Lucianne Burner of North Pocono has had some big invitational wins this season and will look to continue that streak on Thursday. She has a season best of 11-6.
In the shot put, two time indoor state champion Emily Stauffer of Cocalico will lead the PA charges. The reigning state leader has been unbeaten this season and has a season best of 47-5.50. Consistency for Stauffer will be key if she wants a top five finish on Thursday. Nina Gambacorta of Garnet Valley has had a career season, recently throwing an outdoor best 41-0.75 to finish 2nd to Stauffer at Shippensburg.
The discus will have Tajera Campbell of Norristown represent PA. She has a lifetime best of 132 feet from last season's state meet.
Three of PA's most consistent high jump athletes will compete Thursday at Penn. Two time indoor and outdoor state champion Cyre Virgo of Fleetwood. The 2013 Penn Relays champion is also the 2014 silver medalist at this meet. She hasn't been competing as regularly as she was when she won the indoor national title and the Penn Relays title 2 years ago, but every time she steps into a competition, she finds a way to win. She has cleared 5-7 this season, which is one inch behind our reigning state leader.
Abby Jones of Franklin Area is that state leader, clearing that mark on Friday night at Butler. Jones is on an incredible streak, clearing at least 5-6 in 9 consecutive meets dating back to last May, winning 6 of them.
Erika Voyzey of Tyrone Area was Ms. Consistency for virtually all of the indoor season up until the state meet, clearing 5-8 four times. It has been a struggle to regain that form since, only clearing 5-2 so far this spring. But a meet like the Penn Relays can bring the best out of an athlete, and that could be the case for Voyzey.
Also in the high jump competition is Shannon Taub of Council Rock South, who has cleared 5-4 this season, and sophomore Moira O'Malley of Souderton, who recently cleared 5-6 in the high jump for the first time since late December.
In the triple jump, Sierra Brabham-Lawrence will be a top five favorite on Thursday based on her recent form. The senior is the current state leader in the event with a 39-1.25 mark over the weekend. In her career, she has jumped at least 38 feet in every single triple jump meet she has contested. Uchechi Onuoha of Pennsbury will also compete in the triple jump. She has spent part of the season as the state leader in the triple jump during the indoor season, breaking the 38 foot mark.
The long jump will have indoor state runner up Ariana Przybylowski of Pennridge, Alison Jones of Archbishop Ryan, and Val McLoughlin of Ridley. Przybylowski and Jones have had good seasons, especially since the middle of February, while McLoughlin has had some big performances during the spring season. McLoughlin sits at PA#4 with her 18-6 mark. Jones has jumped 18-1 this spring.