NBNI Day 1 Recap: Peace, Gambrell, Hockenbury Stand Out

Lake Lehman's Dominic Hockenbury joined an elite list of PA preps that have gone sub-15 for the 5K (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

Day one of New Balance Indoor Nationals was a big one for the state of Pennsylvania. PA's best regrouped after states two weeks ago and started things off well at the multi-day competition at NYC's Armory.

Dominic Hockenbury of Lake Lehman ran a very strong 5000 meters. The senior moved up in distance and looked like a seasoned 5K track runner, taking control of the pace. He finished third in a close battle to Eric van der Els and Aaron Groff, but he still ended up with a 14:45.09. That's a big improvement from this same race a year ago, where he ran a 15:08. Watch Hockenbury's interview below:

Due to soccer conflicts, Pennridge's Kouri Peace had to forgo competing in the seeded sections of NBNI. So the freshman instead "settled" for a pair of meet record in the Emerging Elite sections. First, Peace won the 60 meters in 7.56. Then she won the 200 meters in 24.03. Neither were season bests for Peace, but still a solid day at the office. Now off to the soccer pitch. Peace talked with MileSplit below:

Athens Area's Breana Gambrell had a nice entrance into the indoor scene. In her indoor debut, Gambrell jumped past 19 and to the top of the state leaderboard in the event. She improved by almost a full foot from her jump at New Balance Nationals Outdoor performance last summer, jumping 19-5.5 for the win in the EE long jump. Look out for a big sophomore season outdoors from Gambrell.

State College' Taylor Givens was eighth overall in the long jump, with a best jump of 17-8.25.

Downingtown West bettered their own PA#1 in the DMR. The Whippets ran 10:15.74 to take seventh overall in a loaded field that included the national record holder in the mile, Drew Hunter of Virginia. Germantown Friends' ran a PA#2 10:22.45 for 11th. GFS' Nick Dahl ran the third fastest 1600m split with a 4:11.80. The state champions from Cardinal O'Hara finished 20th in a 10:39.30.

Gabrielle Wilkinson split a very fast time in the 1600 in the DMR (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

The girls from Downingtown West also maintained their top spot in the state. They finished 11th overall in 12:02.98, including a 3:40.01 1200m leg from Emma Planck and a 4:58.46 1600m leg from Aislinn Devlin. Friends' Central, the state runners-up weren't far behind West from the first of the two heats. Gabrielle Wilkinson gave her team a 4:50.93 1600m leg to take second in their heat and 12th overall in 12:04.93.

Greg Potter of Red Lion was second in the Emerging Elite pole vault, clearing 14-9.5. Hempfield's Adam Gamber took fourth in 14-3.5. Payton Morris also cleared 14-3.5 to take eighth. William Tennent's Stephen Testa was sixth in the EE long jump, jumping 21-11. In the shot put, Hempfield's Alex Murray was the top finisher in the EE section, with a PA#10 throw of 54-1.25 for sixth.

A pair of quarter milers dipped under 50 seconds from PA in the 400. St. Joseph's Prep's Miles Green was sixth in the Emerging Elite 400 in 49.64. Dominic Frisina of Cathedral Prep was tenth in 49.86, and Frisina's teammate John Orlando just missed sub-50, running 50.05 for 13th. In the EE 200, Downingtown West's Matt McCool was the top PA finisher, placing third in 22.23 in the prelims, not far off his indoor PR. He was sixth in the finals in 22.27.

Springside Chestnut Hill's Alexandria Kitchell was the top PA finisher in the girls' EE 400. Kitchell ran a PA#6 57.50 to take 11th in the field.

Christina Warren competed in three events Friday (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

Perkiomen Valley freshman Christina Warren had a busy day. Warren took third in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles moving up to PA#2 with a very fast 8.71. Warren also placed seventh overall in the triple jump with a 37-6, just off her PR that she set at states two weeks ago. She was also 11th in the long jump, jumping 17-3.5.

Laurel Highlands' Cassandra Phelan placed fifth in the EE pole vault, clearing 11-7. North Pocono's Lucianne Burner also cleared 11-7 in the compeititon. 

PA had some solid performances in the 2 mile. Wilson (3)'s Alison Willingmyre was 15th overall combining the three heats in a time of 10:57. Hannah Molloy of Pennsbury closed out her indoor season with an 11:02 in the event to place 21st, while Cheltenham's MaryGrace Rittler was 24th in 11:06.44.

In the weight throw, PA had a good showing. Moniteau's Maura Kimmel placed 15th overall in the girls' event, the top PA finisher. She threw a PA#6 42-0.75. In the boys' competition, Southern Lehigh's Andrew Rochon was the top PA finisher with a throw of 52-11.5.