By Dan Beck, PennTrackXC
Boys' 60-Meter Hurdles Preview
One of the state meets most anticipated matchups (basically since before the season started) was Ayden Owens against Kyle Garland in the high hurdles. Unfortunately, due to injury, we won't see Garland at Penn State this weekend, but perhaps we'll get a pentathlon showdown at nationals.
For now, though, we still get to see one of the nation's top hurdlers in the country and one of the best in PA state history (PA#2 all-time to be exact). Owens of North Allegheny is having a special season; one that comes on the heels of an outdoor season that saw him drop a 13.76 in the 110-meter hurdles at states. Owens went 7.70 this past weekend after already running sub-7.80 three other times. It's already well under Wellington Zaza's 2013 state meet best. He won't have Garland to his side pushing him, but Owens has shown he doesn't need the competition to drop crazy fast times.
A number of other talented hurdlers are set to toe the line besides Owens. Penn Manor's Taraje Whitfield was third last season, running 8.23, but he's been much faster this winter. The senior dropped a 8.06 (PA#3) at the PTFCA Carnival and has shown good improvement all season long.
Scott Honicker of Owen J. Roberts (PA#4, MOC champ), James Jackson of Chester (PA#5), Nasan Robbins of Pennsbury (PA#6), and Richard Gilchrist of Harrisburg (PA#7) are among the list of medal hopefuls for Sunday's race.
Boys' 60-Meter Hurdles Entries:
Event 4 Boys 60 Meter Hurdles (24) Prelims
===============================================================================
Meet Record: 7.79 2/23/2013 Wellington Zaza, Garnet Valley
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Anderson, C. j. 12 Del Valley
2 Bannon, Jared 11 Hempfield (7)
3 Booth, Josh 12 McConnellsburg
4 Costantini, Sebastian 11 Malvern Prep
5 Elters, Jared 12 Coatesville
6 Franklin, John 12 Shaler Area
7 Gilchrist, Richard 12 Harrisburg
8 Hartman, Sam 12 South Park
9 Honicker, Scott 11 O J Roberts
10 Jackson, James 12 Chester
11 Johnson, Ahmir 12 Wissahickon
12 Layton, Daniel 11 Waynesburg C
13 Longenecker, Chase 11 State College
14 Owens, Ayden 12 North Allegh
15 Patton, Jacob 12 Moniteau
16 Rice, Donovan 11 North Allegh
17 Robbins, Nasan 12 Pennsbury
18 Thenga, Trevor 12 Wilson (3)
19 Thompson, Katrell 12 Easton Area
20 Toney, Treyvaun 12 Altoona
21 Webb, Charlie 11 W C East
22 Whitfield, Taraje 12 Penn Manor
23 Wiggins, Ramir 11 Norristown
24 Young, Curtis 11 North Penn