Articles

Krais and Price capped their junior campaigns with all-time marks, new friends and lessons learned. Press Release PennTrackXC.com Jul 22, 2007

 As we publish these Ostrava journals and Q&A's with PA stars Ryann Krais and Chanelle Price, one of these talented athletes is headed for the mountains of NY to volunteer in helping to build a house, and the other will soon be headed west for her final meet of the season in the USATF Junior Olympics. But despite traveling in different directions as July and their junior year's wane, these rising seniors have had the seasons of their dreams. Krais, of Methacton High School in Norristown, had not broken 59 seconds in the 400 hurdles before a breakthrough race in winning the Penn Relays invitational event in 58.93. Since then, she has run five races faster; four of which were in the 57's; and set a state record of 57.20 with her finals at USATF Juniors in late June. The record had been held by current USA World Team member Nicole Leach, a UCLA sophomore. Krais then captured a Bronze at the IAAF World's with a 57.50. Making her 57.20 even more impressive was the fact that is followed her all-time U.S. junior class record in the heptathlon, scoring 5377 points. Price, of Easton High School, showed signs of the coming special outdoor season with the #3 all-time indoor 800 of 2:04.96. But no one, including her, expected her solo 2:02.76 in winning the Nike Outdoor Nationals in mid-June. That performance had been set up with a 2:04.24 against a world-class Jamaican runner in New York. Armed with increasing confidence, Price entered the USATF Championships to race against the best 800 runners in the country. She survived three races over four days, culminating with another PR of 2:02.38 in the finals, the #3 prep mark of all-time. (And #2 in PA behind US record holder Kim Gallagher, 2:00.07).  

6/23 WKND: USATF\'s: Price 2:02.38 in 800 Finals|Krais sets Class & PA records|Shirk-Jacobs excel Don Rich Jun 23, 2007

  Sunday's finals - that's elite company that Price kept this weekend - photo by Victor Sailor, PhotoRun Day Five Chanelle Price earned her shot in the finals of the Women's 800 in the senior race at the USATF T&F Champs. She led through the 400 in 57.4, but at the 450, the older runners Johnson, Clark and Schmidt took charge. Price fought back, and was in the top four past the 600 mark. She would finish 7th in a PR of 2:02.38. In the 400 Hurdles, West Catholic grad Nicole Leach made the A standard and finished 3rd in 54.49, while Harrisburg grad Dominique Darden was 7th in 57.29. Norristown grad Michael Whitehead took 9th in the Men's triple jump, leaping 51-11.25. Day Four Ryann Krais capped her best meet ever with a state all-time best of 57.20 in taking 2nd in the 400 hurdles. The mark eclipses the 57.25 high school mark run by UCLA sophomore Nicole Leach, who advanced to the finals in the Seniors 400H in 56.00. Harrisburg HS, Miami U. grad Dominique Darden also advanced, running 56.20 in the same heat. Norristown grad Courtney Clark did not advance from the semis. In the junior women's 400 finals, South Carolina-bound Breehana Jacobs, a graduate of Laurel Highlands, captured 3rd, running 53.41. Haverford Township grad Shayne Culpepper was never in the race, finishing 11th in the 1500m finals in 4:22.35. Central Dauphin grad Ryan Whiting took 15th in the shot put with a throw of 60-09.50. For Days One, Two & Three highlights, click the headline.

\'One tough cookie\' has one more race to make her first U.S. world team... Don Rich Jun 23, 2007

 Photo of Chanelle Price leading Alice Schmidt in the semis of the 800 - by Victor Salior, PhotoRun.Net    16 year old athletes simply don't waltz onto the national stage and compete well their first time at the biggest show in the U.S. - the USATF Track & Field Championships. But make no mistake, Chanelle Price isn't just another athlete. She is prepared, both mentally and physically, for what she is facing this week in Indianapolis.