AA Girls Feature: Lewisburg coming together for some unfinished business. Don Rich Aug 24, 2008

Most cross country teams are made up of athletes who began their athletic careers in other sports. But the Lewisburg girls definitely have those "other sports" very well covered. But despite the various athletic routes they took to reach the sport, each girl on this season's varsity now has one thing in common. They're runners first, and foremost.

Hyleas Fountain moves up to SILVER in Olympic Heptathlon! Don Rich Aug 21, 2008

 

(Fountain in the 100 hurdles in Beijing - photo courtesy of PhotoRun.net) Hyleas Fountain, a 2000 grad of Central Dauphin EAST high school in Harrisburg, a graduate of the University of Georgia who trains in Kettering, Ohio, moves up to the Silver medal instead of the Bronze medal she had been awarded in the Heptathlon on Day Two of the Track & Field competiton in Beijing, China.

We are not in Shippensburg any more Don Rich Jun 14, 2008

Photo by Victah Sailor - PhotoRun.net

Running stride for stride with Olympic Gold medalist Maria Mutola could have been unnerving for recent Easton grad Chanelle Price. After all, it was 650 meters into the biggest 800 of her young career, and Price had been in her trademark position since the cut-in off the waterfall start – the lead. "It was a little nerve-wracking" Price said this week a few days after her US#2 all-time 2:01.61 at the Prefontaine Classic. But Price didn't back down, and stayed with Mutola through much of the final curve. It was the furthest Price had gone with the lead in a race with this level of competition. In last year's USATF Championships, where Price raced all three rounds before placing 7th in the finals... she had been caught and passed at the 600 meter mark.

Ryann Krais is gaining fans and confidence as she chases records in her prep farewell... Don Rich Jun 08, 2008

\"\"Standing outside the athlete's gate at last months PIAA State Championships in Shippensburg, soon-to-be Methacton grad Ryann Krais was immediately recognized by virtually every athlete who walked by. Many would ask to have their picture taken with her. All who asked would get their wish. Krais is that kind of person. Gracious. Generous. Friendly.

Krais gets a 41.20 PR on Saturday in the competitive 300 hurdles
- photo by Alan Versaw, ColoradoRunners, a MileSplit US affiliate

Fast forward two weeks, and with the scene shifted west to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Great Southwest Classic, the recognition factor didn't seem to diminish much according to her coach Rob Ronzano. "Coaches, parents and athletes came up to me all weekend and said how great it was to see her compete."

TRACKside: Vaulting to the top in PA | Jumping smart | Fast Frosh Don Rich May 13, 2008


Welcome to TRACKside – Stories and notes on athletes, teams, coaches and races to be published mid-week during the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons.
 

Vaulting to the top of PA | Angling for the Perfect Jump | One Fast Frosh

D.J. Horton - Travis Hammaker: There are a few events where the athletes share a bond that is the event itself. No bond is stronger than that which is created by the shared danger and thrill of the pole vault.

Kristin Brandt has it all figured out. All she has to do now is get the right day, good competition, great speed, a steady but evenly building run, and just the right amount of height. Then, and only then, will it be the perfect jump. She can see it clearly. In fact, she's done it, only they've all been fouls.

State College freshman Chloe Schmidt probably would not think of telling people she is the top freshman runner in the state. But there she is in the rankings. #1 in the mile at 5:00.79 (4:59.05c 1600); #1 in the 800 at 2:16.41, and probably most surprisingly, #2 in the 400 at 57.34. No, the deceptively diminutive and slightly shy 9th grader at State College High School doesn't look at the world that way. You see... comparisons to fellow freshmen just don't seem to be in her nature.

 

Neely Spence reclaims tops in PA in the 1600 - using a big Chanelle Price PR for motivation. Don Rich May 10, 2008

There haven't been a lot of PA girls in the 4:40's in the 1600 in recent years. So having two in the same week is extremely rare (Anyone who wants to research the last time this happened, please let me know.).

But this one will go down in the books as a cause and effect. The cause was the 4:46.7 1600 that was run by 800 meter specialist Chanelle Price of Easton at the LVIAC Championships on May 7th. Price's time eclipsed the meet record of one Frances Koons, a Foot Locker Finalist, state champion in the 1600 and current all-American runner for Villanova. It also bypassed this year's then-PA#1 4:48.51 of Shippensburg distance specialist Neely Spence. (In photo from April 19 Shippensburg Invitational)

Race description by Trey Jackson, who provided timing and FAT splits for Spence's 1600.

 

What's the deal with PA rankings and what can be done to keep them TOTALLY current? Don Rich May 06, 2008

This is a breakthrough season for rankings in Pennslylvana – and on the 30-state MileSplit.US Network. But with growth and change, come some issues. Take a few minutes to review this announcement, and then share it with a coach or meet director who you think would/could/should benefit from it. I'll cover two things: 1) Why some meets have ALL performances in the database rankings, and why others only have a few, and 2), what you can do to make things better.

It takes a Simon Gratz village... Don Rich Apr 16, 2008

There is confidence, yet no arrogance. There is competitiveness, yet no anger. There are bad memories, yet no resentments. There are opportunities which are gone forever. Yet all that remains are goals and dreams to firmly and completely occupy their place.

You wouldn't expect a young man who left his biological parents at age nine and was then forced to bounce around from foster home to foster home for the next eight years NOT to have a chip on his shoulder.

You wouldn't expect such a young man to be living independently while still in high school.

You might not expect such a young man to be more nervous about his next big race than starting life every morning alone in a North Philadelphia apartment.

And you wouldn't expect such a young man to be preparing to write the final chapter of his exceptional high school track career; all while clearly focused on his future in college and beyond.

But you haven't met Khaliff Featherstone. Simon Gratz senior – and recent signee with Barton County Community College. MORE...

 

It takes a Simon Gratz village... Don Rich Apr 15, 2008

There is confidence, yet no arrogance. There is competitiveness, yet no anger. There are bad memories, yet no resentments. There are opportunities which are gone forever. Yet all that remains are goals and dreams to firmly and completely occupy their place.

You wouldn't expect a young man who left his biological parents at age nine and was then forced to bounce around from foster home to foster home for the next eight years NOT to have a chip on his shoulder.

You wouldn't expect such a young man to be living independently while still in high school.

You might not expect such a young man to be more nervous about his next big race than starting life every morning alone in a North Philadelphia apartment.

And you wouldn't expect such a young man to be preparing to write the final chapter of his exceptional high school track career; all while clearly focused on his future in college and beyond.

But you haven't met Khaliff Featherstone. Simon Gratz senior – and recent signee with Barton County Community College. MORE...

It takes a Simon Gratz village... Don Rich Apr 15, 2008

 

There is confidence, yet no arrogance. There is competitiveness, yet no anger. There are bad memories, yet no resentments. There are opportunities which are gone forever. Yet all that remains are goals and dreams to firmly and completely occupy their place.

You wouldn't expect a young man who left his biological parents at age nine and was then forced to bounce around from foster home to foster home for the next eight years NOT to have a chip on his shoulder.

You wouldn't expect such a young man to be living independently while still in high school.

You might not expect such a young man to be more nervous about his next big race than starting life every morning alone in a North Philadelphia apartment.

And you wouldn't expect such a young man to be preparing to write the final chapter of his exceptional high school track career; all while clearly focused on his future in college and beyond.

But you haven't met Khaliff Featherstone. Simon Gratz senior – and recent signee with Barton County Community College. MORE...

 

It takes a Simon Gratz village... Don Rich Apr 15, 2008

There is confidence, yet no arrogance. There is competitiveness, yet no anger. There are bad memories, yet no resentments. There are opportunities which are gone forever. Yet all that remains are goals and dreams to firmly and completely occupy their place.

You wouldn't expect a young man who left his biological parents at age nine and was then forced to bounce around from foster home to foster home for the next eight years NOT to have a chip on his shoulder.

You wouldn't expect such a young man to be living independently while still in high school.

You might not expect such a young man to be more nervous about his next big race than starting life every morning alone in a North Philadelphia apartment.

And you wouldn't expect such a young man to be preparing to write the final chapter of his exceptional high school track career; all while clearly focused on his future in college and beyond.

But you haven't met Khaliff Featherstone. Simon Gratz senior – and recent signee with Barton County Community College. MORE...

 

Gliding to the top. PA\'s new power putter is just hitting his stride. Don Rich Jan 29, 2008

\"\"
Dan Kwiatkowski (PA) is throwing well in '08
(Photo from PennTrackXC.com)

Every year there are athletes who emerge from the pack to take a place among the best at an event in their district or even their state. But once in a while an athlete emerges from that pack to take a place at the top of their event – nationwide. Dan Kwiatkowski is the first PA track & field athlete to make that jump in 2008. And the jump is huge. Actually, the throw is huge. Dan is a shot putter, and now leads the MileSplit Network national rankings in the event with his recent throw of 63-00.00. That is an astounding jump of seven feet from his outdoor best in 2007.
Photo: 2007 Outdoor States - 6th place for AAA team champs McDowell

FSU/FPC Alum Alicia Williams Runs Fast Indoor 400 Don Rich Jan 21, 2008

Florida State/Flagler Palm Coast grad is on her way to USATF Champs in February.

There are many athletes who graduate from college and are left with the feeling that they didn't accomplish everything they wanted to during their collegiate careers. Most move on with their lives, content to hold on to those memories and to make their mark in their chosen profession.

But a few just can't shake the feeling that they could have accomplished more – that if given the time and circumstances – they can do some great things.

Flagler Palm Coast and Florida State University alum Alycia Williams is one such athlete.

Photo by Vic Sailer, PhotoRun.net