New England Girls Meet Preview
All eyes will be on Lake Region senior Kate Hall as she competes in her final New England Championship on Saturday at the Dr. Paul S. Hill, Jr. Stadium. Hall the greatest sprinter/jumper in Maine history missed the championship a year ago in order to compete in the New Balance Outdoor National Championship.
"It's hard to believe that this New England meet on Saturday will be my last. It's definitely bittersweet, but I am beyond excited to compete against some amazing athletes that I have gotten to know throughout my high school career. My goals are to have fun and to set some seasonal or personal records." Hall said of her final meet on Maine soil
She enters the meet as the top seed in 100m (11.69) & the long jump (20-4 3/4) plus the #2 seed in the 200m (24.82). Hall who won the 100m title as a sophomore in a meet record 11.69, will no question be looking to lower that mark. But she'll have stiff competition from defending champion Quashira McIntosh (Hope, RI) who won the RI state title in speedy 11.82.
In the long jump the meet record of 19-3 1/2 doesn't stand much of a chance when Hall steps on the runway, the senior has the the 6th best jump in country this spring, and is coming off a national title indoors. This spring, Hall has jumped over 20ft in her last three competitions.
McIntosh (pictured above) is also the defending champion in the 200m and enters as the top seed with her 24.32, Hall will have her work cut out if she is to win the half-lapper. Amazingly "Q" is the top seed in the 400m as well entering with a seed time of 55.44 that she ran winning the RI state title in a huge personal best.
The sprints won't be the only race to watch as the 1600m promises to be a good one as last year's 800m champion Maegan Doody (Oyster River, NH) has moved up and has the top seed time of 4:49.82 which she ran in winning the NH Meet of Champions last weekend, the mark was a 4 second personal best. Doody won't have it easy as the LaSalle duo of Eliza Rego & Sheridan Wilbur both have excellent credentials. Rego won the RI state 1500m title in a seasonal best 4:32.42 with her teammate Wilbur 4:33.32 a stride behind.
Another distance race to watch is the 800m as last year's 1600m champion Danae Rivers (Wilbur Cross, CT) will race, she was the runner-up a year ago. Rivers is coming off a huge performance at the CT State Open where she won the 1600m (4:48.33) & the 800m (2:14.94). With just the 800m in her legs she'll be chasing her personal best of 2:08.66 (22nd ranked in the country) but she won't be the favorite as that goes to 2013 champion and meet record holder Hannah Parker (Coe Brown, NH) who is the top seed at 2:08.16, she has a best of 2:07.62 this spring.
The 300m hurdles looks to be an exciting race as Jaliyah White (Hillhouse, CT) the CT State Open champion coming off a personal best 43.18 the #1 seed. She'll be challenged by defending champion Corinne Kennedy (Lebanon, NH) who ran a 43.27 to win the NH Meet of Champions. With these two pushing each other the meet record of 42.82 could be in danger of falling.
In the throws Alva Hicks a senior from Classical, RI is the top thrower with her 147-9 personal best effort she threw to win the RI State meet. Hicks throw is an impressive 18 feet further than the #2 seed. Hicks is also the #3 seed in the shot put.
Others to watch
Hannah DeBalsi (Staples, CT) DeBalsi the meet record holder (10:10.26) in the 3200m will be looking to win her 2nd New England title at the distance. She is coming off a 4:49.67 effort at 1600m, a seasonal best in finishing as the runner-up in the CT State Open. She doubled back running her fastest 3200m of the season of 10:28.76.
Katherine Miner (Frontier, MA) Miner cleared a personal best 5-9 to win the MA All-State title, her progression from a year ago is staggering as she only cleared 5-4 just a year ago.
Kenya Warner (Windsor, CT) Warner jumped 37-10.5 to win the CT State open, and has a best jump of 37-11 3/4 on the seaon
Skylar Barthelmes (Dartmouth, MA) Barthelmes won the MA All-State meet with her throw of 41-5 1/4, the senior has an all-time best of 42-7.