Cream of the crop

By Brandon Paul
For The Daily Item

May 10, 2008 07:40 am

— SUNBURY — The best of the best in both divisions of the Susquehanna Valley Conference will take to the track, and the field, today in the annual SVC Track and Field Championship Meet, beginning at 10 a.m at Shikellamy Stadium.
Track enthusiasts from all parts of the Valley will be able to enjoy competitions featuring athletes who normally would not square off against one another because of the separation of Division I and Division II in the league.
On the boys’ side, the undefeated Montoursville Warriors, SVC-I champions, are seeded first in six events, including three alone by senior Keenan Michael, who is tops in the 110 high hurdles (14.14 seconds), 300 intermediate hurdles, (38.64) and 200 (21.50). Michael is directly followed by teammates Kyle Hooker (22.14) and Aaron Bower (22.60) in the latter event. All three of Michael’s seeded times are faster than the current meet records.
Intriguing interdivisional contests for the boys include Southern Columbia senior Justin Knoebel, seeded third in the shot put (50 feet, 8 1/2 inches), matching up against Tyler Thomas of Jersey Shore, and Terry Dewalt of Danville, who are seeded first (54-01) and second (51-03), respectively.
Graham Huber, of the undefeated SVC-II champion Lewisburg Green Dragons, stands atop the high jump rankings with a seeded height of 6-6. Danville’s Kevin Black is second at 6-2.
Only days removed from their pole vaulting battle in Tuesday’s final dual meet of the season, Shikellamy senior Nicco Dalpiaz (14-6) and Milton junior Todd Postie (14-6) will once again try their hands at breaking the 15-0 mark.
Although most championship finals races will take place later in the day, an early-morning gem could be the boys’ 3,200 relay, set to begin at 11 a.m. First-seeded Lewisburg (8:17.66) and second-seeded Danville (8:17.82) are separated by mere fractions of a second in a long-distance race that just might be decided at the finish line.
On the girls’ side, perennial league power Lewisburg, the unbeaten SVC-II champion, lead the field with six first-place seeds, highlighted by three for sophomore Kalyn Fisher. Fisher is the top seed in the 800 (2:13.05), a time faster than the meet record, and joins with her Green Dragons’ teammates in the 3,200 (9:30.11) and 1,600 relays (4:06.25). Lewisburg’s Mindy Haulman is the top seed in two events: the javelin and the 3,200.
Montoursville junior Tessa McKibben could potentially be the story of the entire meet, as she is the No. 1 seed in an astounding four events, the 100 high hurdles (15.34), 300 intermediate hurdles (45.29), long jump (18-9), and triple jump (37-9).
In the 300 hurdles, McKibben will be pushed by Lewisburg sophomore Hannah Jones (46.29), seeded second, when the two face off for the first time this season.
Lauren Redington, the top seed in the 100 at 12.77, will also anchor the Shikellamy 400 relay team (51.10) against second-seeded Selinsgrove (51.14) and third-seeded Lewisburg (51.16).
Selinsgrove junior Danica Deckard is the lone representative from the unbeaten SVC-I champion Seals to grab a top seed, besting all competitors in the high jump with a height of 5-6. Deckard is also the defending league champion in that event.
This will also be the final SVC meet. Next year, the teams will compete in a three-division Heartland Conference.

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