The Public and Catholic Leagues should be well represented at the PIAA state track and field championship on Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26. The state title meet will be held at Shippensburg University.

These local track and field athletes are coming off great performances in the District 12 track meet at Northeast High School’s Charles Martin Memorial Stadium last week. Both leagues will send some terrific athletes to compete for the state crown this weekend.

In the Class AAA division, Swenson has a great sprinter, Niager Mathis, who won the 100 and 200 meters at the city championship meet. Mathis clocked a 10.89 in the 100 meters and ran a time of 21.68 in the 200 meters.

Courtney Washington, Southern High’s brilliant sprinter, was quite impressive winning two events in the city title meet. Washington took first place in the 100 (12.25) and 200 meters (25.56).

Diamond Hodge was a top performer in two events. Hodge, a Girls High track star, won the 100 (15.27) and 300 meter hurdles (44.86). Hodge broke Jasmine Wanamaker’s record of 44.88 in the 300 meter hurdles, which was set in 2008. Wanamaker was a former Girls High track and field standout.

Ce-Aira Brown won the 800 meters. Brown shattered her own record in the event from a year ago. She ran 2:12.73 taking first place. Last year, she set a meet record of 2:17.11 in the 800 meters. Brown also helped Overbrook win the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay.

In Class AA competition, West Catholic did extremely well at the city championship meet. The Burrs will certainly be one of the teams to watch in the state title meet.

Todd Townsend, West Catholic’s outstanding hurdler, won two events. Townsend took first place in the 110 (14.66) and 300 meter hurdles (38.12). He broke former Engineering and Science star Brandon Lane’s meet record of 39.58 set in 2005 in the 300 meter hurdles.

Jada Stewart, West Catholic sprinter, won the 100 (11.86) and 200 meters (24.56). Stewart will head to the state meet as one of the top sprinters in the city.

Swenson hurdler Amy Hicks is another local standout. Hicks won 100 (14.72) and 300 meter hurdles (44.56).

Rounding out the top track and field stars are Engineering and Science shot putter Michael Turner and E&S 1,600 meter runner Danae Colston. Turner won his event with a 52-5 toss, which broke his 47-1 ½ mark from last year. Colston ran a meet record 5:19.79 breaking former E&S runner Syeeda Gee’s record which was set in 2007.

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

This is a big week for high school track and field in the city. The PIAA state championship track and field meet will be held May 24-25 at Shippensburg University. There are some key track and field performers to watch from the Public and Catholic Leagues in the different classifications.

These track and field standouts turned in brilliant performances in the District 12 track and field championship meet.

Niager Mathis, a great sprinter from Swenson, is one of the top athletes in Class AAA. Mathis won the 100 (10.91) and the 400 (48.25) at the city title meet. He also ran on the Lions’ 4x400 relay team featuring Jalen Marks, Stephan Julieover and Malik Jefferson that finished in first place (3:23.24).

Samuel Reid, Central High’s shotputter, threw 56-5 to win his event. Reid could be a major performer in the field events at the state meet.

Archbishop Ryan’s Jeremiah Agrio won the 110 (14.66) and 300 hurdles (39.99). Agrio has done a great job with the hurdles throughout the spring season.

In Class AA, Delaware Valley Charter has a terrific sprinter in Joseph Spearman who won the 100 (11.48) and 200(22.58) in the District 12 championship meet. Spearman also ran on Delaware Valley’s 4x400 relay team that took first place (3:27.88) with Tyrell Maddox, Joshua Wilkinson and Tyshawn Walker. He could be a top contender at the state championship meet.

In the girls’ Class AAA, Diamond Hodge of Girls High, was nothing short of sensational at the District 12 meet. Hodge won the 100 (15.30) and 300-meter hurdles (44.67). She also captured first place in the long jump with (18-1) and the triple jump (38-7). Hodge should be a featured performer at the state title meet.

In the girls’ Class AA competition, Swenson appears to have a chance to make a lot of noise at the state meet. The Lions are coming off a tremendous showing at the District 12 championship meet. Amy Hicks, Swenson’s outstanding sprinter, won the 100 (12.10) and 100 hurdles (14.48). Tichina Rhodes turned in a great performance won the 200 (25.09) and 400 (55.38). In addition, Swenson won the 4x100 relay (47.76) with Hicks, Amani Nesmith, Jameela Muhammad and Imani Harris-Quillen and the 4x400 relay (3:53.47) with Markeeta Thomas, Sydney Coffee, Rhodes and Harris-Quillen.

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .