With over 60 teams, some of the best athletes in the state (and surrounding states) will be competing at the Park invite this Friday and Saturday. Friday is a little more geared for distance events as there is a frosh mile and elite mile events. Saturday is a typical meet schedule. The meet has almost doubled in size from last year due to its position in the schedule, 3 weeks before Penn Relays, as well as being known for a well-run, efficient meet. (Ledos Pizza at the concession stands doesn't hurt either!)
Hopefully, the weather warms up a little bit and we see some of the top competition in Maryland this year!
We have listed the top 10 races to make sure you watch below! Also, MileSplit will be on-site with coverage including Live Stream!
Live Stream Link (4pm Friday / 9am Saturday)
Last Year's Results: HERE
Meet Records: BOYS | GIRLS
Boys Elite Mile: If you can only watch one race, this may be the one to watch. The cutoff for this event was 4:29 and will feature some of the top distance runners in the state. Cameron Davis (Calvert Hall), Eric Penkala (Southern-AA), Ben Marks (Queen Anne's) Charlie Butler (MSJ), Joey Ensor (Howard), Jemmel Green (Gilman), and Tsedeke Jakovics (Old Mill) have all run under 4:20 and any of them could win this event. There are also 9 more athletes between 4:20 and 4:28. Its very possible the winner of this race could flirt with breaking 4:10.
Girls Elite Mile: Similar to the boys, the girl's elite mile will feature some of the top distance runners in the state. Katherine Morey (Winston Churchill), Reagan Exley (Potomac), Riley Herdson (Centennial), Mary Gorsky (McDonough), Katherine Greenwald ( Walt Whitman), and Genevieve Cown (Saint Timothy's) have all run under 5:10. There are 6 more girls seeded between 5:10 and 5:20 in the 17 girl field. You could see multiple girls dip under the magic 5-minute barrier if the pacing is good.
Girls 800 - Eight girls are seeded between 2:14 and 2:20 should make for a very exciting race! Potomac standout Raegan Exley is the top seed at 2:14 but the elite field behind her includes Isabell Walsh (Middletown DE), Genevieve Cowan (St. Timothy's) Riley Herdson (Centennial), Ava Zimmerman (Severna Park), Kate Tuttle (Potomac) Katerine Morey (Winston Churchill), and Gentry Bowie (Nothern). All of these girls have the ability to drop a big PR and it should be close till the end!
Girls 400 - 17 Girls are seeded under 60 seconds. The entire first two heats could see all 16 girls run sub-60 in this elite field. The top seed is Tressia Davis from Friendly at 55.10. Davis has won multiple State Championships. Nikiyah Willaims (Woodlawn) is seeded right behind her at 55.15 and is one of the leaders on a dominant Woodlawn team. Joining those two in the top heat will be Kenya Merrit (Woodlawn), Mackenzie Fulgham (Potomac), Mykenzie Britton (Mt. De. Sales), Bryce Hatcher (Arundel), and Gillian Stephens (Oxon Hill). They are all seeded at 57.44 or faster.
Boys 300m Hurdles. The top 8 seeds are only separated by 2 seconds which should make for a very tight finish. Cameron Hayes (Calvert Hall) is the top seed at 39.01 followed by Jayden Apenteng (Northwood) and Tori Willis Jr. (Cambridge SD). All 8 hurdlers in the fast heat are seeded at 41 seconds or faster.
Boys Triple Jump - Top seed Jakwon Kilby (Dover) is seeded at an impressive 48-00. Behind him Martin Ohakah (North County) has jumped 45-10.50, Zamir Herald (Howard) has jumped 46-00, and Nathan Chaney (Northern) has jumped 44-00. There are 18 boys seeded over 40 feet. Hopefully, the weather warms up a little and we can see some of these athletes go 45+ feet. Unfortunately one of the top jumpers, Kian Williams (Severna Park), will only be High Jumping at this meet. He has jumped 47 feet this past Indoor season.
Girls 4x200 - Woodlawn girls will look to pick up where they left off this past Indoor season. They ran a blazing 1:39 Indoors and will be the favorite at the Park Invite. Trying to score the upset will be Springbrook, Dunbar DC, and Arundel who are all seeded at 1:45 or faster.
Boys 800m - 7 Boys are seeded under 2 minutes. 3-time Indoor State Champion Eric Penkala (Southern-AA) is the top seed at 1:55 but will have stiff competition with Kohl Girley (La Plata), Jake Weakland (Hereford), Joey Ensor (Howard), and David Herzberger (Centennial). All of these runners have the ability to run 1:57 or faster and most will be fresh for this event.
Boys 200 - You know the 200's will be fast when 22.2 does not make the fast heat. The top heat will boast seed times from 21.8 to 22.1. Jaylen Etheridge (Long Reach) is the top seed and will try to beat an elite field of sprinters. 55m 3A Champ Marlin Newsome (Centennial) will be in the race along with Friendly's Donte Long and Calvert Hall's Antoine Hall Jr. All are capable of taking the win.
Mixed 4x400 - This may be one of the best events to watch. It's not run at many meets and the ability of each team to determine what legs each boy or girl will run is always exciting to see teams jump to a big lead only to have it come back at the end! Arundel is the top seed at 3:32, but Long Reach, Springbrook, Crofton, and Middletown (DE) will all be trying to chase them down.
Girls 200 - The top heat will feature 8 girls running from 24.30 to 24.91. Sydney Rhodes (Howard), 3A 55m Indoor Satte Champion is the top seed, but she will have tough competition as Tressia Davis (Friendly), Aniyah Toppin (Long Reach), Noel Evans (Arundel), Bianca Durant (Howard), and Brooke Cochran (Blake). All have the talent to win this race!