SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University Jack Roddick High School Invitational has gained a reputation over the years as being a preview of sorts for the PIAA Track and Field Championships.
Of course, this should come as no surprise for a mega-invite that’s been able to build and grow for nearly a century.
Athletes from all over the state — and locally from Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, Chambersburg, and Fairfield — will gather at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium on Saturday for the 99th Roddick Invitational.
We’ve selected this star-studded event as our Invitational of the Week.
From the beginning of Saturday’s invite until the end, fans should expect postseason-caliber competition in nearly event. Locals like Waynesboro’s Bre McIlquham (hurdles), Greencastle-Antrim’s Noah Parks (mid-distance), and Chambersburg’s Natalie Quinn (distance) will be looking to shine among the stars.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Shippensburg University Jack Roddick Invitational
Start time: Saturday, 9 a.m., at Shippensburg University
Meet the Tribe: Waynesboro will be represented at the Roddick Invitational by senior star hurdler Bre McIlquham and freshman distance prospect Morgan Jones … McIlquham, who leads the Local.News1 coverage area in both the 100 hurdles (16.0) and 300 hurdles (48.04), will compete in both events on Saturday … Jones leads her Waynesboro peers in both the 400 and 1,600 and is entered to compete this weekend in the 3,200. She will be aiming to beat her season-best time of 13:31.0, which she logged in a dual against Big Spring on March 31.
Meet the Blue Devils: Greencastle-Antrim brings 17 athletes, nine boys and eight girls, to the Roddick Invitational, and has entries in every relay event … Noah Parks, the only area runner to break two minutes in the 800 this season, is entered in his top event, as well as the 2,000 steeplechase … Parks will be joined in the 2,000 steeplechase by teammate Billy Bender … Spencer Long, Cort Bradley, and Jerry Amstutz, who rank 1-2-3 in the Local.News1 coverage area in the 100, will all be in competition on Saturday … Hurdlers Logan Andou and Ryan Marquiss will compete, as will throwers Brady Pappa and Reece Plum, the latter of whom leads local performers in the discus … On the girls side Chloe Parks, who ranks third locally in both the 300 hurdles (50.03) and long jump (16-3), will be be taking on both events … Kadence Abbott is entered three events — the 100, 100 hurdles, and 300 hurdles — and will be joined in the 100 hurdles by Aqueelah Hodge and Ada Oberholzer … Avery Russell owns a sub-5:30 in the girls 1,600 this season and will be looking to improve upon that time on Saturday … Alannah Coleman will compete in the javelin, an event she leads locals in with a 98-2 … Coleman will be joined by fellow throwers Madison McDonald (javelin) and Caroline Barnes (discus).
Meet the Trojans: There will be 34 Chambersburg athletes, 20 girls and 14 boys, ready to compete at Shippensburg University on Saturday … This group includes all relays except for the girls 4×800 … Natalie Quinn will be the busiest Trojan on Saturday, as she is slated to compete in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200. Quinn leads the Local.News1 coverage area in the 800 (2:24.0) and 1,600 (5:24.04), and checks in at No. 3 in the 3,200 (11:40.21) … Quinn will lead a talented distance group that includes Lilly Spohn (800, 1,600), Brook Boone (3,200), Bella Rife (3,200), Taliyah Raber (3,200), and Kaylie Savage (3,200) … Mikaila Collins (shot put, 32-7) and Fi Richards (discus, 125-5) lead locals in their respective events and will be in competition on Saturday … Addyson Brubaker, the area’s top runner in the 200 (26.2), will be entered in the 400 to guide a group of Chambersburg sprinters that include Natalia Anderson (100), Dechea Davis (100, 300 hurdles), Maggie Holtry (400), and Payton Loraw (400) … Mimi Sistrunk (high jump), Ada Velazquez (pole vault), Jaxin Frazer (long jump, triple jump), Olivia Coy (triple jump), and Addison Zimmerman (triple jump) will also be in competition for the Chambersburg girls … Look for the Trojan boys to be guided by the star power of Julian Clark and Okenie McLaughlin … Clark, the area’s top distance runner in the 3,200 (9:32.31) and No. 2 competitor in the 1,600 (4:34.20), will be competing in both events … Hopes will also be high for McLaughlin, who leads our coverage area in both the long jump (22-2) and triple jump (45-0) … Medals should be within reach for javelin throwers Aiden Pollock and Mason Mowen, who rank No. 1-2 locally with marks of 151-10 and 149-5, respectively … Jon Dawe is the only area competitor to break 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles this season, and will be looking to go even lower on Saturday. Dawe will be chased in the hurdles by teammates Isaiah Ferguson and Alex Cross … Luke Mertz (pole vault) and Brycen Purvis (long jump) round out Chambersburg’s field competitors, while Daniel Casagrandi (400), Brock Chlebowski (400), Cobe Penick (400), Cole Lehman (800), and Boston Vincenti (800, 1,600) all have the potential to put up nice times on the track.
Meet the Knights: The main draw for Fairfield on Saturday will be its blazing-fast 4×100 relay team, which scorched its way to a winning time of 44.53 at the Arctic Blast Invitational last weekend … Noah Davis will compete in the 400 for the Knights, while Michael Fisher will lace up for the 300 hurdles … Fairfield’s girls will march out a 4×100 relay squad and will be represented in the 300 hurdles by Julianna Estes.
