Whippets lead state contingent

Chester Rustin.

The Whippets’ Josh McLemore comes into states off a double-gold medal performance at districts in the 200 and 400. He will have the top time in the 200, and along with Coatesville’s Terrance Laird, they are among five runners in the field who qualified under 22 seconds. He also wil be the top qualifier in the 400. Nate Alleyne of West and Keegan Hughes of Bishop Shanahan are the other local entrants.

Jeremy Jennings of Downingtown East is the second top qualifier in the 100. He won districts in a time of 10.73. Brassir Stocker of Coatesville comes in with a time of 11.04. Kent Hall of Unionville and PJ Murray of Conestoga qualified for the 3200.

In the field events, Dondre Pittman of Coatesville will compete in the high jump. Three area athletes will perform in the pole vault — Richard Iovanisci and Charles Dever of West Chester Rustin and Xavier Feliciano of Kennett. Downingtown West’s Darian Alston is the second-ranked qualifier in the triple jump as he won the gold in the district meet at 47-6 ½.

In the girls Class AAA meet, the Whippets’ Emma Planck (1600) and Aislynn Devlin (3200) are looking to double up on their gold medals won at Coatesville. In the 3200. Planck will have the third-best time among the qualifiers, and will be joined by Emily Bracken of Bishop Shanahan. Devlin will have the best time by a wide margin. Kacie Breeding of Unionville will also participate.

Villa Maria’s Erin Zimmerman will be the district’s gold medal winner in the javelin. Other participants to watch for are Oxford’s Katie Dodson in the 100 hurdles, Evelyn Berecz of Downingtown East in the 100 hurdles, the triple jump and the long jump, Samantha Pancoast of Unionville in the javelin and teammate Anna Juul in the 800.