LaTavia Thomas

West Catholic has yet to find a meet, competition or track they don\'t enjoy. Winning will do that for you.

They went prepared for their competition. And the West Catholic girls of Philadelphia, and Ryan Whiting of Central Dauphin, captured six events in two days of some of the best competition in the US.

Let\'s face it, teams and individuals are taking the indoor season more seriously than ever. As evidence, there were an astounding eight STATE records set this season in Pennsylvania. A few were even set and re-set by the individuals and teams several times.

Running most of the race in 3rd through 5th, the North Penn boys ran an amazing race start to finish, coming up strong to take 3rd in 7:49.16. And the Simon Gratz posted their best time ever, setting a new 4x200 state record of 1:27.13. Unfortunately, they took 2nd, and it took a national record of 1:26.09 by Long Beach Poly to do it. Gratz\' time is the 4th best all-time. West Catholic\'s girls beat the five-year old 3:45.07 record of William Penn in the 4x400, going 3:41.96. And Latavia Thomas of West Catholic bettered her own 800 state record of 2:08.47 with her first place 2:07.10.

In a strategic race run at a fast past from the gun, Latavia Thomas of West Catholic bided her time, moving to the top three with 500 to go before unleashing a kick with about 125 meters to go, posting a US#2 2:07.10, missing Joetta Clark\'s junior record by just half a second.

You\'ll see a lot of West Catholic stars Nicole Leach and Latavia Thomas. Leach could contribute to 40 points. And in the 60 Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump and High Jump, watch the battle within the battle, as Nicole Smith goes against Erin Hannon and a host of others.

The stars came out and reflected brightly off the shiny Kutztown track with performances that you\'d expect at a meet of this caliber, but some showdowns weren\'t as close as anticipated...

In high school track, not all rules are created equally -- Why the rules of competition and the rules of eligibility are managed differently.

According to PIAA Assistant Executive Director Jodi Good, the state associations of Pennsylvania and New York have reached an agreement to enable non-member schools from any state to compete against NY athletes in any event in any sport in PA.

West Catholic won their first indoor PCL championship since 2000, but it was close. Cardinal O\'Hara took their 9th straight track title (indoor and outdoor).

This installment on the sanctioning crisis takes the pulse of several of the hottest fronts - some with immediate impact, and some that could have an impact on the sport for many years to come. There\'s a banning in Boston as an elite \'sanctioned\' athlete is missing the chance of a season to race against the best. There are interpretations upon interpretations about sanctioning forms that seem to say similar things, but aren\'t recognized by other states. There is a meet that is doing their own preemptive preventive measures to try to avoid the mess. And there\'s a possibility on the horizon that a major meet may be forced to choose between states. Oh, and there are rumors.

A US#11 Long Jump from Great Valley\'s Janessa Murphy. More standout performances from the girls of West Catholic. And some fast times in the 3000 and DMR.

West Catholic girls were trying to make a statement this weekend, and they did. What was their statement? \"who needs a banked track?\" In fact one of them posted a US#1 time.

Great Valley senior Janessa Murphy is hitting her stride this indoor, taking the state lead in the Long Jump and also winning the 55 Dash. Krista Simkins went 25.5 to win the 200. Frosh Ryann Krais won again. West Catholic, behind dual 2:22\'s from Nicole Leach and Latavia Thomas, ran 9:48.1 to win the 4x800. And Frosh Karen Shump put the shot 39-00.

Emerging talent is making their mark on the PA indoor season. But it\'s the expected dominance of the West Catholic girls that keeps shining through at every meet.

In New York, the NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High School Athletic Association) is the final word. Yet, thanks to renewed and apparently expanding enforcement of existing regulations, it\'s turning out they also have influence in a lot of other states.

Featuring athletes from West Catholic, Archbishop Carroll and Perkiomen Valley, PA ran exceptionally well at the Bishop Loughlin Games/168th Street Invitational on Sat Dec 18th.

Hatboro-Horsham delivered a 3200m message. Ryann Krais of Methacton (in photo) burst onto scene in the first two meets, and tonight, she continued to amaze...

It was West Catholic night in the sprints at the first PCL Girls meet of the season.

The West Catholic girls and Simon Gratz boys took their top relays to New York and established some early season top marks both nationally and state-wide, while setting school and meet records.

Nicole Leach and Latavia Thomas are off and runnin\' fast for West Catholic. And there\'s new freshman talent making their oval debut for Conestoga and others.