Girls Delcos: Strath Haven takes early edge in team title race

If Thursday’s first day of competition at the girls Delco Track & Field Championships is any indication, the race for the team title is going to come down to a battle between nine-time defending champ Strath Haven and Upper Darby.

And it probably will go down to the wire.

Dana Hubbell claimed a pair of medals, and Alexandra Hehn earned gold in the pole vault to give the Panthers the early lead in the quest for the team title.

Hubbell was second in both the high jump (5-3) and the triple jump (36-6). Both were personal-best performances. Hubbell is the defending champion and the top seed in the 100-meter hurdles.

Hehn won the pole vault in 9-6 to give Strath Haven 50 points after five events at Upper Darby’s Memorial Field. Jordan Brown was second in the shot put (38-8 ½).

The Royals are right on the Panthers’ heels thanks to a big day from junior Kayla Thorpe and three medals in the triple jump. Upper Darby ranked up 43.5 points.

Thorpe unseated Brown as the county champ in the shot put (39-3 ½) and also won the javelin (124-10). The performance in the javelin was a personal best by 10 feet, 2 inches. Senior Siani Barnes (35-11 ½), freshman Alice Etienne (34-6 ¼) and junior Esther Akande (34-2 ¼) placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively in the triple jump. Olivia Thomas was fourth in the shot put (37-9) for the Royals.

Ridley All-Delco Meghan Lynch successfully defended her title in the triple jump. The Drexel-bound senior won with a personal-best effort of 38-1 ½.

Haverford All-Delco Olivia Boyce defended her title in the high jump. The senior cleared 5-4 on her only attempt to edge Hubbell for the title.

The championships conclude Saturday with the field events starting at 4 p.m. Action on the track begins at 5 p.m.