The 2016 State College Area High School Girls Track & Field Team built on the program’s history of success and delivered an exceptional season. Marked by undefeated dual meets, record‑breaking performances, and a second‑place finish at the PIAA AAA State Championship, their achievements weren’t the result of one standout athlete or one standout event. Their performance reflected a team effort, a competitive roster shaped by exceptional coaching, adding another season to a tradition of excellence.
The team swept every major meet, capturing titles in the Mid‑Penn Conference Commonwealth Division and at the West Central Coaches Meet, the Shippensburg Invitational, and the Bruce Dallas Invitational. Their undefeated 7–0 dual meet record underscored the team’s depth across sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps, and throws.
Their District VI Championship marked the eleventh consecutive district title under Head Coach Jennifer Evans, a streak that speaks to the program’s consistency and culture. With Evans leading sprints and relays—and a skilled staff including Rebecca Donaghue, the late Tom Kleban, Artie Gilkes, Matthew Seeland, and Joe Sarra—the team thrived.
The 2016 squad earned 32 points at the PIAA AAA State Championships, finishing as state runners‑up. Their medalists showcased both speed and versatility:
- Haley Crawford – 6th in the 200m (25.17),
- Natasha Fedkina – 6th in the 1600m
- Rachel Wylie – 4th in the 300m hurdles, school records in both hurdle events
- Veronika Karpenko – 2nd in long jump and 2nd in triple jump
- Taylor Givens – 7th place in long jump
- 4x100m Relay (Wylie, Givens, Zoe Wicks, Crawford) — 6th place and a new school record (47.51)
Additional team State Meet individual competitors and relay members included Sarah Almarzooqi, Sophie Bollinger, Jordan Bair, Catherine Curtin, Jackie Horner, Emma Maras, Julia Neely, Lyndsey Reed, Jordi Rohrbach, Emma Simon, Kinsey Thompson, and Zoe Wicks.
Four school records were achieved in 2016 . . . and three still stand today, ten years later:
- 4x100m Relay — 47.51
- 200m — 25.17 (Crawford)
- 100m Hurdles — 14.79 (Wylie)
- 300m Hurdles — 43.80 (Wylie)
What made the 2016 team extraordinary wasn’t just the medals or the records—it was the collective spirit of teamwork. Athletes supported one another across event groups, celebrated each other’s success, and embraced the high expectations set by the team’s proud history.
Full team roster:
