Freshman Sanaa Hebron Runs 38.79/55.04 Double; Marlee Starliper Rips Fast 4:47.21 Mile; Shea Weilbaker Earns Return To Millrose Mile

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- George School PA freshman Sanaa Hebron is inexperienced at high school track and field. As it turns out, she's got a family history that's got her gravitating in this direction.

Hebron won the invitational 300 meters at the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational in 38.79 seconds. It's the fastest time by a freshman since Sydney McLaughlin ran 38.55 in 2014. Her brother, Neshaminy PA senior Savion Hebron won the boys race in 34.21.

"We're a track family," Sanaa Hebron said.

Their athletic roots are manifold. Vaughn Hebron, the former Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos running back, is their father. As such, he's played a role in pointing them toward track.

"I've always run with my dad since I was young," Savion Hebron said. "I wanted to play football, but in high school, I was like, 'I'm pretty good at track. Let me get serious about this.' And that was kind of how it went."

They aren't the only runners in the family. Older sister Saloni still holds the Neshaminy High record for 400 meters (she ran for Morgan State until recently). And Savion's twin brother, Savaughn, is a middle-distance runner on the Neshaminy team.

"We all ran track at one time or another (including my father)," Savion said. "Except for my mom. She played softball."

But it's the youngest sibling, Sanaa, who might have the most chutzpah. After winning the small schools 400 meters Saturday in 55.04, she dashed to a convincing win in the 300. 

"She's just trying to keep up (with her brothers) when they run," mother Kim Hebron said. "Her brothers run 49.26 (for 400 meters) and she said, 'I'm not that far behind.'"

Starliper Runs Fast December Mile

Northern York PA junior Marlee Starliper, coming off a 13th-place finish at Foot Locker Nationals, aimed for a NYRR Millrose Games qualifier in the mile based on her cross country strength. 

Rolling through splits of 68 and 2:22, and paired with Ursuline Academy NY's Lily Flynn, Starliper broke free in the last 600 meters, rolling to a national-leading time of 4:47.21. It is believed to be the fastest high school girls indoor mile ever recorded in December.

Only former Leesville Road NC standout Nevada Mareno and Ravenscroft NC graduate Ryen Frazier have run faster indoor miles than Starliper before Jan. 1, both at November All-Comers meets at JDL Fast Track in their home state. Frazier clocked 4:44.20 in 2014 and Mareno eclipsed that mark by running 4:43.49 in 2015.

"Today was pretty special because I was pretty disappointed after Foot Locker," Starliper said. "I was able to get my head on straight. I'm excited about the rest of my season because I feel like I had so much more left."

Starliper earned a NYRR Millrose Games berth with the win. Flynn finished second in 4:54.21.

Saragota Springs NY senior Shea Weilbaker guaranteed his return to the NYRR Millrose Games as well, gapping the field with a 4:19.27 win.

"I think last year I was more worried about qualifying," Weilbaker said. "This year I have so much more experience, I think I'm going to do really well at Millrose this year and my fitness is going to show later in the season."

Germantown Academy PA junior Lily Cohen's prospects as a pole vaulter are exciting. Cohen transferred to Germantown, where she is coached by former Olympic silver medalist Lawrence Johnson, over the summer after attending Queens' Benjamin Cardozo High. 

She won the small schools pole vault with a 12-foot clearance.

"She came down for one of our camps over the summer," Johnson said. "Just watching her physical athletic ability, and combine that with her work ethic (it's exciting). Combine those two and you have something special."

Cohen, who entered the season with a best of 12-6.25, raved about her connection with the personable Johnson, and the heights they can beat.

"LoJo, he specializes in the pole vault," Cohen said. "Right away we hit it off. We make a good team."

For Johnson's part, after a 10-year prep coaching career, he's thrilled about Cohen's makeup.

"I've been coaching athletes for over a decade, and I've never had a competitor like her, when you talk about physical ability and calm, when it comes to meets," Johnson said. "I honestly believe before she leaves she'll be going after the national record."

Christopher Columbus High NY senior Anthony Brodie won the boys invitational 500 meters in a meet-record 1:04.63. Brodie is considering Georgetown and Villanova among other schools (he's still open in recruiting). 

Franklin MD junior Jasmine Johnson won the girls invitational 500 easily in 1:16.71.

"I don't have (Cameron Hinton and Nyjari McNeil)  to train with in practice anymore," Johnson said."It's just me against the time." 

Washington Latin DC swept both distance invitational races, with junior Luke Tewalt taking the boys 2-mile (9:33.93) and sophomore Zoe Edelman winning the girls 3,000 meters (10:31.98).

Spring Creek Campus NY, in its first year of (indoor) existence, sniped medals in the small schools 4x200 and 4x400.