Yes, I Did Forget the 4x8

by Jarrett Felix

I tried for a solid AA post, but it was tricky. Quite frankly don't have enough data to make an informed post on a top 8 for AA. The usual players will likely be involved (Wyomissing, Trinity, Lakeland, Mercyhurst) but I'm not sure yet. As for AAA, yes I can give you a little AAA.

AAA 4x800m

1.      State College – State College ran an impressive 7:45 at Indoor Nats to back up their state championship at PSU. Counting their Millrose victory, their last three races have been nothing short of spectacular. Last year, this squad ran 7:41 with three of the same pieces: two of those pieces have already bested their marks from last outdoors. But I’m interested to see how this team will approach the outdoor season. SC was a solid team title contender last year, but ultimately DT West was a monster that could not be contained. I’m interested to see if outdoors, SC attacks the individual events a bit more, trying to get Feffer and Degleris in the 800 finals and Milligan in the 1600 finals. They would also push hard in the 4x4 and 4x8. That makes for a much busier weekend in Shippensburg and potentially an upset in the state 4x8.

2.      CB West – CB West returns three from their 7:45 squad last outdoor season and backed up that time with a 2^nd place finish at indoor states. Remember, CB West ran within two seconds of Pennsbury at districts last year, but took a small step back at Shipp while Pennsbury and Pennridge took big time steps forward. If things broke differently, who is to say CBW couldn’t have been right there at 7:40-7:41 last year? Would we then think different of them heading into this outdoor season?

3.      Abington – Abington was barely edged out by CB West at states this indoors, taking 3^rd overall. I really like this squad, which boasts two 1:56 guys and a 1:57 guy from the indoor season. I also feel like we could see Isiah Smith at some point this season at 800. I say this literally every post and maybe I’m just wrong, but I’d be surprised if they don’t experiment with him in the outdoor two lapper. And I’d also be surprised if he doesn’t become a stud in the event by season’s end.

4.      Pennridge – They still have three guys on their roster from their 7:40 last year. That team was supposed to fall off after Joey Logue graduated and yet they ran better than any relay he had ever anchored (which is saying something considering the teams he has anchored). This indoor season wasn’t amazing for them, but they did run a blazing fast DMR and develop two freshmen at 2 flat and 2:03. They didn’t have the greatest state championship, but they also didn’t use Desko or Howell on their 4x8 squad (arguably their two best legs). Howell will be the key as he stuck mostly to the quarter during the winter.

5.      CB East – I think everyone is curious what this team will do. They made the Championship of America for 4x8 last outdoors at Penn Relays with three guys who they still have on the roster. They ran right with teams like Pennridge and CB West during the regular season before faltering at Districts. They had three legs under 2 flat on their indoor 4x8 and none of them were Jake Brophy. But if Brophy sticks to the 3200, he has the 32-4x8 double on his plate, a desperately tricky affair. Does that type of double really make sense for the reigning XC and 3k state champ? Trying the 3k-DMR double indoors almost cost him a state title. But maybe Jake isn’t worried about becoming the first man to win XC-indoor 3k-outdoor 32 since Jason Weller in 2007. He’s probably never heard of Jason Weller. Don’t be surprised if we see an event change (like Sam Webb last year) or even perhaps a completely fresh run out of Jake. I think anything is on the table.

6.      Penn Wood – Penn Wood is coming on quickly in this event. Their well-timed outdoor peak of 7:49 earned a top 5 finish at states and this indoors we saw many of those same pieces continue to improve. Seck seems like someone on the verge of becoming a star to me and Manyeah is arguably already there. They have so much speed and these guys will only get stronger as they have more time to train for and learn the 800. If they find a way to get a 4^th guy at or under 2 flat, they will be a team to watch.

7.      Bishop Shanahan – Shanahan isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore after their 3^rd place finish at XC states and their indoor state medal. They head to outdoors with the same crew that ran 7:53 last year in the district finals and a rapidly developing sophomore in Logan Yoquinto. Each runner is very comfortable in their role on the relay and knows how to run their race. Then perhaps the best way to move forward is to mix things up? I’m looking forward to some top notch individual runs from these guys this spring in addition to this relay.

8.      Carlisle – Real toss up between Carlisle and Cedar Crest for this last spot, but I went with the team with the best anchor. I think this spot is fairly up for grabs (will O’Hara chase it? How about LaSalle? A sleeper pick in District 7?), but there’s big potential here with the Wisner bros and Kole already sitting around 1:53-2:02-2:03. Now I’m not sure what other pieces are waiting in the wings, but they have delivered impressively in this relay in the past (back in the Zach Brehm days) and the D3 teams always find a way to mix it up by outdoor states.