PIAA State Predictions

For those who are hoping to follow the meet in depth, this link to the PIAA site will provide a Performance List, Heat Sheets, and Live Results: http://www.piaa.org/sports/championship_details.aspx?sport=track 

You can also read all of etrain's pre-race analysis in the posts linked below.

3200m
The PIAA State Championships at Shippensburg. It’s an amazing meet, with stands packed with fans and the state of Pennsylvania’s top tier talent (minus a few extremely notable exceptions). On Saturday morning, the PIAA contests the 3200m, the only event that does not run prelims and finals. It’s early enough in the day that the weather isn’t too absurd (most years) but fans still come out in droves to watch one of the most entertaining events of the meet.

AAA 3200m: 1, 3 or 7?

AA 3200m: Hock Goes for the Steph

4x800m
I’ve always found the 4x800 the most fun event to talk about when it comes to outdoor track. It brings into play one of the few team aspects we have during track season (and yes, I’m aware there’s a team title up for grabs, but I really don’t get that excited about that most years. Ironically, this year is kind of an exception). You need to bring together four pieces, often from a variety of different backgrounds. You have milers moving down or sprinters moving up plus the pure 800 veterans. There’s a unique strategy component as well. The order that you run your legs in matters. 100%. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

AAA 4x800m:  25 to 1?
AA 4x800m: Random Number Generator

1600m
The glory event of high school track and field has always been the mile. The sub 4 minute barrier will always be a historic and celebrated achievement. When random classmates ask you how fast you are, they will inevitably ask what your mile time is. And nobody wants to hear the specifics on 1500m vs. 1600m vs. mile and the various conversions in between (besides me, who would need all that information to properly update my files like the huge track geek that I am).

AA 1600m: Perretta v. Vandegrift Part I
AAA 1600m: All in the Family

800m
The 800 is such a unique event. We technically loop it in with the distance events, but it requires a certain level of speed that some guys just won’t ever have. On the flip side, it requires a special distance mind set to turn things up a notch for such a long, grueling race (and an extra component of strength when you factor in rounds). Its position in the meet and its skill set most likely means you have guys doubling and tripling around this event. With crowded fields, tired legs and fast moving athletes, you are bound to get a wild couple finals at Shippensburg.

AA 800m: Upsets Can Happen
AAA 800m: "Madness" 

Keep the questions coming by the way, they've been great! You can see what's been asked so far here. We will have a special edition of TheRoundHouse tomorrow night where will answer all your questions from the post above. We also have a special guest panelist on tomorrow night's episode who you might like to see. You can watch live through the link we will post on the blog or watch the replay. Feel free to tweet at us during the show and, if you like, we will live tweet the topics we are discussing as they happen so you can pick and choose your spots.

We are excited to put on a show right before all of you do at states!