2017 State Recaps: 4x800m

4x800m

The 4x8 is always a great event to watch. There’s something about the thrill of running for your teammates that gets people moving fast. And PA especially has a knack for this event. In total, we had 9 squads break 7:50 in the 4x8 and that was with some brutal qualifying prelims to navigate just a day earlier.  

Over the coming days, I will be doing my best to get as many splits as I can out of the PCN video, but I don’t know how much that will get me. If you have splits for any of the relays (4x8, 4x4, AA or AAA), please shoot us an email (jarrettfelix1130@gmail.com) or tweet at us or comment. We’d really appreciate it if you could get us the splits and names of the relay runners.

AA

Seneca came in as the heavy favorites with easily the best qualifying time from district week. But as we have seen plenty of times before, upsets can and do happen. After one leg, Wyomissing put the pressure on the Seneca boys, storming out to a lead. Sophomore Jake Schneider led off for Seneca and hung tough at the front, doing his best to hold his ground. Wyomissing ultimately handed off about 4 second ahead of Seneca and a couple seconds ahead of the rest of the field as well.

Phoenix Myers shot out like a rocket to try and make up ground. I estimated his first lap at about 53 seconds. That was enough to get him to the lead and, despite tying up down the stretch, he clocked a 1:54-1:55 kind of split on his carry and put his team in a strong position. Adam Hanes took the baton next and opened up the gap Seneca needed with a 1:54 carry of his own and, over the course of the second lap, he essentially sealed the victory for his squad. The only goal left for Donovan Myers on the anchor leg was the 7:44 state record.

With that in mind, Donovan sprinted out, perhaps even faster than his twin, and rolled through 400 meters in somewhere near 52 seconds. That put them about 60 seconds away from the record if Donovan could just hang on. He rigged up down the stretch, missing the record, but giving Seneca a second straight state title and breaking their own season best mark in 7:48.92. No one else was within 10 seconds of the squad.

The fast early pace for both Myers brothers likely left them spent for the individual events, but they left everything on the track chasing that 7:44 record. They didn’t get it, but Seneca proved they were a truly elite 4x8 squad. It would have been fun to see them mixed in with the AAA squads to find out how they would have finished.

Wyomissing held on for second with what appeared to be a fairly controlled effort from anchor Joe Cullen. It marks the third straight year that Wyomissing has placed in the top 2 at states in this relay, all with Cullen on the roster. He returns next year to try and make it 4 for 4. Their district mates from Trinity were able to bring home the bronze medals in 8:02 and then Holy Redeemer, who entered the meet in the 8:20s by seed time, popped off a big time 8:02. District 2 always seems to find that extra gear in the 4x8 at states. Recently, it’s been Lakeland, but Holy Redeemer, a surprise squad during XC, was the team to turn it up a notch this year.

AAA

After a pair of 7:56 teams with championship pedigree were bounced in the prelims, it was clear that the 4x8 state final would be, as the kids say these days, “fire”. Right from the gun, all the teams sprinted out the gates for a blazing start. The familiar figure of Dennis Manyeah took up position at the front of the group, but he received challenges from all over as Pennsbury (Jed Scratchard?) and State College (Owen Wing) both made bids for the lead. Manyeah sprinted away over the final straightaway, but it was crowded behind him as he handed off, probably in the 1:53-1:54 ballpark.

Things continued to be quick on the second leg as no one backed off the pace. Pennridge, always a formidable opponent, worked their way up the pack with what I believe was Matt Eissler taking the baton. The sophomore and indoor state medalist at 800 got his team in a great position at the front as basically the whole field continued to fight for space.

The third leg was where CB West really left their mark as Alec Hofer took the baton. Hofer didn’t run on West’s Penn Relays squad, but he was an important member of their indoor state championship run. Hofer took the baton and did work on the second lap as West’s only senior gave them the lead heading into the anchor leg. Meanwhile, State College’s Joey Feffer was surging up the field, driving the Little Lions into position to challenge for a repeat title. Hofer split about a 1:55 while Feffer carried maybe a second faster putting Jake Claricurzio and Nick Feffer in a dual for the state title.

These two meet indoors and finished in a dead heat at the line, Claricurzio barely edging out Feffer. Now came the rematch. Other relays were still in contention, but these two programs, both with state championships in their trophy cases, seemed like the only ones to watch. Claricurzio held his lead and fought off Feffer every chance he could, most notably at the 200 to go mark, forcing Feffer wide. Finally, Jake put his sprint on for the final 100 and kicked to victory. Both guys were about 1:52 on the carry.

CB West stopped the clock in 7:40.14, giving them a second state title this decade. They will return 3 legs from that squad, including anchor Jake Claricurzio. They will likely be the favorites again next year to defend this title and maybe even take a shot at their 7:38 school record from the magical 2011 season.

For State College, they leave with a well-deserved silver. Amazingly, the State College boys have clocked a 4^th straight time at 7:41 or faster, an unprecedented result. Their mark of 7:41.42 makes them the second fastest relay in school history behind only last year’s team. It’s ahead of both the 2015 squad that placed 3^rd and the 2014 squad that won it all. They lose their 3 fastest legs this year, so we will see what they’ve got left for next year, but for now you have to appreciate what they’ve been able to accomplish.

Speaking of historic programs, Pennridge, North Penn and Abington are all back on the podium again with sub 7:47 clockings. Pennridge finishes 3^rd in the state after being a virtual non factor for the majority of the year. Penn Wood and Pennsbury also joined them in the sub 7:47 club, Penn Wood running a brilliant race that was even faster than the 2014 that shocked a lot of people with a top 5 finish. These teams plus CB West gave District One 6 of the 8 state medalists in the 4x8.

Everybody that made it to the finals deserves a lot of credit. Lower Dauphin stunned people when they popped off a 7:53 and then a 7:50 on back to back days. They had only just broken 8 minutes at districts and were buried in the pack, but the LD boys turned it on when it counted. They had a balanced squad and had produced some quality open times so I thought they could be dangerous, but you need to put it together on the right day and this squad did.

Also really turning heads was Seneca Valley. SV was the only team to break 7:50 twice this season and they did it with a pretty young group. At least two of the guys on this relay were sophomores and they may have been the two fastest. Just like cross, Sam Owori and Seth Ketler came up big at states and helped lift this school to the top of the WPIAL. It’s been a huge year for Seneca Valley and capping things with a 7:46 is no joke. This could be just the beginning considering what they return for both this upcoming fall and next spring.

Lastly, shout out to my boys from Williamsport. The District 4 school is easy to miss in results as they don’t race the major teams often, but they produced a 7:54 in prelims and a 7:55 in the finals, holding their own among the super powers. I was very happy to see this school make the state finals for another season as they continue to represent the lesser known District 4 well.