First off I thought it might be helpful to include the meet schedule for this event:
60m Hurdles trials: (winner plus times to finals)
60m Dash trials: (winner plus times to finals)
Mile run
400 meter dash
60 meter hurdles: finals
60 meter dash: finals
800 meter run
200 meter dash
3000 meter run
4 x 200 meter relay
4 x 800 meter relay
Distance Medley (1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m)
4 x 400 meter relay
Mile
My top 5 goes as follows,
1. Austin Cooper
2. Sam Ritz
3. Paul Power
4. Dominic Deluca
5. Watson Hanson
Others who could surprise in no particular order include:
Jon Perlman
Liam O'Connell
Dave Garton
Colin Abert
Chris Cummings
Dominic Huckleberry
Alex Knapp
Aaron Lauer
Dan Shalala
Josh Smith
Colin Wills
Nate Endenfield
I see Cooper riding a solid wave of momentum and pulling off a bit of a stunner upset wise. Power is on the verge of big break out in my mind. Deluca may be the fittest out of everyone but I am not yet sold on his mile abilities. Hanson was kind of almost a dice roll pick as I think Perlman, O'Connell or Cummings could easily be in the spot. Huckleberry is certainly the big sleeper if it turns out he is in racing shape which is no guarantee. Sometimes it takes a race or two to get back in the swing of things.
800m
My top 5 goes as follows,
1. Zach Brehm
2. Alek Sauer
3. Colin McLaughlin
4. Gunnar Sjoreen
5. Graham Allen
Others who could surprise in no particular order include:
James Chappell
Nate Edenfield
Jabari Freeman
Sean Dougherty
Here is the thing, Brehm is opting for the 800m at this mean, which kinda locks him in to running this event at states (he isn't going to get into the hot heat of the mile with a 4:30. So Brehm needs to run fast and get himself into the fast heat of a very competitive 800m field. I believe that he will pull out a big performance to lock up that spot. That being said, a desperate guy can take a race out hard and let a kicker come get him. That's why I think Sauer is definitely dangerous for the upset in this field. Watch out. I picked McLaughlin probably almost purely because I'm impressed by what Quakertown could do in the DM and I assume they have to have a leg who is much better than I expected. I'm betting on McLaughlin as a result. Allen and Sjoreen are both consistent and either of them could break out at any moment.
3000m
1. Cole Nissley
2. Patrick Reilly
3. Griffin Molino
4. Alexander Balla
5. Chris Cummings
Others would could surprise in no particular order include:
Kevin Lapsansky
Paul Power
Will Swart
Jack Tidball
First off, I have a hard time picking anyone to finish high who is doubling off the mile in an event like this. Things always move quicker than you think and this is a hard double at any level when you have a mile and a 3k on your plate. I would be picking Molino to win this race, but I am always worried about guys who haven't raced in a while getting out a little over their head. It usually takes one to break off the rust. Nissley needs a big day and I think he may get the W as a result. Reilly is strong as well and not one to mess with. Balla gets the Quakertown treatment that I'm giving McLaughlin as well. Hoping for the best.
Relays
Going have to be careful with these because it is really hard to project who is going to do what and where so first I just listed off some of the names that stood out to me in each of the relays.
4x8
Abington
Avon Grove
Cedar Crest
CB South
CB West
Conestoga
DT West
GFS
Malvern Prep
Pennsbury
Perk Valley
Spring Ford
State College
Strath Haven
Upper Merion
West Chester East
West Chester Henderson
Wyomissing
DMR
Carlisle
Conestoga
Easton
GFS
Pennsbury
Perkiomen Valley
Radnor
State College
Strath Haven
Tunkhannock
Upper Merion
West Chester East
West Chester Henderson
Wyomissing
So those are the names. Here is what I speculate. Carlisle is definitely going hot in the DM. So too, I'd imagine, is State College. But State College will be at Millrose the night before which may complicate things. Radnor isn't racing Holm so I expect they may be trying to hop in a good DMR. The DMR could be loaded with teams like GFS (racing 0 individuals), State College, Pennsbury, Conestoga (no Marston in the open), Perk Valley and sleeper pick Wyomissing (also 0 individuals). That seems more likely to be what people load up on if I had to guess. I'm not sure what Henderson's plan is, but I'm not expecting anything all out from whatever team they bring. Their A team will be at Millrose that weekend.
In the 4x8 Avon Grove is a sleeper as is Haven if they don't go DM. Plus Malvern Prep is only entered in the 4x8 with little individuals to be found so I'd imagine they are trying to run like 8:05 or faster. I think the DMR is the relay to watch, but the 4x8 certainly can surprise if the right teams throw their chips in the pot.
Keep the following facts in mind:
DT West still needs a state spot in the 4x8 as do CBSouth and CB West, these are all teams that may be trying to get it this weekend. GFS possibly as well. Other teams like Radnor, Penn Wood, etc. may be trying to get a faster seed time so they can get in the hot heat at states. Wyomissing is a wild car here as who knows which event they will pick, they need both.
In the DM, there are currently 10 teams qualified state wide, meaning that those low 10:50 times will not be cutting it by seasons end. So teams like CB West who have run 10:54 definitely need to drop time. Conestoga, Haven, Perk Valley, Upper Merion, Wyomissing, Pennsbury, Carlisle and State College all do not have state qualifying marks in the DM but all could be medal contenders come states. I'd expect this to be the loaded race as this is the perfect chance to get a slew of teams down in the 10:40 range like NP and LaSalle just did.
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