Top 7 Thoughts: 9/21 Weekend

So we have a link to my PreStates podcast below and a full recap in my super thought #1 in the post below that. But I figured I would touch on some other action in my 7 thoughts of the week. As usual comments and information are appreciated.

#2 Carlisle could be just as good as Foundation
The meet is stacked with individual talent as it always is, but the team battle is also shaping up to be something special. According to Penntrack's entry sheets O'Hara is going to be in attendance at this meet. That throws them against LaSalle, DT West, Carlisle, CV, Red Land, CBW, Henderson and more. There are a ton of exciting subplots in the team race and individually guys like VanKooten, Seiger, James, Faust and Gebhardt slotted to attend. I don't want to get into too much detail because I plan on doing a mid week podcast that previews this meet (if you want to be involved please let me know ASAP, I'm looking for a guest for this week still), but I think this race could have just as much drama as Foundation did.

#3 A District 7 is going to be a brawl for states

The district is quietly loaded. Avonworth had a big time win at PreStates where they established themselves as a state title favorite. But they will have their hands full just trying to break through in their district. Selwickey returns their top 7 from a year ago led by super soph Griffin Mackey. They were 4th a year ago at Districts, missing states by just 17 points. They opened up this season winning the small race at RWB and are clearly hungry for revenge at districts. Avonworth will also have to tangle with Winchester Thurston, a top 10 team a year ago at states who is led by two of the states breakout stars last track season: Landin Delaney and Will Loevner. Pair that duo with Ben Littman (12th at districts last year as a freshman) and you have a dangerous top 3. WT returns 5 guys from last year's district championship where they were 3rd. Then lastly you can't count out Our Lady of Sacred Heart, who was second at districts last year by just 2 points. They return 5 members of that squad and finished second out of the A schools at RWB. 3/4 will get to states. Should be interesting to watch this one unfold.

#4 Paul Power
Look, there has been chatter about the Hershey course and how fast times were that day, but this shouldn't overshadow Power's performance. Here's the thing even if you don't believe it was the same course (and for the record it WAS the same course), he still bested a field that included Jake Brophy, Kevin James and Matt McGoey. So really I see no way to waive this off as not a big deal. Throw times out the window and the performance is still incredibly impressive. Throw times back in and it's historic. I'll be interested to see how fast things go at districts and states this year, that's for sure. I think 15:45 is not safe, and it will take sub 16 to win A, AA and AAA for the first time.

#5 Quiet Wins
With all the buzz around pre states (rightfully so) it was easy to overlook some other impressive wins. Jeff Van Kooten blasted a big win over Zach Skolnevich and Zack White among others. The time was 15:45, over 20 seconds faster than Skolnevich and faster than he ran on the notoriously quick RWB course. Great sign going into Carlisle. Ben Szuhaj got a big over Brian Arita (as CRN continues to show solid improvement) and established himself as another name to watch in the independent league. Brad Faust got a big win over Will Kachman as Altoona took 1-2 at their home meet (Jerrod Sunderland was second for Toona). Lastly, Casey Comber dominated another course cruising to a nearly 30 second win with 15:48. Looking forward to seeing Comber match up with the big boys sometime soon.

#6 Dual Meet Breakouts
Liam Gilligan, a freshman from Springfield Delco, had a big dual meet win in 16:41 to win by roughly 40 seconds. North Penn edged Hatboro Horsham behind a stud race from Michael Cooney who bested teammate Ryan Tung. Connor Sands from CB East was a close third behind Brophy and Fortna in a hard fought East vs West dual that West ended up pulling out. Ben Wilson and Brian Delaney also got solid wins to build on going into their meet at Carlisle this weekend.

#7 GFS looking solid
Nick Dahl dropped an impressive sub 15:30 with teammate Grayson Hepp breaking 16 behind him in 15:54 as the duo led GFS down south in NC. The GFS squad will be matched up with one of the best teams in the state, Malvern Prep, throughout the season, but it's important to remember that this squad is a great team in it's own right. They matched up solidly with LaSalle at the 3k at Belmont and they were ahead of Henderson and North Penn. They are a young team as well. As another well coached team, I think GFS will be dangerous at season's end and may turn heads as soon as Paul Short.

Well at least that's what I think ... And these ... These are my thoughts