The 800m

The 800m is seemingly the most up for grabs event this indoors with 7 of last year's medalists pursuing degrees this year, including the entire top 5. Couple that with the fact that many of last years top outdoor runners, including Brehm, Graca and Perretta, have yet to compete an indoor state championship and the field appears prime for an upset or a dramatic mile-800 double gold (the first since Endress in 2011).

The 800m has been red hot for the past 6 years and may finally be calming down. For a while the state record indoors was 1:52.32 (Vandegrift) and the meet record was 1:53.53 but in 2009 Tom Mallon changed that dramatically. 

After Mike Palmisano charged to the front early, attempting to break Mallon's kick, Mallon stormed back on the last lap and blasted a 1:51.79, a mark that was #11 in the history of the nation at the time (and #2 ever for Juniors). It was a jaw dropping performance at the time (especially since Mike was my teammate at the time) and it changed the standard of excellence for 800m indoors.

But it wouldn't be long before someone one upped Mallon. In 2011, just two years later, Wade Endress pulled off a stunning double gold, winning the mile in an impressive 4:13 and following it just an hour and a half later with a 1:51.73, breaking the state record again. Behind him Kyle Moran also broke 1:53, running an impressive 1:52.81 and setting up the race for Endress with the early pace.

But Endress's record didn't even last a year. Ned Willig took a shot at the record at a meet at Yale and clocked an impressive 1:51.25 (#10 AT at that point) just a day after anchoring his DMR with a 4:16. At states Ned chose to pass on the 800m to run the DMR and the mile (both ended up being gold). In his place Haneef Hardy dropped a 1:53.30 to win the title, a mark that was faster than the old meet record yet again.

Ned took a shot at the national record at NBIN and his fast pace set up the race for Ben Malone and Zavon Watkins to take him down and run the #2 and #3 marks ever. Ned settled for third in PAs second fastest performance ever with a 1:51.59.

But it didn't end! In a "down" year, Rivera became PA's 5th fastest ever running 1:52.43 to win the indoor title. Christian Sanders was second in 1:53.50 and 4 men broke 1:54.

Then this past year the fireworks really went off. Kyle Francis took hold of the race and destroyed the track, leading wire to wire in a Mindblowing 1:50.55. Behind him Wiseman dropped a 1:51.36 for the #3 performance in state history and then Logue closed it out in 1:52.02 for #6. 

In a span of just six years, the state record was destroyed, the old state meet record was made into a joke and suddenly 3 guys were running nearly 1:51 indoors! 

After all of that madness, can we expect anything close to that in 2015? The smart answer is no, but you never know. 

The leader on paper is Jon Lewis, who is one now officially one of the best 800m runners in state history after dropping a 1:50.01 last summer. If he chooses to pursue this race, big things could happen.

Interestingly enough the last 5 800m state champs didn't medal the previous year in that event and 6 years ago was Mallon who barely grabbed a medal in 8th the year before he won gold. Maybe Lewis (medalist in 2012, 400m state champ in 2013) is that guy.

But let's not count out the top returners Connot Holm and Andy Stewart. The top returner in the 800m has been all state the next year 6 out of the last 7 years and top 3 five out of the past 7. The #2 returner has also amassed an impressive resume including multiple all states in 2014, 2013, 2011, 2009 and 2008.

The state champ or state runner up have often made names for themselves on relays before breaking out as individuals. I knew Kyle Francis had record potential to second he split 1:51.7 in the wind, solo in the horrible conditions of the 2013 outdoor state meet and last December his record was one of my bold predictions for 2014 that actually came true (another addition is coming soon btw).

Rivera was the anchor for the district one champion Bensalem squad in 2012 before winning his indoor title. Kyle Moran helped Abington win an indoor 4x8 title the year before he blasted his sub 1:53 indoors. Luke Lefebure was the anchor of one of the best relays in Henderson history as a sophomore, splitting 1:54 for the 3rd place squad behind only CB South's record 7:33 and UD's 7:40.0. And of course Mallon, Palmisano and third place finisher Paul Reilly were all key cogs in 4x8s in 2008 before making waves in the open 8 at states in 09.

That makes Alek Sauer's name very relevant. He just split an incredible 1:52 outdoors to help Pennsbury grab another 4x8 medal with his second straight quality anchor leg. Mike Kolor, a member of Seneca Valley's indoor and outdoor medalists 4x8 may also be worth mentioning here. He is probably more of a miler but is a name on the rise. And then there is Dylan Eddinger of Boyertown who made a name for himself last outdoors when he led off in 1st place at states for an up and coming Boyertown relay that included indoor medalist Eli Mercado.

These are just some of the possibilities for 2015 in the 800m (WPIAL due for a champ?). There are some quality names out there in this event, but I can't help but feel like a new superstar is going to emerge this January.

Get your popcorn ready.