The Legacy

Joey Logue. Jeff Wiseman. Kyle Francis. The best 800m class the state has ever seen and three program changing talents are now gone from their respective teams.

Take a quick look at what these guys did in their time.

Logue was third at both indoor and outdoor states last year in the 800m but still ran the #6 indoor and #17 outdoor times in the entire history of the state. But Logue was most valuable to Pennridge as a relay runner, winning state titles in the 4x4 and 4x8, Logue anchored his team to the 2012 indoor state championship, the 2014 outdoor D1 championship and was a key leg on outdoor state finalist teams in 2011, 2012 and 2014 (plus 2 COA appearances). From the team he was a freshman onward he was helping Pennridge become relevant on a state level. When he graduated, they were relevant on a national scene.

Jeff Wiseman was the runner up at both the indoor and outdoor state championships in the 2014 800m, running times that rank #3 and #8 for indoors and outdoors on the state all time list. Wiseman won a pair of D1 titles in the 800m and was arguably the best overall 800m runner of the 2014 outdoor season. Wiseman led his CR South squad to state hard ware last year indoors on the 4x8 while also playing a key role on the team's 7:58 mark at leagues. 

Kyle Francis won the indoor and outdoor state titles in the 800m last year, both in meet record time. He is #1 and #5 on the state all time lists for the indoor and outdoor 800m respectively with a top 10 all time mark in the nation for his indoor performance. As a Junior Francis anchored Bensalem to 4x8 state championships both indoors and outdoors, splitting 1:51 during the swirling wins of the 2013 outdoor state championships (3 seconds faster than any other competitor that day including Alec Kunzweiler, Zach Brehm, Brad Rivera and Jon Lewis). Francis was also a member of Bensalem's district champion 4x8 as a sophomore and anchored the 2014 Bensalem squad to a state qualifying mark. He developed excellent foot speed, running key legs on Bensalem's all state 4x4s while also having the strength to break 15:50 in the 5k. Francis was a part of a track team championship and the senior leader on arguably Bensalem's best country team of the past decade. 

The idea of replacing any of these runners is absurd. These kind of talents come along once in a generation. However, Pennridge, CR South and Bensalem are all trying to stay relevant in the track scene and all, so far at least, are doing a fantastic job with the task.

Let's start with the boys from Pennridge. A year ago they ran 7:45 and after graduating 1:51 man Logue and consistent sub 2 leg Matt Shulberger, there were questions about how relevant this team would be in 2014. But here's the thing, you don't run 7:45 with one or two guys (even if one guy splits 1:52, your other three legs gotta be at least 1:57 and change).

Alex Masgai and Dan Williams return this season after fantastic outdoors. Williams really developed quickly into one of the states best kept secrets, splitting at least 1:57 on multiple occasions and Masgai has quality 400m speed to couple with his sub 2 ability. 

The other thing worth noting here: Pennridge has produced a slew of 8 flat relays over the past two years without their star runner, Logue. In fact, in 2013 they nearly qualified for states without him. Guys like Jeff Espinal are just waiting to step into the gaps left by the graduating and seniors and make an impact. Throw in returning 50. man Ben Howell and sleeper miler Tucker Desko (4:43 already this year) and you have nice 4x8 and DMR potential for the Rams. And they have done just that, running a PA #10 DMR and then doubling back to win the 4x8 at Christmas City Relays. 

What people may not realize is that when Wiseman graduated CR South, he took the teams other top 800m talent with him. Ryan Dreeman, Mike Boggs and Steve Hanna all graduated, guys with PRs right around the 2 minute barrier and arguably the 3 best 2 lappers behind Wiseman on CR South's roster in 2014.

But this year this squad hasn't missed a beat. Andrew Hanna and Joe MaGuire, the teams top runners, both were among the leaders in the conference and district this past XC season. They have carried the momentum through to the track, where MaGuire and Hanna are currently floating around the state top 10 in the 3k and mile respectively. A few other solid middistance guys like Silverthorn have also come out of the woodwork early in the season. As a result CR South has run 10:53.53 in the DMR, the number 1 time in the state. They added an 8:23.09 for good measure (#7 mark in the state) this past weekend at Lehigh.

And lastly, consider Bensalem. After graduating the reigning indoor 800m state champion back to back years, Bensalem has continued to stay relevant. Tayji Mays finished in the top 50 at the 2014 XC state championships, the only top 50 finish for the team in the last 9 seasons. Then Bensalem rolled into the track behind Rahi Shah, Alex Ramirez and Mays to beat out a top notch 4x8 field in 8:18.78 (currently #3 in the state). They also return hurdler/sprinter Massaquoi who could be a wildcard 800m runner if this team needs him to be. Bensalem has an excellent opportunity to continue to hang with the state's elite this season in the 4x8.

All these times may have lost an amazing talent, but none are feeling sorry for themselves. In fact, these teams are running confident and inspired. Perhaps the strength of last year's 800m studs was not just their amazing times. They didn't just help their school's with key relay legs, they also helped establish a standard of excellence. A legacy that their teammates will give everything to uphold, even after they have graduated.

And somewhere I'm sure Logue, Wiseman and Francis are smiling. Their legacy is in good hands.