Accepted Entries: 12, Bold is accepted, Italicized is scratched
1 Pennsbury 7:51.51'
2 Penncrest 7:56.90'
3 LaSalle 7:58.64'
4 State College 8:05.64'
5 CB East 8:06.30'
6 Pennridge 8:07.17'
7 Abington 8:07.38'
8 Strath Haven 8:08.05'
9 O'Hara 8:09.41'
10 Altoona 8:11.25'
11 Bensalem 8:11.94'
12 Twin Valley 8:13.93*
13 Cedar Crest 8:14.70*
14 Wissahickon 8:15.09*
15 DT East 8:16.10*
16 JP McCaskey 8:16.55*
17 Neshaminy 8:16.62*
18 Bishop Shanahan 8:16.98*
19 St. Joe's Prep 8:17.17*
20 Canon Mac 8:17.54'
21 Penn Hills 8:18.52'
22 Radnor 8:19.57*
23 Penn Wood 8:20.31*
24 CB West 8:20.45*
25 CR South 8:20.69*
26 DT West 8:22.27'
27 Quakertown 8:22.28'
28 CR North 8:22.88*
29 Boyertown 8:23.41*
30 Haverford School 8:23.41*
If you are an opponent of the new qualifying system for the state championship, I have found the event for you. The 4x800m is projected to be bonkers this year and even with a more liberal list of scratches we are still looking at 5+ teams who are under the guideline that will be eating pizza and refreshing the live results page on March 1st. As of now I have Wissahickon left home despite an 8:15.0 seed time (converted from flat to banked).
And guess what? Things aren't expected to settle down this weekend. There's a chance Altoona flips into the DMR and opens up a spot (along with CB East, LaSalle, O'Hara and maybe even more), but that doesn't mean teams like Penn Hills, Canon Mac, Radnor, Penn Wood, CB West, CR South, Bensalem, DT East and much, much more won't be looking to drop time this weekend.
The great thing about the order at MoCs is that the 4x8s are at the end, meaning teams can run the DMR and 4x8 all out and see how each one plays out. That being said, it may take as fast as 8:10ish to get in this year (or low 8:13s on a flat track) and even that might be selling things short. Even if I'm sitting at 8:08 right now I'm at least a little worried about getting jumped (an improbable idea).
We need two heats for the 4x8 at states in my eyes. The majority of the time, the second heat produces medalists in the 4x8 and it has included teams like Cumberland Valley and Chambersburg in 2012, State College, Easton and many more. The few times there has been no slow heat of the 4x8, the race has been less exciting and less competitive overall. It's just a fact. But I suppose timing is an issue at any meet where you have at least 4 heats of the 4x2 and 4x4.
I'm impressed with how teams like Wissahickon, Neshaminy and Bishop Shanahan dropped time this week. They all looked strong in their performances. But unfortunately, it looks like they are going to need to try again if they want to see themselves on the state performance list.
Overall, there will be some teams waiting a long time to show case their talents in this relay and it may be the best event of the entire TFCAofGP Meet of Champions race at Lehigh. It's setting up to be epic with both eats producing some epic times, including a possible sub 8 or two depending on who goes for it.
I guess that is going to have to be the substitute for the lack of 4x8s at the state championship.
That or the PTFCA goes back on its word, realizes it's mistake and adds 12 teams to the field. But I mean what are the odds of that happening seeing as they have never made last minute changes before ....
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