Last Chance to Prance: The 800m

SQG: 2:00.13, Conversion Factor: 0.6 seconds
24 accepted entries, bold is accepted, italicized is scratch

1 Sam Ritz                1:52.81' Germantown Academy
2 Jon Lewis         1:52.88' Cheltenham
3 Elias Graca         1:53.13' Fox Chapel
4 Alek Sauer         1:55.93* Pennsbury
5 Dylan Eddinger 1:56.01* Boyertown
6 Billy McDevitt         1:56.52* Malvern Prep
7 Khai Samuels         1:57.29* Pleasant Valley
8 Kevin James         1:57.63* O'Hara
9 Brian Hackman 1:57.80' St. Joesph's Academy
10 Michael Strosko 1:57.95' Canon MacMillan
11 Matt Wisner         1:57.98* Carlisle
12 Brett Wolfinger 1:58.39* Quakertown
13 Brook Wilson         1:58.45* Central York
14 Kamil Jihad         1:58.50* Chester
15 Julian D-Lutzner 1:58.52* Masterman
16 Andrew Koryak 1:58.64' Vincentian Academy
17 Colin Wills         1:58.86* Malvern Prep
18 Brett George         1:59.01' Altoona
19 Stefan Sutton         1:59.08* LaSalle
20 Dan Williams         1:59.31' Pennridge
21 Alex Milligan         1:59.34* State College
22 Rock Fortna         1:59.51* Central Bucks West
23 Grayson Hepp         1:59.52* Germantown Friends
24 Nick Dahl                 1:59.54* Germantown Friends
25 Patrick Grant         1:59.54* LaSalle
26 Kilian Nelson         1:59.68* Conestoga
27 Connor Holm         1:59.89* Radnor
28 Evan Emmanuel         1:59.93' Penncrest
29 Quentin Francis 2:00.08* Nueman Gorretti
30 Dave Marrington 2:00.10* Neshaminy
31 Ethan Gatchell         2:00.28' Red Lion
32 Noah Falasco         2:00.30* Upper Merion
33 Ahmir Gordon         2:00.32* Strath Haven
34 Brad Foust         2:00.37' Altoona
35 Ata Shahideh         2:00.42* CB East
36 Soham Komat         2:00.67' Penncrest
37 Paul Power         2:00.71* Spring Ford
38 Ahmere Ponzo         2:00.76* Penn Wood
39 Skylar Scholl         2:00.77' Ringgold
40 Jordan Neely         2:01.04* Abington
41 Nick Wagner         2:01.15' Penn Trafford
42 Kyle Davis         2:01.26' Cheltenham
43 Phil Colbert         2:01.26* Swenson
44 Alex Lindsey         2:01.31* Upper Moreland
45 Trey Quealy         2:01.39' Norwin
46 John Daly                 2:01.74* St. Joe's Prep
47 Ian Challingsworth 2:01.91* LaSalle
48 Derron Terrell 2:01.95' Penn Hills
49 Josh Coakley         2:02.00* Twin Valley
50 Nick Mahon         2:02.08* Wilson

The 800m appears to me, on paper, to have a long list of potential scratches. There are milers, 3k runners, relay runners and 400m runners all mixed in to this list and it makes the picture a bit more complicated. As of now, I have the 24th entry being in the low 2:01s and although I expect that number to drop in the final week, it may not take sub 2 to crack the state qualifying list. That's a pleasant surprise for me (and probably for others).

That being said, things are getting quicker at a rapid pace. This past week or so there were a ton of 2:01 or faster performances from all over the state. There were some impressive marks by Matt Wisner, Brian Hackman and Michael Strosko, who all bettered their state qualifying position. Plus there was a big breakthrough by Brook Wilson at the PTFCA Carnival as he flew up the list to the top 15 or so (borderline fast heat). 

Out front the race is shaping up to be very exciting. It's hard to say if John Lewis will enter this race. It appears to me that the plan is sprints at states and then an SMR, open 8, 4x4 triple at Nationals. He's only run one open 8 this year as far as I remember and it appears that, although he could run 1:51 or faster, he is going to pass on the 8 to defend his 400m state title. But Sam Ritz on the double will have to deal with Alek Sauer (1:52 split this year) and Elias Graca (who has officially arrived after his 1:53.13). Don't sleep on Dylan Eddinger either (1:56 this year uncontested). 

Right now I'd estimate Wisner as the fast heat cut off and Quentin Francis as the top seed in the slowest heat, but those are all subject to change if even a few projected scratches switch out. The action should mainly revolve around those bottom seeds, with a ton of 2;01-2:02 types set to go off in the TSTCA and the TFCAofGP MoCs. 

Another thing to keep an eye on will be the individuals that are on prominent relays. Will Strath Haven let some individuals run free at states or will they save up for a dangerous 4x8? Is Pennridge's Dan Williams going to go in the open 8 or stay fresh for the relay? Williams is an interesting individual sleeper pick, but has been under the radar in recent weeks. How about the CB East guys? (Haven't heard much recently from Shahideh in the open events).

This race has the most potential for a big shake up in entries, but I also feel like this is the most likely event for someone to sneak in with an unexpected time. If you are a coach out there, you probably aren't too worried about what I have to say, however, make sure you enter people in the 8 if you want them to be involved. Even if they are in the low 2:02s there may be a shot at sneaking into this field.

Of course all that could change in an instant this weekend, but just keep it in mind.