The Baldwin Invitational is Western PA’s Henderson. If you want to run a fast time West of Harrisburg, this is where you go. Plain and simple. Being from Mt. Lebanon, I ran on Baldwin’s track countless times, I’ve seen amazing things happen there and I know that any time somebody steps on that track, incredible things can happen.
http://www.flotrack.org/video/493468-2011-WPIAL-AAA-Boys-3200m#.VUmJ2xfRMeI
Take that for example, 2011 WPIAL Championship 3200, Paul Degregorio of Baldwin takes down seemingly unbeatable Zach Hebda in the greatest kick I have ever witnessed. Baldwin is an amazing place to run.
I’ll start with the mile. Baldwin is a different invite because in addition to the typical 1600, the meet has an invite-only mile that has proven to be very fast year in and year out. This year was insane. Domenic Peretta smashed the meet record in the mile (not in the 1600, Mike Booth of West Mifflin ran 4:07 in 2004) running 4:11.5 to take down returning medalist Jeff Van Kooten and Seneca Valley standout Mike Kolor, who ran 4:13.6 and 4:14.6. The 1600 at states this year is going to be unreal. Sebastian Curtin of Mercyhurst Prep dropped a huge 4:18, but he has to deal with Peretta at states. Elias Graca ran a PR of 4:20 for fifth. Griffin Mackey, Jacob Stupak (NA’s new ridiculousness) and Nick Wolk rounded out the top 8, all sneaking under 4:24.
The 1600 posted some solid times as well. Gary Olson of North East took the win this year running 4:31. I usually notice his name in the 800, but he has dropped some very solid 16s this year. He actually went on to double 4:33/1:59 at his home invite the day after Baldwin. He is definitely a medal contender in AA. Jacob Halasowski of Fox Chapel ran a PR of 4:33 and puts himself in contention for a medal spot at WPIALs if he has a good day. Sebastian Curtin’s younger brother, Noah, ran 4:35 for 5th.
Domenic Peretta continued his domination a few hours later, taking the 800 in 1:52.4, another PR. In doing so, he took down Elias Graca and Mike Kolor, two of the strongest 800 guys in the state. They have to be thankful they don’t have to run against him come WPIALs. Penn Hills’ Duwon Terrell continued his hot streak at 800, running a PR 1:56.2 for 4th. Trey Quealy of Norwin was the last man under 2:00, running 1:57 for 6th.
The 3200 saw Matt McGoey solo a 9:07, which was PA#1 for about 2 hours until that insanity at Henderson. He took it out in 4:30 and had gapped the field considerably by the time he brought it home for the win. My boy Todd Gunzenhauser split a 62 final 400 to move from 5th to 2nd, clocking a PR 9:16. How insane is it that a 9:16 may not even have the potential to crack the top 10 at states? Jacob Heinauer of North Hills was the final runner to sneak under 9:20, running 9:17.3. Griffin Mackey ran an excellent double, finishing out the day with a 9:20 under the lights, beating out Hunter Wharrey, who faded to 9:24 in the final laps. Baldwin sophomore Casey Conboy ran an excellent 9:36 and puts himself in great position looking forward to WPIALs.
Penn Hills continues to look like the best 4x800 team in the WPIAL, running 8:03 to Norwin’s 8:08. The 4x8 out West is always tricky though, because teams like North Allegheny will come out of nowhere and steal the title, much like they did in 2013 running 7:54 and beating out favorites, Kiski Area. I heard through the grapevine that Matt McGoey split 1:56 on a 4x8 at WPIAL Team Championships Monday afternoon. They could be gearing up to do big things next week.
What did this year’s Baldwin Invite teach us? That Domenic Peretta is really, really fast and Matt McGoey is going to be dangerous when he gets together with the Eastern PA boys.
-Evan
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