Another Week, Another Weekend Recap

by Jarrett Felix

What the people want, the people get here on the aftermath. Well, I actually have no idea what the people want, but I'm just assuming that people want to hear a guy talk about PA High School Distance Running. Bold assumption? Probably ... but I already did the research so ...

Glen Mills Invitational 1/13
For those of you who don't know, the Glen Mills track isn't exactly a speedway in the same way PSU or the Armory is. Or even Haverford and Lehigh honestly. So just keep that fact in the back of your head when you are flipping through the numbers. Traditionally, Upper Dublin has always seen this meet as a chance to load up their DMR and chase a fast time. It's the meet where we hit the SQS back in the day thanks to Sam Ellison and now, some six years later, Upper Dublin is back at it with a strong 8:24.23 for the victory over Penn Wood (8:24.70). I'm not sure if this was Penn Wood's "A" squad or not (my guess would be it was), but this is a big win for UD against a strong opponent. This time wasn't far off their Lavino Relays mark either (a banked track), which implies to me this team could be under 8:20 on the right track (as could Penn Wood of course). Upper Darby had a solid showing as well with an 8:31.95 and Cheltenham clocked 8:33 for 4th.

Keep an eye on this Glen Mills squad by the way. They are not traditionally known as a distance powerhouse (one solid 4x8 in 2010 being the exception), but they have some really nice pieces to put together a strong 4x8-4x4. They took 2-3-4 in the 800m and although the times were not mind-blowingly fast, they showcased the ability to compete well against some strong runners. They also ran 3:35 in the 4x4 to narrowly lose out to Penn Wood by just .06 seconds. Admittedly, they had home track advantage, but I think GM could be a sleeper to make noise in the middle distance events down the stretch.

Cam Christopher (2:05), Riley Hannon (4:43) and Matt Allen (10:15) earned golds in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m respectively.

Millrose Games Trials 1/13
Jaxson Hoey came up huge for the state of Pennsylvania at Wednesday night's armory meet, punching a ticket for the Millrose Games to keep PA's qualifier streak alive yet again. Hoey ran a blazing 4:12.05 and defeated New York stand out Connor Lundy with a fierce kick. The 4:12.05 puts him in a pretty elite class of PA distance runners (I believe it's #4 AT PA indoors) sitting with Tony Russell and Sam Ritz for this time of year (I believe both set their state records at the Boston Grand Prix meet?). We haven't had a Millrose Champion from PA since Jason Weller back in 2007 and Aidan Tooker of NY is definitely the favorite, but Hoey's closing speed and strength combination make him an intriguing opponent for Tooker, who has already cracked 9 minutes for 3200m this indoors. Hoey also establishes himself as the clear front runner for the state title in the mile and could potentially push Kolor in the direction of a fresh 800m race rather than a head to head with Jaxson. Still way too early to know for sure, but an interesting dynamic to keep an eye on.

Spire Scholastic Open 1/15
In Ohio, some of PA's top runners took to the very nice SPIRE track (I believe it's 300m in length). Cathedral Prep got a nice win for the state of PA in the 4x8 with an 8:45 time for victory. They also had a couple of top competitors in the open 400m race (50.62 and 51.89) which gives them some intriguing pieces for some middle distance action at states in the 4x8 and 4x4 relays. Prep was a very solid XC team, boasting a strong pack and winning the D10 championship in AAA this past fall. We will see how that ability to perform on grass translates to indoor facilities.

Bradford Sophomore Logan Caruso finished 2nd in the 1600m, just a little bit off his mark he ran in his opener (4:30.37 vs. 4:29.98 last week), but he raced extremely well in this one, beating second place by 14 seconds and falling by 1st by 7 seconds, placing him right in the dreaded no man's land. South Fayette's dynamic XC duo of Snodgrass and Pfeil took 3rd and 5th in this race, running 4:44 and 4:48. Both guys were top flight medalists in the AA XC State Championship.

In the 800m, we were reminded of the West's other bid to the throne in the middle distances (besides Mike Kolor). Nick Wagner, who raced his way down to 1:53-54 type times last summer (PR of 1:53.68). Wagner was a near medalist last indoor season (finishing 9th) and by place would also be the #2 returner from last year, behind Matt Wisner of Carlisle and just ahead of Kamil Jihad of Chester (now Neumann Goretti) and Brett Wolfinger of Quakertown. Wagner is also a rising junior this season, a time many people believe runners will see some of their biggest improvements. Wagner's indoor debut this season was impressive: a 1:57.40 for gold in the 800m. I'm excited to see Wagner race Kolor at this distance, hopefully in the not too distant future.

PCL Regular Season Meet 1/15
The PCL is always a competitive division with lots of pride and intense rivalry at each exhibition. Kamil Jihad is a newcomer to the PCL this year, spending his sophomore season at Neumann Goretti after a freshman year at Chester. Jihad ran 1:55 last year as a freshman, a mind blowing mark, and finished 10th at indoor states in the 800m. The sophomore came out in this one and clocked 4:39 and 2:00 for double gold in both events, beating guys like Patrick Grant of LaSalle (2nd in the 800m at 2:03) and Sean Brown of Roman Catholic (4:39). That's a pair of very impressive wins for Jihad who, even at such a young age, has shown incredible strength and fortitude.

The 800m was, for me, the more interesting race, with 5 guys under 2:05 in the event, including 2 from LaSalle (Evan Addison ran 2:04.54 for 4th, Grant was mentioned above). Quentin Francis, now at Cardinal O'Hara, ran a strong 2:03.50 for 3rd. He and Derek Sacks (7th in 2:06) were the top runners for O'Hara. Throw in Justin Jones and Rob Morro (both sub 2 last spring and off to fast starts this winter) and this team could throw together a very nice 4x8. Their DMR is already fairly well established among the early medalist contenders, but considering the 3k potential of both Morro and Ryan James, it is unclear how committed this team will be to the DM.

Speaking of Morro and James and their 3k ability, the two led a 1-4 sweep in the 3k with 8:57 and 9:05 marks. Combine this sweep with recent TFCAofGP wins by Andrew Lombardi and Gavin Inglis, both running under 9:30, and you can't help but be impressed by O'Hara's impressive 3k depth and production. It's not crazy to project their top 5 3k guys under 9:20 by season's end which would be quite the display of depth for a team that many thought could potentially struggle after losing their Senior leader Kevin James.

St. Joe's Prep is showing signs of an interesting 4x8 or DMR in the future. Prep, a multi time state medalist in the DMR, got a 2:05 from 48 second 400m runner Miles Green in the open 8. They also had a breakthrough performance from Calvin Willie who ran 2:09.39 to win the slower section of the 8 by 7 seconds. Considering Stephen McClellan is on the roster (1:54 last year as a sophomore) and their stable of 400m studs, they could put together an impressive 4x8 if they so choose.

Lebanon Valley Invitational 1/15
Another week, another XC stud begins their transition to the track. Nathan Henderson, the top Junior at XC states this past season, made his 2016 debut with a very impressive 4:32.15 victory at 1600m, defeating 1:55-4:20 man Jesse Cruise from Cedar Crest (4:38-2:05 double). Henderson, like many District 3 runners, had his biggest impact when things transitioned to the outdoor season a year ago, ultimately peaking at an absurd 9:08 for 3200m at states (which amazingly didn't medal). This is a strong mark for Henderson to begin his season, beating a strong speed runner at what is likely an under distance event. I'm looking forward to Nate getting in a 3k somewhere along the lines and hopefully pushing sub 9. If he can get a time that gets him to the state meet, he has earned a reputation as a competitor who rises to the occasion on the big stage.

As mentioned, Cedar Crest's Jesse Cruise took the win in the 800m at 2:05 and Wilson's Jacob Underwood grabbed gold in the 3,000m with a 9:45.04.

Golden Bear Inviational 1/15
At Kutztown, many other mid state runners hopped onto the track to try and run a fast time and get in a strong race. Wyomssing had a pretty big day on the track with a big win out of Joe Cullen (4:41 in the 1600m) and Heriberto Colon (who dropped a 51.18 to win the 400). This track is not a barn burner (I compare it to Glen Mills honestly), but these are two impressive wins. Considering they also have Jack DiCintio, one of the state leaders in the mile, hanging out on the roster, I think Wyomissing could be a very dangerous relay sleeper if they can get in the right race.

Nice run by Dan Kyvelos of Parkland in the 3,000m, finishing as PA's top man at 9:29.49.

Dickinson Invite #2 1/16
Facing some out of state competition, David Fletcher of Mount Caramel clocked a very strong 4:33.11 1600m time on the tight turns of Dickinson. Fletcher has spent his career specializing and excelling at 800m (1:55ish each of the last two years). The guy had a really strong XC career and his clearly confident in his strength, racing up a bit in distance thus far this winter. He is another runner who may not see a fast track during the indoor season, but if he can just get into the state meet, he will drop a ton of time, competing with the top runners in the state.

Easton continues to show a nice spark in the 4x800m and their senior leader, Kevin Lapsansky, continues to hold his own at the longer distances. He clocked a 10:08 in the 3200m for 2nd overall and first among PA runners.


The TFCAofGP #5 recap and Yale Recap are still to come ....