Dahl to Millrose, Brophy 8:36 and CR Souh Makes a Statement

The weekend recap is coming, I assure you. But in the meantime, I figured I'd set up this post so you guys could discuss the action! Also, I figured I'd let you know my estimated state cut offs as of 8:28 PM.

4x800m: 8:16.97
Mile: 4:29.78
800m: 1:59.87
3,000m: 9:03.90
DMR: 10:51.02

Keep in mind all times are converted to the bank track equivalents for the sake of seeding/ranking. I'll get the full lists up shortly once I'm sure I have all the weekends results. We are getting down to the wire!

Enjoy the night friends. Don't do anything Ben Havleck wouldn't do. Well actually, that's probably not a great idea. Mark Miller seems like a bit more reasonable of a fellow.

EDIT: Here's the recaps!

TFCAofGP #8
Division II
In the 800m, Peter Cooke from Radnor took the title, running 2:00.12. That beats his previous season best from Ocean Breeze last weekend and shoots him up into the top 24 for states. As things stand, he's in if he wants the spot. The Junior is putting together a nice season and is the third different high quality 800m runner to come out of the Radnor program after Connor Holm and Andre Kelly who ran 1:56 and 1:55. Holm medaled out of the slower section at states back in 2013 so maybe Cooke can duplicate the mark with a well-timed peak.

Cameron Christopher of Wissahickon ran 2:01.59 for 2nd and Seamus Fromhartz of the up start Bishop Shanahan team took 3rd at 2:02.87. Christopher's time of 2:00.99 converted would have put him in the mix a year ago for a state qualifying position, but as things currently stand the state has had 36 guys run faster than him with a few more nipping at his heels. 48 guys in total are currently rocking seeds at 2:02.39 or faster for states. Last year, Kevin Hong got in with a 2:02.54 seed for reference (although I think that was at least in part due to people not entering athletes because they did not understand the rules, 2:01.31 was the next best time in).

Really nice run from Jack Carmody of West Chester Rustin in 4th place. He ran 2:03.70 in what is likely an underdistance for a mile/3k type. After this mark and his 9:07 at Glenn Mills, I could see Carmody challenging 9 minutes in the right race.

Ryan James ran away from a solid field in the open mile, winning by almost three seconds with a 4:34.95. Second place was sophomore Logan Yoquinto of Shanahan and third was Lukas Marcelis of Wissahickon, both guys breaking 4:40. For James, this is a great win and the second straight mile victory for O'Hara. Ryan is probably best suited for the 3k, but the underdistance victory should give him confidence going forward in either event. I'm looking forward to the O'Hara vs. LaSalle distance show downs at PCLs.

In the 3k, Matt D'Aquila really impressed. He ran 9:05 to win the race by roughly 16 seconds, just a week after he ran a big indoor PR at 2-miles at Ocean Breeze. He took another couple seconds off his seed time for the state meet and sets hmself up nicely for a late season run at a top 12 spot in the event. Ian Reid of Strath Haven took 2nd in 9:21.

I speculated about O'Hara's potential 4x8 run in a recent post, and they came out firing this weekend, ready to show the state just how good they really were. An 8:13 mark for a runaway victory in the relay was impressive. They didn't have Ryan James either (although I'm not positive he would have been in their top 4 800 guys). With Morro a clear medal contender in the 3k, the 4x8 may make more sense for this team than the DMR (although they could excel in that event as well). However, the 4x8 is pretty darn deep as is (Penn Wood and GFS made huge statements this weekend as did LaSalle) so maybe O'Hara will opt for the DMR once they run it at meet of champs (I should say if, but it's almost an annual tradition at this point).

Springside comes up big with an 8:26 for second to throw themselves into the mix for a late 4x8 run. I was very surprised by their performance and didn't see this kind of mark coming from them, but it's a great time and hopefully a sign of continued success to come this spring. The Haverford School, likely featuring 800 stand out Charlie Scales, took 3rd in 8:29. They have had an under the radar program in recent years, producing some nice 4x8s and some stand out mid distance guys like Tom Hopkins (probably more sprinter) and Lucas Elek.

Bonner will make another serious run at the DMR this year. After turning it on for the season's final couple meets in 2015, Bonner is looking to duplicate that recipe for success in 2016. They picked up a narrow victory in a stacked race that featured two other teams at 10:53 (Penncrest and West Chester East). As things currently stand, I have these three teams firmly on the bubble for states. But considering how wide open I think the DMR is (most teams focusing on individual events or 4x8s in some way or another), if any of these teams get in they are instant medal contenders.

Worth noting, Glenn Mills got the huge victory in the 4x4, running 3:30, despite the fact that likely their best runner was in the open 400m (and set a meet record over a dynamite runner in Drew Eckford). The 4x4 is beginning to become much more than the two horse race it looked like earlier this year with Abington and Penn Wood.

Division I
North Penn is one of the most decorated 4x800m schools in state history. Although they have yet to drop a killer relay on us this winter, we were reminded again about their abilities when Dante Watson stepped up and earned the gold in a very quick 1:59.00 at Lehigh today. He defeated Matt Kraus of Tennent (1:59.49) and both runners clocked the all so important sub 2 marks needed to push them up the state rankings. This was Watson's first big moment at 800m and considering his 400m speed he has showcased in the past, he may be a real sleeper to watch as his strength continues to improve this season. Kraus has been pretty darn solid in his own right (excuse my language) and I think he might have some family history to support him. Not sure if this is the same family, but I was looking through some old results and another Kraus from William Tennent had a 4:16 1600m PR and earned an indoor medal at 800m back in the mid 2000s. Small world ....

Meanwhile, the hits kept on coming as Pennridge's Matt Eissler and St. Joe's Prep's Stephen McClellan each clocked 2:00.4 marks at Lehigh for 3rd and 4th. Eissler is just a frosh and has been dynamic this year. I guess he and Luke Eissler are twin brother, both freshman, and both running really fast at 800m. Luke is around 2:03 in the open and Matt just ran 2 flat. Combine that with Howell, Desko, Espinal and one more 2:06ish guy in the open and Pennridge is sitting on a nice pile of depth. Considering Desko is an individual contender, Howell could be in the mix for the 4 and their 4x4 is coming on very, very strong, does Pennridge have realistic team title chances? I don't follow that sort of thing closely enough, but they gotta be in the mix for a team trophy right? Somebody who is knowledgeable about this sort of thing kindly drop some knowledge for us.

Tim Hogan and Luke Doughty also added a second straight quality performance in the 800m, both running 2:02s on a flat track. Jack Duffy of Horsham added a 2:03 to round out a loaded top 7 in the event. Also props to Collin Ochs of CR South who ran a strong 2:06.93 to win the slower section of the 800m. Considering South likely stacked their DMR, that's a very good 4th piece for them to have on the roster. I like this CR South team.

In the mile, Connor McMenamin of Souderton had a huge run, clocking a 4:26.94 for the victory. McMenamin seems to really be hitting his stride, and it might be coming just in time. The 3k is starting to creep up and become quite a bit deeper, so I'd expect to see him go after the 9 minute barrier in the coming weeks. He could definitely get there. This also gives him a high quality mile result and could put him in the mix in that event (although his 4:26 is amazingly only 20th in the state right now with conversions). Matt Scarpill of CB South, in what I believe is his first open event of the winter, clocked a huge 4:27 for second. This guy is a special talent who has been a clutch performer since his freshman year and also broke 16 this year at 5k. I wouldn't be surprised if CB South comes up with a barn burner in the DMR in coming weeks. You heard it hear first.

8th place in this mile was 4:35. 4:35! That's crazy. Rusty Kujdych finished 3rd at 4:30, Sean Brown had a big run for 4th in 4:31 and Will Griffen of Cheltenham added a 4:32. The top 4 guys all got the SQG, but as of now, I don't know if any of them will actually make it into the state meet. It's a shame because I'd really like to see these guys in the event. If Kujdych doesn't make the mile cut off, he has some decisions to make with regards to the 3k-DMR (could he try the double?). Sean Brown and Will Griffen are both having killer indoor seasons, especially Griffen who has had a big breakthrough in the longer distances like the 2 mile.

Eddie Goebel added a season best of 4:33.07 for LaSalle. Amazingly, a 4:33-9:05 type guy isn't in the mix on LaSalle's 4x8 and, I'm assuming, not on their DMR either. That's crazy and speaks to how loaded this team is. From top to bottom, they gotta be the deepest group in the state. But can they get that star they need to create relay greatness?

Speaking of relay greatness, while CB East decides which relay they want to run, Jake Brophy decided to unleash one of the best performances in Lehigh track history. In 2007, with spikes, Paul Springer of Unionville clocked an 8:32.07 at the PTFCA Track Carnival at Lehigh to defeat Boyertown's Jason Weller (8:45.78). Although Springer chose not to run the 3k at indoor states, he went on to run 4:12 and set the meet record, before clocked the 8:52 full two mile that still stands as the state's all time record. Now, 9 years later, Jake Brophy took center stage to clock an 8:36.71 (in flats?) and win over Tucker Desko (8:51.80) for a huge statement at the state lead.

Other than Springer and Brophy, I can't think of anyone who has found their way under 8:40 at one of these meets. That might be because there has not been anybody or it is because I'm forgetting someone, but this is a sick win for Jake and proves he is not afraid to do some running by himself if duty calls (and do it pretty darn well). If he runs the 3k, can anybody beat him? If he runs the mile, I think there are a ton of dudes with the potential to beat him, but the 3k it would be very difficult (although I'd love to see Hock try and run his legs out if healthy). That makes me hard pressed to imagine CB East will go with the DMR over the 4x8 for the second straight year. But I've been wrong before ....

Tucker Desko, by the way, has shown some sick range this year. His 8:51 paired with his 1:54 and 4:20, make him an all-state contender in all 3 individual events. Wow. I'm sure other guys have been in those shoes, but this is one of the sicker ranges I've seen in recent years. Kinda like super Will Cather who was the last guy I remember being famous for his range across the three events. And Liam Conway is heading down that road as well. Just a sophomore, but has clocked 2 flat, 4:26 and now 8:56. I was super excited to see Conway finally contest the 3k which I still feel could end up his best chance at a state medal (although he has really good speed).

Ben Ryherd of DT West clocked a solid season best at 9:14 just ahead of Hatboro's Matt Allen with Bryton Henry of Boyertown finishing off 6 sub 9:20.

LaSalle grabs gold in the 4x8 with a monster 8:09.97. Right when I was beginning to think they might have been too long distance oriented to run a fast 4x8, they make a big statement with a sub 8:10. I still am keeping my fingers crossed that they go fresh for the DMR, as I think they could potentially get a title there (especially because I'm leaning more and more towards a GFS 4x8/individual events). But they went 4x8 last year and there's no reason they can't just do both relays at states and excel. Lots of questions still left to be answered in the season's final month.

Really nice run from Perkiomen Valley in 8:17 that shouldn't go over looked. Perk Valley has a nice team this season and finally gets the chance to piece the talent together for an SQG. Could see a big DMR out of them as well perhaps, although I like their 4x8 a bit more at this stage. CB East runs 8:21 without Brophy and whoever they included on their 3:34. They've been very strong in the relay, whoever they trot out, it seems they find a way to get the SQG. DT East runs 8:25 despite having Hogan in the open 8 (very intriguing run by that squad) and North Penn runs 8:29 with Watson, O'Toole and a 3:28 prominently featured in other events. And oh yeah, they were in the slower section! Oh my. Something is brewing there. Also props to Central for cracking the 8:30 barrier with an 8:29.

One of my favorite stories of the year is the success of this CR South team. Joe Maguire is one of the more underrated stars in the longer distances and the past two years he has run huge legs on CR South's DMRs. They are now down to 10:43 which converts to #4 in the state. They are clearly very focused on the DMR and have this as an important long term goal. We (and whenever I say we, I guess I really mean me as you guys don't share your thoughts as detailed as I do) don't think of them as title contenders, but why not? Could they turn the tables on the state this year? Will the new indoor relay rules help open the door for an upset?

Meanwhile, CR North got a big run for second in 10:51. I have been a big fan of this team's relay potential, but they currently are just a tier below the elite tier in both the 4x8 and the DMR. However, we know this team can peak at the perfect moment. They did it during XC and they may be ready to do it again this year. Haverford runs a strong 10:56 and CB West adds a 10:59 for 4th to give the meet 4 sub 11. Curious who was on the relay for CB West. I'm interested to see if they are interested in running a DMR in the not so distance future.

The 4x4 was absolutely sick. Upper Dublin runs 3:30 to win the slower section and then North Penn and Pennridge unleash 3:28s! Pennridge is such a good relay school, just coaching up 4x4 and 4x8 contenders year after year. But North Penn suddenly looks like serious title contenders in the 4x4. I know Abington ran 3:19, but North Penn runs 3:28 on a slower track without Dante Watson who likely would be an extra leg knocking on the door of sub 50. Sign me up!

Wyomissing Team Challenge
The 3k was a loaded race at Kutztown as Nathan Henderson took his first shot at a fast time in the winter's longest race. He clocked an 8:57.93 to jump up to 11th on the indoor list as of right now, putting him in the mix for a state qualifying spot. If he hangs on and gets in, he will be a very dangerous competitor in the race. In this one, he bested Kent Hall, Zach Lefever and Kevin Lapsansky, among others, all of whom are some of the most talented distance runners in the state based on this past fall. Kent Hall clocked a 9:06 in his indoor 3k debut with Lefever at 9:10 and Lapsansky 9:15. I'm not sure if any of these guys plan to run at something like the PTFCA Carnival, but I think these guys could go a good chunk faster still. Kutztown is a nice facility with solid turns, but it's not a particularly fast surface.

Spring Ford took the victory in the 4x8, running 8:37. Considering the strong mile performances from Smith and Conner in recent weeks, I would expect Spring Ford to take a legit shot at a sub 10:50 DMR in the coming weeks, hopefully joining the crowded group of 10:50ish squads and getting through to states.

In the 1600m, Henderson continued a dominant performance with a 4:33.37, beating out Michael Delvecchio of Unionville (4;37) and Jesse Cruise of Cedar Crest (4:38). Brian Delaney of Manheim Township also broke the 4:40 mark. Cruise had is own strong double, running 2:05.65 for a narrow victory over Collin Ebling of Pottsville who ran 2:05.77. Ebling has been very impressive this season in the mile/8 type events and I'm excited to see how he continues to improve through outdoor.

Armory Invitational
Although the highlight of the meet was very clearly Andrew Hunter's absurd 3:58 high school record for the mile (a mind-blowing mark that I suggest any track fan watch online), PA did hold their own at the meet. Abington clocked a PA #1 3:19 well a balanced approach beating out fellow sub 3:30 teams Penn Wood and St. Joe's Prep. I liked Abington's decision to lead off Isaiah Smith and get a lead early with their best open 400 runner. Seemed like a very smart strategy that I would say paid off.

In the 1k, PA's Jaxson Hoey clocked a 2:28.31 for 4th place overall, finishing behind a pair of Millrose favorites in Aidan Tooker and Conor Lundy. He was about a half second off the lead and very competitive in the race, so I wouldn't count him out of the Millrose title chase, but he won't be the favorite. Sometimes that's not a bad place to be, however. I'm picking Tooker as of now, but I expect Hoey to represent PA well. For the record, Ritz ran 2:27.28 for 1k last year before running the PA state record in the mile.

But Hoey won't be PA's only Millrose participant. Nick Dahl took the victory in the mile, earning himself a spot in the prestigous event. He won the race by over 2 seconds and he did it with an impressive 2:01 close. I didn't see that speed display coming from Dahl, who hasn't proven his mile ability in the same way as his two mile and certainly doesn't have the same speed reputation as someone like Hoey or Brophy. But this performance was a big statement and now sets up Dahl to be competitive in not only the Millrose field, but also, perhaps, in the individual mile field at states. That could mean he will be running the mile-DMR double at states to optimize rest, but still give himself a shot at a well deserved individual state title.

But that GFS team has plenty of options. In the 4x800m, GFS became the first PA team to crack 8 minutes, running 7:58.40 and beating top programs Penn Wood and Abington. After a bit of a disappointing finish in the 1k the previous night, GFS's senior leader Grayson Hepp dropped a massive bounce back race with a 1:55 anchor leg. With the top times in the state, it's possible GFS could win either relay at this point even though I still believe their DMR is in a better position. Of course they have the individual races to consider for Dahl and Hepp as well as their 4x4 which is pretty solid (and features the same guys from the DMR). After the race, they said their focus is on the DMR for indoors and they want to break 10:20, so that's where I'd imagine they are leaning right now. But there's still plenty of time to change your mind.

Meanwhile, Penn Wood ran a huge season best in the 4x8. Dennis Manyeah and Seck both clocked sub 2 splits and the team dropped all the way to 8:02. They ran their two fastest legs first, an aggressive strategy, but it kept them in the mix in a fast field. Manyeah can still go faster (I believe he was the 1:58 leg) as he has run 1:55 outdoors and 1:56 indoors (in the open). Assuming Seck was the second leg (and split 1:57.0) this team has two of the top guys in the state at 800m. Not many teams have two guys who are already in the 1:57.0 or faster range (in fact, does any team?).

Abington ended up 10th in 8:09, but they did have 2-3 guys doubling back off the 4x4. They have 3 guys at 2 flat or faster in the open 8 and have at least a 2:04 for their 4th leg if not faster. They won't go quietly from the state title race. Especially considering their 8:01 from earlier this year is still PA #1.