A Traditional Recap For Old Times Sake

Millrose Games Trials

The Armory’s in-week meet featured a big set of results for two top contenders. Liam Conway of Owen J Roberts inserted his name into the state champ miler conversation, dropping a 4:15.33 to win the title this weekend. This is a new indoor PR for Conway and continues a real hot streak for the senior. He went from about 5^th with a lap to go all the way up to first in the race by the final meters. It’s a classic kick that Conway has shown in each of his past two state titles and will make people think in a tactical affair at either states or the Millrose Games.

Meanwhile, Pennsbury put their name in the discussion for state champions in the 4x800 meter. The Orangemen ran 7:57 and qualified for the Millrose games in their own right with a third place finish at the Trials. Unsurprisingly, Pennsbury had three guys under 2 minutes including a 1:57.1 and 1:56.2 leg from the #2 and #4 legs (listed as Jed Scratchard and Javier Linares respectively, but those names aren’t necessarily listed in the correct order). Pennsbury opened up a big lead on leg 1 and held it strongly on leg 2, meaning that those runners could have even potentially ran faster with more competition.

Also worth noting at this meet-Spencer Smucker bettered his mile time and ran 4:24.19. He’s up to #5 in the state for the mile and could jump up more after scratches come states (I’d be surprised to see Rusty in the mile, although maybe he surprises and tries the double).

Golden Bear Invitational

Kutztown isn’t the fastest track that you will compete at, but some guys made it look pretty quick this weekend. The boys from Ephrata continue to impress in 2018 as they dropped a season best 8:25 in the 4x800 to win by some 25 seconds. They dropped a similar time earlier this year at Ursinus in a faster facility with better competition. There hasn’t been much 4x8 buzz to date, leaving Ephrata 11^th in the state at this moment and time (which would be comfortably into state qualifying). Things likely won’t stay this stagnant in the 4x8, but still this team could be really dangerous in a fast race.

Those Ephrata boys doubled back to take 2-3 in the open 800 and 1-2 in what appeared to be the fast section. However, Warwick’s Connor Shields, doubling off a silver in the 3k, popped off an impressive 2:03.44 to win the 800 from section 2. Shields, a dynamite miler, showcased some impressive raw speed in this meet. I think he’s going to be a dangerous sleeper in the mile should things come together for him in a qualifying opportunity. The mile will be crowded, however, as we already have 12 guys at the SQG (the most of any distance event).

Lavino Relays

Many of those aforementioned 4x8 squads ahead of Ephrata asserted themselves at the Lavino Relays. In the first distance relay of the day, CR South made big waves with a time of 8:03.88 to take top PA honors and second overall. South, who I had talked about intermittedly on this site before, really surprised me with this big of a breakthrough. They hadn’t been under 8:20 yet this year, but turned it up in their first marquee opportunity. The near state medalists from 2017 are back and ready to roll in 2018.

CB West, Bensalem and GFS were all also under 8:20, putting them in early state qualifying position. These are, of course, historically strong 4x8 programs. GFS was second at states last year, but graduated two key pieces in Nick Dahl and Jonnie Plass. However, the Independent League power still has a nice level of depth returning and their 8:19 proved that. Bensalem has been indoor state champs in the past (as recently as 2013) and CB West is the reigning outdoor state champs in the 4x8. They clocked an 8:16.52 for 3^rd overall.

What made the CB West performance interesting was the fact that they weren’t strong in only the 4x8. West also clocked a 10:29 to win the DMR and take the PA #1 honors in that event. Their 4x2 won a gold medal as well (1:33.89), their 4x4 took home the bronze in 3:32 and their SMR was also 3^rd (3:38.95). It really shows just how deep their stable of middle distance talent is at this point. Off the top of my head, they have Fehrman, Claricurzio, Baker, Bunch, and Laatsch to distribute across the various events and clearly other guys are stepping up to be contributors. This school is very dangerous in my eyes and I’m excited to see them fully unleash their pieces in a 4x8 before all is said and done.

As mentioned, CB West won the DMR in 10:29 (a point I just glossed over, speaking to how strong this team was across the board), but two other PA teams cracked 11 minutes. CR North, a very dangerous DMR squad, opened up their season in the event with a 10:41.53. That’s #3 in the state with conversions. Also making an impact were the boys at Boyertown. The Bears ran 10:54.89 to take 6^th overall. Keep in mind Boyertown also had Christian McComb and Justyn Smith running at the TFCAofGP meet at the same day. This is another deep squad with potential to excel in a variety of events.

The sprint medley is not an event that often gets love, but the boys from CB East have put a lot of eggs into this basket this season and deserve a shout out. After a great performance at Burdette, the Patriots decided to attack the event on a fast track at Lavino. The result was a big win and a new school record, clocking 3:37.45 to defeat the home town kids from Lawrenceville. David Endres split 1:57.1 on the anchor and helped break a record that included state champ and all-time great Kevin Nishiyama (1:52.67 PB outdoors).

And, oh by the way, Pennsbury-just a few days after their 7:57-clocked a 3:28 and put themselves in the state title conversation for the 4x4 as well. Bensalem showed some nice mid-distance depth as well with their 3:32.

TFCAofGP

Division I

The LaSalle Army continues to flex its muscles this weekend. After taking 1-2 in the PCL regular season 3k with Bradden Koors and Jack Seiberlich (9:16-9:19), the Explorer’s Ethan Maher dropped a 9:14 to win the 3k at team’s league. It’s early, but as things currently stand, Maher’s time is 13^th in adjusted state rankings and he would likely be into the state championship via scratches. Paul Ghantous was also a gold medal winner from LaSalle to just edge Christian McComb in the open 800.

Of course the most impressive result for LaSalle was their big win in the DMR. They clocked a 10:39 to win the race going away over a talented DT West squad. LaSalle will be the #2 team in the state rankings behind CB West’s Lavino performance. This program has an elite history in the DMR (two state titles and a bunch more medal worthy runs) and they look like they are on track for another performance in the 10:20s this season.

I liked DT West’s performance a lot. They put together a sub 11 mark and continued to be consistently strong in this event. They have a knack for sneaking into the state final in the DMR and, once there, they are always in the mix for a medal. The District 1 XC champs are ready to roll after taking their season through November in the fall. Kevin Wagner also put in a nice 3k performance to qualify for Meet of Champs.

The always dangerous Abington mid-distance squad left their first mark on the 4x8 this season, clocking 8:25 for the win. Also impressing in the relays was Haverford. They took 3^rd in the DMR with a time just over 11 minutes. Haverford was another one of my teams to watch in some recent posts. I think they are just beginning to scratch the surface of their potential as a young, up and coming team.

Division II

 Ethan Zeh of Radnor won what was perhaps the race of the meet, dropping a 4:38.13 to defeat Elias Lindgren’s 4:38.54. The Radnor mid-distance runner has been in the mix at both the mile and the 800 this season and looks very strong. It feels like Radnor has had one guy a year who becomes an elite two lapper between Holm, Kelly and Cooke. Maybe Zeh is next in line this season. The Great Valley boys potential discussed by our commenters is starting to come a bit more into focus. Seth Hoffritz picked up a strong 800 victory over Jenkintown XC standout Jack Miller 2:05.44 to 2:06.56 and Riley Casey picked up a medal in the individual mile, running 4:47. Lower Merion won the 4x8 and Twin Valley grabbed a solid gold in the DMR, clocking 11:10 to defeat Penncrest.

Bears High Invitational

There was a lot of action from out-of-staters, but leading the PA contingent (on the distance side) was Spring Ford. Inner-squad rivals John Zawislak and Shane Ainscoe pushed each other to solid marks of 9:22 in the 3k to take 4^th and 5^th individually. Meanwhile, the middle-distance guys showcased some speed in the 4x8 with a time of 8:24.11. That was good enough for the silver medal in the event and places the Rams 9^th in the state after conversions. Spring Ford is also well positioned in the DMR at #5 in the state based on their Burdette performance against Pennsbury.