9/21 Weekend Preview!

 Hey guys, I put up 3 different posts today (sorry I had a lot of work the past 2 days) so check out my big 7th PIAA Foundation's Preview along with a quick review of the 34th Centaur Invitational Results that were released yesterday afternoon.

18^th Annual Bulldog Invitational – Big Spring

                Last year Patrick Reilly opened his season here with a 16:40 against Todaro and Brady Wilt. Todaro smoked the field, but this year I’m hoping to see Wilt and Reilly go at it a bit. Todaro ran 16:09 for the win, so I’m hoping to see a sub 16:25 clocking from the winner. 

Altoona Mt. Lion XC Invitational

The Altoona boys will look to defend their home invitational against Kiski Area in what should be an interesting battle. Kiski doesn’t really have the depth, but the Kennedy brothers should give them low scores. This is a very interesting meet for them to attend. Another pair to look out for are Bedford’s sophomores Zane Baker and William Kachman. 

Sharpsville Blue Devil Invitational

Austin Pondel scortched this course last season in 15:32 beating the field by 54 seconds. This season we get to see just how fast Jeremy Parsons’ goes. I’m hoping he hits a sub 16 clocking, maybe a bit faster. Behind him we have Trevor Blackwell of New Castle along with Jeff Van Kooten of PCC and Maplewood’s 2-3 punch Jake Parsons and Hans Wentz. In the mix of this meet will be the ‘A’ powerhouse West Middlesex who will be once again battling against Maplewood for the Invitational title.

Briarwood Invitational

One of my Major’s in college his History if you guys didn’t know, so meet history does mean a lot to me, so you guys may be getting more and more meet history as I continue blogging, I hope that doesn’t bother everyone too much. He’s some stats:

Anyone who breaks 16 minutes on this course since 2009 has gone to make nationals. Brad Miles ran 15:49 and broke a state course record and win FLNE, he came in 3^rd to the Rosa Twins who went 1-2 at NXNNE. Last season Shearn was 15:41 and was 4^th @ FLNE and Tony Russell who was also 15:41 went on to break Miles’ state meet record and win NXNNE. Phil Wood (NJ) ran 15:43 @ Briarwood and finished 5^th @ FLNE, that was in 2008 when 2 guys broke 16 but didn’t make FL. Sean Keefe of CRS didn’t run regionals but ran 30:06 for Syracuse as a sophomore, while Patrick DeSabato went on to place 22^nd @ FLNE and just ran 30:14 for 10k at Columbia. So basically breaking 16 at this course gives you some fantastic company. I won’t go further back for all of your sakes :) Oh goodness I almost forgot 2011 when FL finalist Dustin Wilson ran 15:38!

That being said this season we’ve got Ross Wilson of CRN and Kevin James of Cardinal O’Hara who ran 16 flat and 16:04 respectively last season, chances they break 16 this year? I’d have to say 100%. Even if it starts pouring rain these two are ultra-competitive and ready to go at it and I still think the 16 mark will be broken. The real question is how low to they go? 15:41 by Russell and Shearn was very impressive and they’re two of PA’s best, but if I know Wilson he’s hungry to break that mark and I have no doubt James will be as well. I think Wilson takes the victory in 15:38 with James running 15:42. Bold, probably, but hey, I’m hype. Behind these guys are a slew of runners fighting for the top 25 spots with times between 16:10 and 16:35. Some names to look out for are :

Runners: O’Hara’s Belfatto and Morro, CBE’s Jake Brophy, HGP’s Christian Kardish, DTE’s Billy Caldwell, GV’s Matt Willig and Thomas Doran who should now be alleviated of their illnesses, Kennett’s Chris Kienzle, La Salle’s Brandon Bilotta, North Penn’s Ryan Grace, Malvern Preps 1-2 Combo Hoey and McDevitt, and Penn Charters Scott Mason. Sorry for the long list, and I’m not sure which guys will be in what races, but I’m hoping to see sub 16:30 clocking’s from almost all of them.

Teams: O’Hara should have the team title locked up with 3 guys in the top 15 and their top 5 in the top 30 I’d like to say, but I’m squeaking on that a bit. Behind them should be a tough fight as Salesianum who is very strong every year will be battling with CRN for second place. I’ve got CRN 7^th in the state right now, but they do have to prove their consistency. I’ve heard great things about their practices, but we shall see.

 I think North Penn will mix it up quite a bit as this is the first 5k Invitational we get to see them in this year. This will be a big test for this squad along with William Tennent and Twin Valley. Both teams have run well with solid spreads on very fast courses. Now we get to see how they hold up against hills and big time competition. Malvern Prep is also a team to look out for as they had a 42 second spread @ Bulldog and Hoey and McDevitt can mix it up with the top 20.

West Winsor Plainsboro North and The Lawrenceville Prep school are traveling from New Jersey to come to Briarwood this season. The last time we saw WWPN was during the Rosa Twin’s era, so I’m hoping they’ve got a good team and Lawrenceville always recruits a couple good mid-D guys who translate well to 5k.  

Comment away! Will we see sub 15:45 from Wilson and James?

--ForrestCRN