Upper Darby really impressed me in the mid-distances going
1-2 in the 400m dash was Donovan St. Louis and Shua McLean running 52.15 and
53.14. Then in the 800 Ramsey Kerkula took second place in 2:01.42. I like him
as an anchor and from watching him race a few times he always looks much better
with a baton in his hand. Gregory Dix placed 5th in 2:05.41 which
isn’t a great result for him, but it seems as though the heat went out slow. I’d
love to know what it went out in (400m split)
Nick Smart won the 800m in an SQS of 2:00.27 which is pretty
solid. Based on other times it probably went out slow meaning he’s got some
real strength on him. I’d have to guess he’s in 1:57 shape right now. Connor
Holm placed 3rd in 2:03.69 which is surprising to me. He’s been
racing very well lately and should be in sub 2 shape given a good pace. The
most shocking result however was Kevin James’ 2:04.81 putting him in 4th
place! Last season at this meet he doubled a 4:22.80 Mile into PR of 8:54.25
for the 3k while this season he went 4:29.02 to win the Mile and came back in
2:04. I’m not sure if he got injured or was just taking it easy at this meet,
but after their 7:58 4x8 that was seeded at 7:50 I’m starting to worry the O’Hara
boys aren’t in as good shape as expected. This is a smaller meet this year
however since LaSalle is no longer loaded, but still, I’m a bit surprised by
the slow times.
James may have made the Mile a kickers race as second place
was Joe Sullivan who grabbed the Mile SQS in 4:30.53. He’s been having a pretty
solid season so far and could be a medal contender in the open 800m. Connor
Holm took 3rd in 4:36 while he’s teammate Watson Hanson went 4:44.
If they want to make noise in the DMR they’ll need to drop some time. My hope
is this is an up week for the Radnor team and they’re tired from workouts.
I liked what I saw from Rob Morro of O’Hara however who ran
4:38 which is a pretty solid time for a sophomore. Alex Kim of Haverford and
James Hare continued to improve by a bit of time both running low 4:37.
In the 3k we saw a win from the freshman Ryan James in a
solid time of 9:30.25putting him 8 seconds ahead of a solid runner in Ryan
Rastatter. There were 5 guys between 9:38 and 9:46 meaning James must have put
some time on them towards the last 1k or just solo’d the race, either one being
quite impressive. I’d love to see him race the 3k at another meet to try and
qualify for the MoC’s.
Poreda Invitational
Ross Wilson looked strong running 4:26.65 winning by 6
seconds. He hasn’t run the 3k yet this season but there is obviously still time
and he’s still getting back into it. I think he’s got low 4:20 potential if he
gets into a fast race as well. Jake Brophy continued a good season placing 3rd
in 4:32.88. I can’t wait for him to run the 3k again and I’m thinking he could
be in sub 8:50 shape by states.
In the girls Mile was saw a big win by Kaelyn Heinicke in
5:06.28 over Meridith Twomey (PB) who ran 5:23.37. Heinicke has been running really
strong all season, but PA is so loaded this year in the Mile I think she’ll go
800 to try and grab the highest medal spot possible. Behind them freshman Tate
Dawson looked pretty good in a 5:29.04 effort for 4th place. She’s
young and clearly is better the longer the distance, but the speed will come
and I’m excited for her future.
Bensalem went 8:18.92 in the 4x800 after running 10:42.20 in
the DMR. I think the DMR is by far their stronger even, mostly because Francis
on the Mile or 1200 leg will do more damage than he will anchoring their 4x8.
10:42 is a strong time as well and they could sneak in for a medal spot with
only one guy on the double. They may have lost 3/4ths of their 4x8 from last
season, but they’ve rebuilt quickly and look strong again this season.
Speaking of the DMR how about HGP running 10:34.58!! That’s
a huge result for this squad and clearly Kardish is back in the swing of
things. If they run this relay fresh it’s got top 4/5 potential depending on which
teams runs the relay, especially if they’re all fresh they could make a splash
with a sub 10:30 effort. Kardish could medal in the Mile however, but HGP guys
often double back strong. . . think Ryan Horgan back in 2012 going 1:54/3:07.
CRS surprised me running 10:52.73 which misses the SQS. I
really thought Wiseman could run a strong 1200m, but I think the 800 is his max
distance really since he trains so mid-distance heavy. Also Hanna and Bogg’s
seasons’ have slowed down the past couple of weeks and I’m thinking that many
of the CR South team peaked a bit early. I would love to see them try again to
get the SQS and Meet of Champions would be a great opportunity for them to
bounce back.
--ForrestCRN
DELCOS
ReplyDeleteIn the 800, Smart went out in about 58.7 followed closely by Ramsey. The first lap was led by a Pennwood kid who took in out in 29 high. I think that's what messed a lot of kids up. Dix got stuck towards the back out of the gate and had to run most of the race outside of lane 1, which can definitely slow down a time.
In the mile, Kevin James went in around 2:12 with Sullivan close behind. They were a few seconds ahead of the field for the whole second half of the race, so it wasn't much of a kickers race. It seemed to me that James was only worried about getting the state Q and nothing more. He looked like he had a bit more in the tank coming home.
As for the 3k, Rastatter led the entire race, until about 4 laps to go, when Ryan James took over and started to break away. I think it was more Rastatter falling off pace than James breaking away. Behind those two was Christian Donnely, who edged out Joe Sullivan's brother, Sean, who ran an impressive race. Both ran 9:40.
The mile was pretty weird back in the pack, Hanson fell way off the pace and Holm died out...Hare went from last to 4th and then back to 5th. I don't think he can kick as much as he likes indoors, but I could be way off base
DeleteThanks so much to whomever posted about the meet! It's very helpful and means a lot!
DeleteJoe Sullivan at your service
DeleteIsn't a 1200 a mid-distance race? Is it tricky to run that 1200 if you are primarily an 800/1600 guy?
ReplyDeleteThe 1200m is a strength based race in reality. It is best even split or close to it and the most successful runners usually run it that way. Mid-Distance, in my opinion (especially for high schoolers) is 400-1000m. Wiseman is just far more of a speed guy than he is a strength guy. I doubt he'd be able to get the SQS in the Mile, which for a guy in shape to run ~1:54 that shouldn't be much of an issue in most cases. It depends on the person obviously, but Wiseman doesn't have much range.
DeleteWiseman is definitely a 4/8 guy and I think its hard for someone who doesn't have experience in the mile to run an elite 1200 leg. Some of the best 1200 runners i've seen have been guys who specialize in the 800, but can also run a good mile. Ned Willig and Andrew Stone for example.
DeleteNow that he works for us, why don’t you folks come over to our site and check things out. We have a great new format with photos, runners of the week, all kinds of fun stuff. Our discussion area is hot with hip new writers. They’re runners like yourself providing in depth analysis on running showcases and the guys peaking and what meets the top teams will attend. It’s a stone grove, the most happening place to get your info.
ReplyDeleteBecause the biggest thread is coaches complaining about Jamacians
DeleteOr questioning why there are no high - top running shoes.
DeleteBecause some of us are tired of the all-Barrett,Russell,Sheva, et al format. They're great and all but there are other runners doing great things in Pa. too. The comments are pretty weird. Mostly Coaches or old guys with lots of old opinions.
DeleteAgree ^
DeleteHahaha Forrest in a slap-down with that nimrod posting on penntrack about high-top running shoes. Made my day.
DeleteWhat is the back story between you and Jim Dillner, Forrest? Those posts on Penntrack crack me up.
DeleteHe's the guy who last year when the hurricane hit before states, suggested the race be run on the parking lot. He provided a map and everything. It would have been XC on smooth hardtop.
DeleteJust Wow. Some people have way too much time on their hands.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteRussell will be running up in Boston and at Millrose. Like I said before: Any runner that qualifies for Millrose should run it and should want to run it. It's not about proving anything, it's about the experience, especially in the glamour event: the mile. He wanted to run it, it was his coaches decision for him not to. With him getting invited, his coach gave him the okay and he will be running in it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, has anyone out west run a meet yet? I haven't seen any results from it, besides the Penntrack headline today. Is today the first meet?
Lastly, the rest of Millrose's mile field has been put up. They didn't give bids to anyone based on track last year, which is what they said they'd do, but nevertheless the field is pretty decent.
-RTJ
Hey RTJ, how do you know Coach Kelly decided Russell Would not do Millrose? Curious about who your source was as I have a different version of that tale. Check & then re - check your sources.
DeleteRTJ knows it all, that's how.
DeleteHe's wasting his time, PA runners always disappoint at Millrose. They must get intimidated or something.
DeleteIt was not his coaches decision for him not to. He was just waiting for the invite.
DeleteHis coach decided he would not run Millrose when he didn't run a qualifying meet for it. The invite wasn't a given, so with not running a qualifying meet, that's basically saying you're not going to go there. Getting the invite was a gift and when he got it his coach gave him the okay. They could have given that invite to a good amount of different runners, they didn't have to give him one. They invited people who ran slower than other locals and that hadn't run at the armory this season so Russell wasn't a given to get a bid.
DeleteThat being said, I'm happy for a PA boy to be representing the field. Not all PA runners disappoint, don't forget Tom Kehl and Tom Mallon placing 4th and 5th. That was when it was at MSG and the track was a square and much, much more strategic. Also, don't forget Jason Weller who won the whole thing. Recently we haven't had much success, but I wouldn't be surprised if Russell broke that trend. He broke the XC State Championship trend so if anyone can do it it'll be him.
-RTJ
And that decision not to run a qualifying event was Russells, not his Coach. If he could have fit it in, he would have done it. Don't forget he ran with his team at NXN, pushing the start to his indoor season way back. He wasn't competing until the meet at Yale and given that he suffered a stress fracture last year, he was wise to back off from coming out too soon. Congrats to him and good luck-we'll be cheering for him.
DeletePeople make it sound like he was forced to turn down multiple opportunities just because he had to run with his sorry excuse for a team. Please.
Tough crowd.
DeleteRussell is all about the "glamour" too. Perfect for him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that's true at all.
DeleteSeriously though? I mean i don't know him personally but i've never gotten that from him in his interviews or my one encounter with him? This is the first year he's ever been invited to one of these things. He never races without his team...
DeleteSaw the boys D2 races at Glen Mills. Not a whole lot there but Kevin James anchored the 4x800 and literally cruised to a 2:00 without pushing it. It looked like he could have run another lap. WCE's DMR was there with Diestelow back at the 1200 but he didn't look 100% yet. 10:56 on Glen Mills should equal an SQS on a better track. Not sure of Cummings split in the mile but it had to be around 4:30.
ReplyDeleteVarsity Classic at the Armory tomorrow. Teams include Abington, Conestoga, both Downingtowns, GFS, Glen Mills, Kennett, Malvern Prep, Radnor, St Basil (?), Twin Valley, WC Henderson.
ReplyDeleteWho is going to run what?
Who will make it through up to 7" of snow?
Nobody's going to run anything. Snow 's going to shut down school. They're expecting 4-8" in NYC.
ReplyDeleteCollegiate Invites are out. Ohara and Penncrest invited.
ReplyDeleteSmart, James, Morro?, Belfatto Ohara
ReplyDeleteKazanjians Kamat Emanuel Penncrest