PA Track Classic

This meet is now one of the premier meets of the outdoor season. The first true test of your fitness level early on in the year. With each year this meet becomes more impressive and this year will hold true to that. Here is the starting list: http://pa.milesplit.com/meets/152496/attachment/288682

After viewing this list, three things stood out to me: The 800, the 1600, and most impressive by far, the 3200.

In the 800 we have some big names on this list, but after looking at the schedule it's after the 1600, so hopefully they're ready to pull off some sick doubles. Reigning state champ Zach Brehm looks to make his come back after a pretty rough indoor season. I'm actually surprised to see Carlise at this meet, but not as surprised as I am excited. I want Brehm to absolutely kill it. While on the topic of Carlise, Jon Carroll is also in this event. He has 1:58 speed to his name and I'd like to think he wants to remind people that Brehm isn't the only stud on the team. We also have newly turned miler, Billy Caldwell in the mix, taking a stab at his old event. With his mile strength, it can only help him become a better 800 runner. State medalist Eli Mercado looks to continue his string of solid races and make his way back onto the podium this spring. Speaking of Mercado, the runner that he edged out for the last medal spot, Andrew Stewart, is definitely looking for some revenge. 9th place is  a sour taste in your mouth and a crazy hunger to never let that happen again. Stewart does everything in his power to not let Mercado get the better of him again. Twin Valley's Charlie Hoyt has been running sub 2 since he was a sophomore, he is one of the leaders in the field with 1:57 speed. 400m State Champ John Lewis rounds out this top pack. This will be a fast race from the start and I love the Brehm, Caldwell, Lewis match up.

Top 5:
1. John Lewis 1:56.36
2. Zach Brehm 1:57.12
3. Billy Caldwell 1:58.68
4. Andrew Stewart 1:59.14
5. Eli Marcado 1:59.22

The 1600 has some solid runners in that list. Zach Brehm is the leader on paper looking to make people forget his not breaking 4:30 indoors. I also noticed Eric Diestelow. An injury-plagued indoor season slowed him down, but he came back towards the end and I'm hoping he's 100% healthy and ready to go. He also almost broke his mile PR indoors so I'm hoping that will foreshadow his very successful outdoor season. Ryan Grace had a breakout indoor season, setting huge PR's in the mile and grabbing the last medal spot. I expect big things for him this outdoor season and with the athletes in this field, I'm hoping it starts with this meet. Billy McDevitt had a successful indoor season, more so in the longer events like the 3k, but also ran a few solid 1200's through the year, don't sleep on him. Malvern Prep has stepped it up severely this year and I only can imagine them continuing this success. Pat Hopkins put together a sub 4:30 mile indoors, he will definitely be looking to keep pace with the field. Lastly, Nick Smart. I am very interested to see how he does in the 1600. He's had an unbelievable indoor season and I can only imagine someone with 1:53 wheels and low 16 XC credentials will be able to pull off a huge mile, potentially even an upset. He ran a 4:27 mile at PCL's this year so I'm hoping something in the low 4:20's is in his future.

Top 5:
1. Zach Brehm - 4:24.43
2. Ryan Grace 4:25.26
3. Nick Smart 4:25.64
4. Pat Hopkins 4:29.94
5. Eric Diestelow 4:30.58

The main event is here, the 3200. Over the last couple years, there has been a huge, sometimes breakout, performance. Last year it was Kevin James with a 9:15, before that it was Francis Ferruzzi and Zach Trama with a 9:28 and 9:29.  Who's it going to be this year? The field is absolutely stacked. I like the O'Hara duo of Kevin James and Jim Belfatto vs the Penncrest twins of Matt and Chris Kazanjian vs the Penn Charter duo of Scott Mason and Ben Szuhaj. All of these runners have run a sub 9 3k, or it's equivalent (Belfatto 9:01 early season, but 9:22 last year XC season). Adding on to the sub 9 3k club Christian Kardish, Casey Comber, and Paul Power join the front pack. Matt Willig, Rob Morro, Drew Pastore, and Dominic Hockenbury are no slouches either, all of them sub 9:20 3k runners and 2 of them sub 9:10. This field is absolutely filthy and has 6 state medalist, whether that be in a relay or open event.

Top 5:
Kevin James- 9:13.95
Jim Belfatto- 9:16.19
Casey Comber- 9:26.24
Paul Power-9:28.06
Chris Kajanzian-9:30.11

The relays are up in the air, but seeing as most of the relay's top two runners are going open, I'm going to assume only one or two 4x800's will be stacked and no DMR's, like most years. If I had to take a guess, Malvern Prep and Germantown Academy stack their 4x800s and Radnor stacks its DMR.

-RTJ