Boys 800m | |||||
Event Info: 2014 Winner: Jay Navin (Saratoga) 1:54.24, State Record: 1:48.56, Meet Record: 1:50.27, State Qualifier Mark (FAT): 1:54.74 (D1) - 1:57.04 (D2) | |||||
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State of the Action | |||||
Hey. We think this is going to be a good race. You probably should too. Just look at those entries. With all respect to 2014, no way is this race going to be won in 1:54. The man guaranteeing that is Gairy Springer, of the PSAL. He has garnered quite the reputation for taking it out fast the first lap, throwing a wrench into the cautious lifestyles of championship racing. He's quoted saying, "you can't run fast times without going out in a fast pace," and his sub 54-second opening laps at Loucks, NY Relays, and the PSAL Champs mean he is most likely to do it here again. The question is who will respond? Jimmy Asselmeyer knows all too well about waiting too long to respond to Springer. Known for a kick that garnerned him a 1:49 split at Indoor Nationals, Asselmeyer waited just a bit too long at Loucks to kick back on Springer, losing out on a lean at the line. Expect Asselmeyer to have learned from that mistake, and come into the race with quite a different strategy. But Jimmy won't be the only Indoor State Champ in the field. Luke Germanakos is your top seed in the field, utilizing a fast pace set by Mikey Brannigan at St. Anthony's to achieve that time. Germanakos is also that of a kicker, but is more willing to put in the work up front in the early laps. 600m and 1000m meet for the first time outdoors, and who knows what could happen. Also from that 1000m race is Shamar Powell, who took 4th. His mark puts him well within striking distance of the top seeds. And what of the athlete who took 3rd in that 1000m, Kyle Barber? With weird scheduling of meets in Section 3, Barber has always saved himself for the next race, despite running a relaxed 1:51 split to start the evening at his qualifier. If he make the top heat, he could very well surprise some talented runners. Mike Grady took 5th in that States 1000m, and enters with one of the top times here as well. Breaking down to that 600m race Indoors, Anthony Hawthorne took second in the final. He too has been waiting to hop in a competitive race, and could make a very big jump in his personal bests. Collin Rowe gave up a shot at the Individual Glory at Indoor States, for a move that paid off with a 4x800m State Title. Now, he has Individual Gold on his mind, and looks to be in the right shape for it. Tom Gassner is right in the mix as well, with Patrick Watts as your top D2 competitor. Did we mention that all of these athletes are seeded under last years winning time? Yeah, this should be fun. | |||||
Top Athletes - Overall | |||||
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