Boys 3200m | |||||
Event Info: 2014 Winner: Mickey Burke (Rush-Henrietta) 9:03.87, State Record: 8:42.92, Meet Record: 8:52.75, State Qualifier Mark (FAT): 9:18.74 (D1) - 9:30.64 (D2) | |||||
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State of the Action | |||||
Nobody could have predicted this to happen. One month after the greatest 3200m race ever run on the East Coast, every single NY athlete who ran at Loucks won't take a stab at it again at the State Championships. For one reason or another, they are off doing other things. What that does that mean for the competition? It sure doesn't diminish anything, as there are still plenty of athletes on the verge of breaking 9mins. Bryce Millar and Noah Affolder have become well acquainted over the last few weeks. After not seeing each other in XC because they race in different Classes, and Affolder taking the Winter off to play Hockey, the pair whose schools reside only 30mins away found themselves matched up halfway through spring for the first time. They've only raced twice, each of them now at one win a piece, coming down to the final kick. At Oneida, Affolder let Millar break the wind for 7laps and 300m, before kicking past in the final straightaway for the win. At State Quals, Affolder took the lead from Millar instead at the 2800m mark, with Millar kicking past Affolder in the last 100m. Their final battle will come down at the NYSPHSAA State Championships. The race becomes a head game for both athletes. Given the history between the pair, neither want to lead into that final lap. That being said, slow the race down, and there are plenty of others looking to breakup the dynami duo. Affolder simply needs a personal best to lower his own Sophomore State Record, and Millar will be looking to make up for last year, where Mickey Burke kicked past in the final 100m. A lot at stake here for Section 3. That isn't to say this race will be run in isolation. Marco Pompilj, the top D2 athlete in the field, soloed a personal best at Saint Anthony's and definitely has more in the tank. The fastest miler in the field at 4:13, if it is a sit and kick race, he becomes the favorite. Pat Tucker has put down a 9:12 in his past, and will be able to push through the pain to improve upon that. Joe Prunty has run 9:10, but DMR leadoffs would indicate he has a lot more in the tank as well. Depending how the tactics play out, this could be a very interesting race. | |||||
Top Athletes - Overall | |||||
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