Photo by Phil Grove
MileSplit Scholastic Showcase - Boys' Preview
Taking centerstage at SPIRE on Sunday will be someone you've probably heard of: Jordan Geist. Geist is fresh off a PR with the 6K shot put at Hempfield on Tuesday evening and he'll go back down to the 12-pounder this weekend. He threw his own indoor state record of 72-9.75 back in earlier January, but he could be ready to pop a big one this time around.
Also in the field is PA#2 and US#3 Evan Blaire of Hickory. Blaire's seeded second behind Geist and the Auburn recruit just seems to be getting better and better this season. Watch out, too, for Cathedral Prep's Nolan Landis and Cameron Landis, South Fayette's Sam Mastro, and Hickory's Tyler Bishop.
Geist is also entered in the weight throw in what is arguably a more intriguing matchup on the day. It's a battle of the US#1 and US#2 in the weight throw. It's Geist vs. Medina's Jake Wickey. Wickey sits atop the national rankings after throwing 76-10 at Youngstown State in January. Geist, meanwhile, ranks #1 in PA and US#2 after a best of 76-6 from a Hempfield meet back in December.
To make it even more interesting, we have US#4 Nick Lane of Bowling Green in the field. Also entered is Hickory's Blaire and Bishop. Throwers frequently talk about how competition motivates them and there will certainly be plenty of competition to go around on Sunday.
Ambridge Area's Isaac Elliott has been atop the state rankings since the beginning of January, when he blasted an 6.87 at Kevin Dare. He's one of the top seeds, but he'll be facing a number of sub-7 second sprinters from Michigan, including Khance Meyers and James Flournoy.
In the 200 meters, Elliott will return for a rematch with Ayden Owens of North Allegheny. The pair raced to the line in an epic race at a TSTCA meet last month, with Elliott barely taking the win. They are ranked fifth and sixth in the state in the event. Relive that TSTCA race below:
Owens will race first in the 60-meter hurdles, where he's the state leader. Owens 8.08 has held strong atop the leaderboard, but Owens will likely have his sights set on a sub-8 performance, which is what it may take to win the state title in a few weeks time.
There's no shortage of talent in the 800 meters. The favorite and the one expected to push the pace is Motor City Track Club standout Cameron Cooper. He went under 1:51 at NBNI last winter and won this race over Beaver Falls' Dom Perretta last year. From PA, Penn Trafford's Nick Wagner is in the field. He sits at PA#5. Cathedral Prep's Derek Jones will be one to watch as well. Freedom Area's Jarrett Boyd and Greensburg Salem's Frankie King should be strong.
Photo by Steven Pisano
Lots of big names are entered in the 1600 meters as well. Winchester Thurston's Tristan Forsythe ran a strong mile at the Armory back in December and the junior will be one to keep an eye on Sunday. So will Kiski's Eric Kennedy, who has some quick times to his name. Boyd, Seneca's Phoenix Myers, South Fayette's Sam Snodgrass, and Greensburg Salem's Mark Brown and Cameron Binda are also in this deep field.
Butler's Noah Beveridge has had quite the indoor season so far, and he'll contest the 3200 meters on Sunday. He's already gone sub-9 in the 3K and sits at PA#5 there, so he has it in him to pop a fast 16 lap race. Ben Bumgarner, the Class-AA state champion XC from Waynesburg Central, is also in the field. He ran 9:33 over this distance last month.