Photo by Don Rich
AA Boys' 400m Preview
Brookville's Ryan Thrush made the decision to go all-in for the 400 meters, instead of running the 800 meters where he's PA#1. Thrush, a Harvard recruit, is the reigning 400 state champion after edging out Columbia's Javon McIntyre for the win last year. He'll look to close out his high school career with another title, but it won't come without a fight.
Kennedy Catholic's Channing Phillips enters as the top seed. He won the District 10 title and has seen a massive improvement since last season, where he took eighth in this event. His 48.61 is just a few hundredths off Thrush's AA-leading time, so expect these two to battle it out to the line.
Hill-Freedman's Armonte Paulk should factor in. He went 49.42 at the Public League Champs and then went 49.73 to win the D12 title a week later. The junior was impressive at districts and he should be in the mix as well. Tulpehocken's Andrew Risser was fourth a year ago and will look to improve upon that. Hickory's William Gruber also made the final last season and placed seventh.
Seneca's Adam Hanes and Wyomissing Area's Austin Keim are among the others with sub-50 performances to their names this season. Both could be seeing themselves high up on the medal stand come Saturday.
Entries:
Event 606 Boys 400 Meter Dash AA (26) Prelims
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NFHS Record: 45.19 2012 Aldrich Bailey, MansfldTimberviewHS, TX
PIAA Record: 46.36 1984 Mike Spangler, South Western 3
NFHS Hnr Rol: 48.00
50.70 SQS
Name Year School Seed relim Time
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1 Phillips, Channing 12 Kennedy Cath 10 48.61 SQS
2 Paulk, Armonte 11 Hill-Freedman 12 49.73 SQS
3 Hanes, Adam 12 Seneca 10 49.81 SQS
4 Gruber, William 11 Hickory 10 49.83 SQS
5 Thrush, Ryan 12 Brookville 09 50.03 SQS
6 Keim, Austin 11 Wyomissing 03 50.18 SQS
7 Babcanec, Cyril 11 Lakeland 02 50.18 SQS
8 Butz-Retzer, Dillon 12 Apollo-Ridge 07 50.25 SQS
9 Thomas, Elijah 12 Avonworth 07 50.29 SQS
10 Boea-Gisler, Avery 12 Serra Cath 07 50.29 SQS
11 Allen, Michael 12 Avonworth 07 50.38 SQS
12 Carter, Branden 12 Aliquippa 07 50.52 SQS
13 Redcross, Parker 12 Quaker Valley 07 50.58 SQS
14 Haydt, Tanner 12 Lehighton 11 50.82
15 Maze, Raymond 11 Kane Area 09 50.89
16 Arnone, Avery 11 Ligonier Vly 06 50.92
17 Shollenberger, Cameron 12 Pine Grove 11 50.95
18 Risser, Andrew 12 Tulpehocken 03 51.07
19 Kutchman, Kayden 11 Cntrl Cambria 06 51.10
20 McMickens, Tavin 12 Mount Union 06 51.12
21 Anderson, Ian 11 Dock Menn 01 51.15
22 Sites, Griffin 11 Towanda 04 51.20
23 Yeaih, Jones 12 World Comm 12 51.67
24 Shields, Amir 9 Nmnn Goretti 12 52.58
25 Nickolaus, Matt 11 Loyalsock Twp 04 52.58
26 Ashkettle, Jeremiah 11 Sthrn Fulton 05 52.73