AT&T Coaches Hall Of Fame Invitational - Boys Recap
Hoeys And Shanahan Start VERY Fast
Josh Hoey wasted little time getting his senior track season off to a big start. The Bishop Shanahan senior and Oregon signee opened his indoor season the same way he did last year -- only this time, it was much faster and he added a big split on a remarkably fast 4x800.
Hoey captured the mile win in 4:12.60, which serves as an automatic qualifier for February's Millrose Games mile. He won the mile at AT&T last year, but did so in 4:17.63. This year, the competition was hot, mainly coming from Ryan Lockett (MD), who posted a big PR. But Hoey closed hard, running his last 400 meters in 56.16 to grab the win and a U.S. No. 1.
Jonah Hoey ran 4:23.68 to take fifth in that mile race. That time for the younger Hoey is over four seconds faster than his 1,600 meter best from last outdoor season, so the sophomore is showing some solid improvement early on.
But the Hoey brothers weren't done. Later in the day, the pair returned to supply strong splits on Shanahan's 4x800 meter relay that put down a stunning 7:49.37. That breaks the meet record by nearly 19 seconds, and is the first time a Pennsylvania 4x800 has run sub-8 before the start of the new year since 2009 (Abington ran 7:59 that year). The state record of 7:45.06 by CB West in 2011 is already on high alert. Josh Hoey split 1:53 to lead the way for Shanahan after that mile. Jonah Hoey, Logan Yoquinto, and Keaton Penney also supplied strong legs.
WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SHANAHAN 4x800m
Garland Back At It
Kyle Garland's debut last week at Ursinus told us one thing: he's in for a huge senior season. He reiterated that to us on Saturday at The Armory.
The Germantown Academy senior won a pair of events, setting meet records in both, and adding a solid sprint, too. Garland high jumped 6-11 to take the win in arguably his best event. That's a U.S. No. 1 by three inches and it breaks his own meet record of 6-10, which he set last year.
He ran 7.25 in the finals of the 55 meter hurdles. That betters his previous PR (set last week) by .10 and shattered the meet record by .31. It also takes back the U.S. No. 1 spot that Kurt Powder (VA) set on 12/12. For good measure, Garland showed off his raw speed, running 6.56 in the 55 meter dash finals, a PA No. 3.
Paulk, Others Make Good Early Impression
Hill-Freedman's Armonte Paulk is off to a hot start. He started strong at Ursinus last week, and now the reigning outdoor PA AA state champ in the 200 meters is showing he's ready to compete for a state title this winter.
Paulk won the 55 meters in a time of 6.51, a PR and PA No. 2. He added a third place in the 400 meters (small varsity) in 50.82, which slots him in at PA No. 3. He's a versatile sprinter and one worth watching this season.
Germantown Academy showed off its depth outside of Garland. Newcomer Caleb Johnson, who was with Phil-Mont Christian last year, cleared 14-6 in the pole vault. That PA No. 4 jump won him the small varsity section of the event and was the second best height of the meet. Olatide Abinusawa had a strong day, winning the shot put with a throw of 49-10 and taking second in the triple jump (41-3). Both came in the small varsity section.