Boys' 4x800-Meter Relay Preview
Bishop Shanahan has opted against going hot in the 4x800-meter relay this season, with the Hoey brothers shooting for crucial team title points in individual races, so the door for the state championship is fairly wide open. Shanahan, with a 7:49 from December, would be the heavy favorites if they loaded up the race, but now it's on the field to decide the best in the state. Pennsbury, the only other PA team to have run sub-8 this season, is also not entered.
So at the top is Central Bucks West. The Bucks return this winter as state champions from the spring and the it always seems to have plenty of firepower in the middle distance. That's no different this season. West should be seen as the team to beat in this field.
The second seed is Ephrata, a nice surprise out of District 3. Led by a strong runner in Tyler Shue, Ephrata dropped a quick 8:06 at F&M earlier this season (while dealing with lapped traffic), and it could surprise even more on the big stage come Sunday. Council Rock South has a solid quartet. The Hawks went 8:03.88 at Lavino earlier this season and qualified for Millrose. Look for a strong race out of South.
Pennridge, Abington, and Germantown Friends are a trio of teams that always seem to be strong every season in the 4x8. These teams each have some solid standout performers that could be difference makers. Downingtown West, Central Bucks East, Twin Valley, Mount Lebanon, and Boyertown are among the other good relays in this field.
Very little separates a lot of these teams, though, meaning it could come down to the anchors. Expect this race to be the first fireworks in what will be a meet full of fireworks.
Entries:
Event 2 Boys 4x800 Meter Relay (18)
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Meet Record: 7:45.06 2/26/2011 Central Bucks West, CB West
M Bee, M May, C Manley, M McGarvey
School
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1 Abington
2 Bensalem
3 Bishop Shanahan
4 Boyertown
5 Central Bucks East
6 Central Bucks South
7 Central Bucks West
8 Council Rock South
9 Downingtown West
10 Ephrata
11 Germantown Friends School
12 Indiana Area
13 LaSalle College High School
14 Mount Lebanon
15 Penn Wood
16 Pennridge
17 Radnor
18 Twin Valley