NBNI - Boys' Distance Preview
800 Meters (Finals - Sun. 3/11, 10:25am & 2:54pm)
This race won't feature newly-anointed national record holder, Josh Hoey of Bishop Shanahan, but it will still feature some good Pennsylvania firepower.
US#7 and indoor state champion Liam Conway will lead the field. The Owen J. Roberts senior blasted a 1:53.51 at Penn State to capture the state title, and that came after he'd won the mile. He'll be fresh this time around, so look for Conway to make a big impact.
Great Valley's Brett Zatlin posted a huge PR of 1:54.65 from the second of three heats at the indoor state meet. He took fourth in that PA#5 and now he'll bring his talents into the championship section of the 800. Look out for Zatlin this weekend. Speaking of big PRs, Pennsbury's Aidan Sauer also dropped a nice PR of 1:54.77 to take fifth at the indoor state meet. He's also in the field.
Collin Ebling of Pottsville Area, who took seventh at indoor states and has an indoor PR of 1:55.03 is also in the field. Look for Ebling to try and dip under 1:55 this weekend.
1 Mile Run (Finals - Sun. 3/11, 12pm & 2:39pm)
A strong PA contingent will toe the line in the mile this weekend. Butler's Noah Beveridge took a close second place at the indoor state meet. He's run 4:16 twice this season, so he could be in line for a nice improvement on Sunday. Evan Addison of LaSalle was third at indoor states. He ran a 4:17.08, an all-conditions PR earlier this season and he's also in this deep field.
Dalton Hengst is entered as well. The York resident, who has been competed unattached for the second half of this indoor season, ran a US#5 time of 4:10.57 to win the New Balance Grand Prix. US#1 Brodey Hasty and US#2 Josh Hoey are not entered, so Hengst will be one to watch for the win, along with Dustin Horter of Ohio and Scott Thompson of Tennessee.
2 Mile Run (Finals - Sun. 3/11, 9:55am & 1:26pm)
Hengst is also entered in the 2 mile, along with 3K state champions Rusty Kujdych of Neshaminy.
Hengst was second at the Simplot Games in the 3,200 meters. He comes in with an 8:56 2 mile PR from last spring. Kujdych ran 8:30.88 for the 3K win, which stands as a US#1. The senior is in the midst of a great year and he'll look to continue that into the weekend. He was eighth in this race last season.
The favorite looks to be Brodey Hasty from Tennessee. He's the defending meet champion and ran a 4-flat mile earlier this season.
5,000 Meters (Finals - Fri. 3/9, 3:30pm)
Pennsylvania has a trio of entries in the 5K for Friday, and all three placed within the top five of the 3K at indoor states.
Tyler Rollins of Downingtown West (15:37 5K PR) was the top finisher of the bunch. He ran 8:45.31 at states for third place. Brenden Miller of Upper Dauphin (15:40 5K PR) was fourth in 8:47.04 and Tristan Forsythe of Winchester Thurston (15:33 5K PR) took fifth in 8:48.74. Forsythe also ran 9:15 for 3,200 meters this season and won the 1A state crown in the fall in XC.