AAA BOYS PREVIEW

AA GIRLS | AAA GIRLS | AA BOYS | AAA BOYS |

By Aaron Rich

Sprints/Hurdles

Michael Brown, Lower Dauphin, the king of the hurdles, is back this year in both of his specialties to defend his state titles from last year.  Brown won the 110 Hurdles last year with a time of 14.16 and the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.77.  Stu Fram, Council Rock North, was runner-up last year in the 110's, and will run in the same preliminary heat as Brown this year.  Leon Bullock, Harrisburg, finished 3rd last year in the 110's, but beat Brown at this year's District 3 champs, putting him in contention for the win this year. 

In the 300 Meter Hurdles, Brown really shines, as the only competitor with a seed time faster than 38 seconds.  His closest competition could come from Kori Meshaw, Hempfield (3), and David Hightower, Easton. 

In the competition for the fastest boy in Pennsylvania, Pierre Carr, Peabody, came out on top last year with a 100 Meter Dash time of 10.57.  Carr is back this year with a seed time of 10.77, but the road will be tougher.  Corey Brown, Cardinal O'Hara, has the fastest seed time of 10.54.  Alex Kenney, State College, has a seed time of 10.64, and was the 3rd fastest returner from last year's state meet.  Brian Austin, North Allegheny, finished 3rd last year and will be competing in the same heat as Brown.  Evan Emery, Central, has also been running fast times this year.  The indoor 60 meter dash champion, Romarr Mayne, Reading, injured his hamstring prior to districts, and is out of this year's meet.

The 200 Meter Dash features the 2008 runner-up and 3rd place finishers, Aaron Nadolsky, Altoona, and Alex Kenney, State College.  However, Brady Gehret, Altoona, has emerged as a superstar in the event this year, running a time of 21.13 for the 6th fastest time in the country.  Alex Kenney, 21.57, Corey Brown, 21.54, Pierre Carr, 21.90, Aaron Nadolsky, 21.92, and Evan Emery, 21.94, are all also under 22 seconds, and will make for a very tight pack with Gehret. 

In the 400 Meter Dash last year Lamont Fowler, Conrad Weiser, was the runner-up with a time of 48.37 and Chris Morrales, Abington, finished 3rd in 48.65.  This year Morrales has established himself as a clear favorite with a time of 47.71 on the season.  Fowler will be right there with a time of 47.93 as well as Anthony Davidson, Wilson Area, who has a seed time of 47.99.  Anthony Batch, Penncrest, finished 4th last year and has looked good all year, so he should be right there as well.  Colin Dempster, Hatboro-Horsham, is a soph phenom with a time of 48.43, who could also make an impact in this race. Gehret has shown he could be a favorite in this event, but will wait to show that card at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Mid-Distance/Distance

The 800 Meter Run will be a clash of titans in many ways.  Tom Mallon, CB South, won last year's event with Mike Palmisano, Upper Dublin, finishing 3rd.  Mallon is again at the top with a PA #1 time of 1:52.02, and a 4x800 split of 1:49.  Palmisano hasn't broken out yet this year, but states is where he does it.  These two will also anchor their respective 4x800 squads in a chase for the state record.  Kevin Hull, Hempfield (3), has run a time of 1:54.71 this year and could keep the race with Mallon interesting.  Andrew Smith, Garnet Valley, has a time of 1:55.35, and could be competitive in the front of the pack as well. 

In the 1600 Meter Run, TJ Hobart, Baldwin, is the only top returner with a runner-up time of 4:12.09.  Joining him in a battle that could end in a swift finishing effort are Palmisano, 4:16.08, Vince Perozze, Perkiomen Valley, 4:16.55, Kyle Hurston, Carlisle, 4:16.82, and Hull, 4:16.91. 

In the 3200 Meter Run, Jimmy Tarsnane, Perkiomen Valley, is the top returner, having finished 3rd last year with a time of 9:15.26.  Tarsnane has the 2nd fastest time in PA of 9:16.65.  Ben Furcht, Lower Merion, a 2008 Footlocker finalist, finished 4th last year with a time of 9:23.04, and ran down the wire with Micikas at the Penn Relays.  The favorite this year, however, has to be Robert Micikas, Crestwood, 9:13.66, who emerged as the 2009 indoor state champ in the 3000 as well as the Penn Relays 3000 winner, both races coming with monster kicks over the last 300 meters.  Matt Gillette, Parkland, and Nick Bonaventure, Penncrest, have run times of 9:19.21 and 9:20.  Lower Merion's Neal Berman is also in contention, having finished one place out of Footlockers and attempting to run with Footlocker champion Solomon Haile in the NSIC 3000 and the Penn Relays 3000. 

The Relays

DO NOT MISS the 4x800 Meter Relay this year!  There is a lot of talent in the relays this year, but the talk has to surround the 4x800 and Central Bucks South's run at history and Wissahickons 1982 state record of 7:36.24.  North Penn had a legitimate shot last year, but they didn't have Tom Mallon, nor did they flirt closely with the record twice before the end of the season.  CB South finished 3rd in the Penn Relays 4x800 behind Albermarle's (VA) historic 7:30.67 with a time of 7:36.93.  Then, proving that wasn't a flash in the pan, they won their district meet with a time of 7:37.43.  Upper Dublin will be trying to stay close, with a US #5 time of 7:44.32.  West Chester Henderson and North Penn will be battling for a top-3 finish.  Abington and Cumberland Valley stand ready to make a break through 7:50. 

In the 4x400 Meter Relay, Altoona and Abington have been trading places at the top all year.  Altoona owns the fastest time of 3:15.77 with Abington having run a 3:16.60.  Altoona's time is 3 seconds shy of the state record, but intense competition and a lightning fast anchor make this event one you do not want to miss.  Abington will have Morrales on anchor, and with his 47.71 open 400 time he makes a formidable anchor leg.  Altoona has their own secret weapon in Gehret, who owns the PA #1 time in the 400 this year with his 47.13.  Penncrest and Cheltenham are the only other squads under 3:20, but could be joined by North Penn or Hempfield, both of which have closed in on that barrier this year. 

Altoona was the only team from the US to make the Championship of America 4x100 Meter Relay at the Penn Relays with their time of 41.83, and are the clear favorites in the event.  Chasing them down will be a talented Cardinal O'Hara squad, with a time of 42.09 at the PCL Champs.  Conrad Weiser, North Penn, and Penn Hills will all be close for a top-3 finish.

The Jumps

Tyrell Ellison, Muhlenberg, 4th in 2008, and Mike Bizzarro, McDowell, have both cleared 6-8 in the High Jump on the year.  Ellison has plenty of momentum as he cleared 6-8 at the District 3 meet and narrowly missed 6-9 on three attempts.  Kyriq Williams, Phoenixville, won the 2009 indoor state championship in the high jump and has cleared 6-7.75, putting him in contention for the outdoor championship as well.  Anthony Stevenson, Gallatin, and Ryan Brumfield, Owen J. Roberts - The District 1 champ - are both over 6-7 and could challenge for a top spot. 

Tyrell Ellison was the runner-up in the Long Jump in 2008, but that was before a healthy Carlton Lavong leapt 24-6.5 and set his sights on a jump of 25+ this year.  Ellison has cleared 23-7 and finds himself in a position where he'll need to step up to improve on last year's placing.  Devin Street, Liberty, is at 23-6 and is in contention for a top 3 finish.  Matt Green, Belle Vernon, and Brady Gehret, Altoona, are over 23 feet and will be in the hunt. 

Lavong also has his sights on a 50+ Triple Jump this year and with a PA #1 of 49-2.25 under his belt he is close to achieving that goal.  If all goes well this could be his second gold of the competition.  Logan Renwick, 3rd last year, could challenge for a top 3 placing again this year.  Tyrell Ellison will also be chasing Lavong in this event, with a best of 47-8.5.  Tyler Brooks, Daniel Boone, Ryan Brumfield, Owen J. Roberts, Omar Thomas, Coatesville, and Pat Cochran, McDowell, could all slip into the top 3 with great jumps. 

Chris Dodds, Wilson, finished 4th in the Pole Vault last year, and is the favorite this year with a height of 15-3.  James Weiss, Quakertown, is a close competitor with a height of 15-0.  Oliver Harbuck, J.P. McCaskey, and Adam Phillippi, Saucon Valley, have cleared 14-9 and could challenge for a top 3 finish.

The Throws

Justin Shirk, Central Dauphin, won the Javelin last year with a throw of 221-03, and comes into this year's meet with a monster throw of 235-03, which is US #1 and only 6 feet shy of the national record in the event. Is is also US#2 all-time.  Justin also won the Penn Relays javelin competition this year.  Brett Millar, Central Bucks East, has a throw of 219-0 and will be hoping for another breakthrough performance to close the gap to Shirk.  Vincent DuVernois, Springfield, 210-7, and Matt McMurdo, Central Bucks West, 206-1, are also well above 200 feet and have a shot at a top-3 showing, if not the top spot. 

Rodney Richter, Connellsville, won the discus last year and finished 2nd in the Shot Put.  Wesley Lavong, Methacton, was 8th and 5th respectively, but has improved dramatically this year.  In the discus, Richter seems untouchable with a monster throw of 187-9 this year.  Lavong is his closest competition with a PR of 169-9 and will be looking for a dramatic improvement at the State Championships.  Jared Bausch, Lower Dauphin, and Blake Davenport, Kennett, are close to Lavong with marks of 165-6 and 164-1.

In the Shot Put, Richter and Lavong battled indoors with Lavong coming out on top.  The battle continues with Richter taking the advantage with an outdoor PR of 63-2 to Lavong's 62-5.  Steve Mitchell, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Doug Henninger, Whitehall, and McMurdo will all be battling for that 3rd place medal.