AAA Boys' 800m Preview
Josh Hoey's decision to not contest the last bit of his PIAA career has left Pennsylvania with a very open field for the AAA 800 meters. Expect a close finish in this race (Hoey has run 1:48 three times this season).
The top seed and PA#2 is Matt Busche of Franklin Regional, who dropped a big PR of 1:53.31 to win the District 7 title. He was ninth a year ago, but suddenly Busche, a senior, could be the one to beat this year.
Another senior looking to go out on top is Collin Ebling of Pottsville Area. He's undefeated in the 800 this year and clocked a 1:53.84 PR to win the District 11 title. He took seventh at indoor states, but he could improve upon that in a big way on Saturday.
But there is a sophomore looking to steal the show this weekend. Ephrata's Tyler Shue has made his presence felt in a big way this year. At indoor states, he 1:53.85 to take second place. He'll be doubling off the 4x8, but he's proven that he can handle multiple races with ease.
There's a very long list of others that could make a splash and a run at the final/medals. Pennsbury's Aidan Sauer won a close District 1 race and has gone 1:54.28 this season. Parkland's Sam Morgan went 1:54.91 to take second to Ebling at D11. District 3 runner-up Jack Baker of Cedar Cliff has been making some noise all season long.
Seneca Valley's Seth Ketler, South Fayette's Silas Mays, Pennridge's Matt Eissler, Highlands' CJ Thimons, and Council Rock South's Collin Ochs should also make a play at high finishes.
ENTRIES:
Event 708 Boys 800 Meter Run AAA (33) Prelims
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NFHS Record: 1:46.45 1996 Michael Granville, BellGardensHS,CA
PIAA Record: 1:48.72 2015 John Lewis, Cheltenham 1
NFHS Hnr Rol: 1:52.00
1:57.32 SQS
Name Year School Seed relim Time
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1 Busche, Matt 12 Franklin Reg 07 1:53.31 SQS
2 Ebling, Collin 12 Pottsville 11 1:53.84 SQS
3 Shue, Tyler 10 Ephrata 03 1:54.13 SQS
4 Morgan, Sam 12 Parkland 11 1:54.91 SQS
5 Sauer, Aidan 12 Pennsbury 01 1:54.96 SQS
6 Baker, Jack 11 Cedar Cliff 03 1:55.07 SQS
7 Ketler, Seth 11 Seneca Valley 07 1:55.23 SQS
8 Mays, Silas 12 So Fayette 07 1:55.27 SQS
9 Eissler, Matt 11 Pennridge 01 1:55.60 SQS
10 Cj, Thimons 10 Highlands 07 1:55.75 SQS
11 Ochs, Collin 11 CR South 01 1:55.93 SQS
12 Delisle, Hudson 12 Quakertown 01 1:55.98 SQS
13 Zeh, Ethan 11 Radnor 01 1:56.11 SQS
14 Dhillon, Jarnail 12 Upper Darby 01 1:56.19 SQS
15 Brandenstein, Bryce 12 Mt Lebanon 07 1:56.23 SQS
16 Morales, Alex 12 Ephrata 03 1:56.27 SQS
17 Thompson, Jared 12 Williamsport 04 1:56.29 SQS
18 Earley, Sam 12 CR North 01 1:56.40 SQS
19 Carpenter, Chase 12 Jersey Shore 04 1:56.42 SQS
20 Powell, Jonah 11 Grove City 10 1:56.46 SQS
21 Everhart, Nate 12 Mt Lebanon 07 1:56.58 SQS
22 Ehling, Zach 12 No Allegheny 07 1:56.88 SQS
23 Hydro, Samuel 11 Jim Thorpe 11 1:57.05 SQS
24 Ringer, Jacob 12 Parkland 11 1:57.12 SQS
25 Scratchard, Jed 12 Pennsbury 01 1:57.17 SQS
26 Kramer, David 11 Penn Manor 03 1:58.47
27 Forgash, Mitchell 12 Wyoming Vly W 02 1:58.74
28 Schankweiler, Steven 12 Lower Dauphin 03 2:00.04
29 Antonacci, Timothy 12 Manheim Twp 03 2:00.38
30 Phillips, Seth 11 Mifflin Cnty 06 2:00.52
31 Gallagher, Denis 10 St Joseph's 12 2:01.56
32 Wehrle, Matthew 12 Punxsutawney 09 2:02.18
33 Price, Thomas 12 La Salle Cllg 12 2:02.47