Boys' 800 Meters Preview
Arguably the most intriguing race of the boys distance bunch is the 800 meters, where very little separates the top-ranked boys in this race, similar to the girls' 800. Also similar to the girls race is the fact that most boys will be doubling back off an earlier race.
The top seed and PA#1 is David Endres of Central Bucks East. The senior put down a 1:55.19 at Ocean Breeze earlier this season. He was sixth last season, but could be primed to move into state title position this year. Also in the that Ocean Breeze race was Pennridge's Matt Eissler, who ran 1:55.48 to come in right behind Endres. Eissler has a 1:52 to his name from last winter and is certainly capable of winning a state title.
But perhaps the one to beat is Ephrata's Tyler Shue. The junior was under the radar last year, but his second place finish in 1:53.85 at indoor states in 2018 opened a lot of eyes. Now he comes in as the top returner. He's entered in the mile, which comes before the 800, but Shue, who ran a flat track 1:55.93 this winter, has shown over the past year that he can double very well.
Two boys who will come in with fresh legs are Carlisle's Jack Wisner and Seneca Valley's Seth Ketler. Both have run 1:56 this season and will likely put themselves in the lead pack to go for the win or a high finish. Bishop Shanahan's Jonah Hoey was ninth last year as a sophomore. He ran 1:52 last spring and could be one to watch to pop a fast time and go for the win.
Council Rock South's Collin Ochs is undefeated in the 800 this season and he's won three races (each at Lehigh) is rather dominating fashion. In what will be a very close race, Ochs has the potential to improve mightily on his No. 7 seed. Radnor's Ethan Zeh, Garnet Valley's Eric Albright, and Holy Ghost's Jarett Zelinsky all finished in a row at Ocean Breeze earlier this year. That group could make some noise as well in this packed 800 field.
Entries:
Event 12 Boys 800 Meter Run (20)
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Meet Record: 1:50.55 3/1/2014 Kyle Francis, Bensalem
Name Year School
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1 Albright, Eric 10 Garnet Valle
2 Balick, Jack 12 Abing Friends
3 Branan, Kendall 11 Indiana Area
4 Cj, Thimons 11 Highlands
5 Eissler, Matt 12 Pennridge
6 Endres, David 12 CB East
7 Ford, Daniel 11 Quaker Valley
8 Hoey, Jonah 11 Bish Shanahan
9 Ketler, Seth 12 Seneca Valle
10 Messner, Joe 12 State College
11 Ochs, Collin 12 CR South
12 Powell, Jonah 12 Grove City A
13 Raup, Ricky 11 St. Joe Prep
14 Shields, Connor 12 Warwick
15 Shue, Tyler 11 Ephrata
16 Wirth, Tyler 12 Wallenpaupac
17 Wisner, Jack 12 Carlisle
18 Zajicek, Elias 12 Chartiers Valley
19 Zeh, Ethan 12 Radnor
20 Zelinsky, Jarett 12 Holy Ghost Prep