Boys' 4x800m Relay Preview
The 4x8 will start off the state meet with a mix of some of the "usual suspects" of the past few years in the event with some breakthrough squads this season. Regardless, it's a bit of a surprise that no teams have run sub-8 yet this season. Expect that to change in a big way on Sunday morning.
The top two seeds (per the PTFCA's conversions) battled it out at the TFCAofGP Meet of Champs. Central Bucks West went 8:02.56 to edged out Haverford Township, which ran 8:03.34. CB West comes in as the defending indoor and outdoor champions in the 4x8. The Bucks have replenished some of the pieces it lost from last year and will be a strong contender for the title. Haverford, meanwhile, is a deep, battle-tested squad. The Fords have got better throughout and could very well swap that result with West in a rematch.
Pennridge, however, may be the team to beat. The Rams went 8:02.12 at Ocean Breeze in January. At full steam on Sunday, Pennridge will look to move up to the top spot after taking second last winter. If there's a team you can never sleep on in the 4x8, it's State College Area, the state champs from 2016. SC dropped an 8:07.85 a few weeks ago to put itself squarely in the discussion for the win.
Council Rock South will give those top seeds a run for their money. South was fourth last year, but may be better this season. This team has the horses to keep pace. Bishop Shanahan emerged as a contender at MOCs last week with Jonah Hoey in the lineup. Wyomissing Area, not far behind Pennridge at that Ocean Breeze, will be in the mix. Remember that this team won the AA state title outdoors last spring.
The race is on with a number of teams, nit too far behind. TSTCA talents Indiana Area, along with Radnor, Penncrest, and LaSalle College could all make some serious moves here.
This race will definitely bring some of the fastest times of the season. But up front, the race is relatively wide open for the win.
Entries:
Event 2 Boys 4x800 Meter Relay (21) ============================================================ =================== Meet Record: 7:45.06 2/26/2011 Central Bucks West, CB West M Bee, M May, C Manley, M McGarvey School ============================== ============================== =================== 1 Bensalem 2 Bishop Shanahan 3 Central Bucks East 4 Central Bucks South 5 Central Bucks West 6 Cheltenham 7 Council Rock North 8 Council Rock South 9 Downingtown West 10 Haverford Township HS 11 Holy Ghost Preparatory School 12 Indiana Area 13 LaSalle College High School 14 North Penn 15 Owen J. Roberts 16 Penn Wood 17 Penncrest 18 Pennridge 19 Radnor 20 State College Area High School 21 Wyomissing Area