Boys Preview - Foot Locker Northeast Regionals
- Championship Boys Race Time: 11 A.M.
Anderson Among The Favorites
Like the state meet last year, Mount Lebanon's Patrick Anderson entered FLNE last season relatively under the radar. Then a junior, he ran to a sixth place regional finish and booked himself a trip to San Diego for nationals.
But Anderson is a different runner now, and one that those in Pennsylvania, as well as the region should be familiar with now. He enters Saturday as one of the favorites in a deep boys' field. Anderson is unbeaten this fall, registering seven wins on the season, each in fairly run away fashion. He rolled to his second straight PIAA Class AAA state title on November 2 and set a new Hershey course record in the process. Now the senior UNC signee will face his toughest test yet against the northeast's best.
His best challenge for the win will come from a New Jersey contingent. Liam Murphy of Allentown ran to the Meet of Champions win last week. He was beat a week earlier by Mendham's Jack Jennings, the PTXC 11 winner, who battled a sickness the week of MOCs. Kevin Antczak of Mainland Regional was third at NJ MOCs. All three should be right up there near the front. Murphy is the top returner in the field; he was fourth at FLNE last year. Jennings' teammate Jack Stanley won the region last year.
Connecticut also brings a solid group of boys to the line this weekend at VCP. Sophomore Gavin Sherry earned the win at both CT state meet and the New England Championships. Matthew Farrell is one of three national qualifiers back this year. Aidan Puffer was 17th at FLNE last year and the sophomore has got considerably better since then.
Ultimately, it will be crowded near the front. But Anderson has proven that he isn't one to back down from a challenge and he'll make a run at the regional title. He will look to become the first PA boy since Noah Affolder in 2016 to win at FLNE.
The Other State Champs Will Have A Great Shot, Too
Anderson isn't the only Pennsylvania state champ that will be in the mix for a spot in San Diego. In fact, the other three state champion in PA -- A, AA, and PAISAA -- will also be right in the mix for high finishes and trips to San Diego.
Let's start with Colton Sands of Penns Valley Area, who has been on a roll in the last month. First, the junior went 15:14 to win the District 6 title. Then he captured the Class A state crown in 15:56. Then two weeks ago in some cold and windy conditions at Temple, he blasted a 9:07 for a full two miles. He's fit as ever and looking to be in a very good spot to contend with the region's best.
Robert DiDonato of Germantown Academy is another contender. The junior is undefeated this fall. He went 15:15 to run to the Paul Short Run win. He easily took home his second straight PAISAA crown. He hasn't raced a ton this season and Paul Short was the only one of his four races that he had competition, but DiDonato has already proven his ability. Expect him to be right near the front.
General McLane's Dylan Throop, the AA state champion, has also been on a tear this season. The 11th grader left little doubt at Hershey, rolling to the state win in 15:57. He has won five races this season, with his only defeat coming at the hands of 2018 Foot Locker Nationals qualifier Sam Lawler of New York. He progressed well into this season and should put himself right in the mix.
All three of the aforementioned are juniors, so while each will be a serious factor on Saturday, the Keystone State will be loaded with talent up front come next year.
Plenty Of Other Contenders
There are a host of others who, with a big day, could make a strong run at national qualification.
Penns Valley's Brendan Colwell heads up that list. The teammate of Sands was second at the state meet in Class A, completing a 1-2 finish for PV. The junior ran 15:29 this season in what has been a big breakthrough like him. He ran a very quick 9:16 2 mile at Temple and showed he can be right up there with the rest of the top ten threats.
Mars Area's Zachary Leachman is another contender. He faded a bit at the state meet and wound up 19th in AAA, but the senior is talented. He battled well all season in a very deep WPIAL and won't be afraid to go toe-to-toe with the favorites in the region.
Other highly placed AAA state meet finishers in the FLNE field include Butler's Sage Vavro (9th), Garnet Valley's Sean Garrett (10th), Butler's CJ Singleton (13th), Muhlenberg's Jonathan Thrush (14th), Oxford Area's Bruce Trimmer (15th), and Penn Manor's Graham Thomas (16th).
Andrew Healey of Holy Cross was third in Class A at the state meet, and will look for a big VCP run this time around after taking 27th at NXR last season. Greencastle-Antrim's Weber Long, who was third in Class AA at the state meet, is an impressive sophomore in this field that could make some noise. Grove City's Tobias Jones was sick during the PIAA postseason and DNF'd at states. He's entered in FLNE, though, and with his good health back, should be one to watch.
Northern Lebanon's Gage Krall, Jenkintown's Luke Miller, Reynold's Troy Hart, Bedford's Van May, Northern Bedford's Ian Zimmerman, Riverview's Mason Ochs, and Holy Cross's Kevin Jumper are among the other boys that will have a shot at strong finishes.