Throwback: An Improbable Comeback In District 2


It looked like the race was well over with 100 meters to go. If you thought that, like many at Scranton Memorial Stadium thought two years ago at the PIAA District 2 Class AAA Championships, you would be mistaken.

Scranton's Akash Darjee rounded the final turn of the fourth and final heat of the boys' 400 meters in fifth place. Any hopes of a district title and a spot in the PIAA State Championships for Darjee was fading away quickly.

Then he caught a second wind.

Like he was shot out of a cannon, Darjee, on his home track, put his head down and zoomed down the stretch, passing three very quickly and then making his final run for the leader, Mitchell Forgash of Wyominf Valley West, who had opened up a big lead.

PLACEATHLETETEAMRESULTWINDH#
1Akash Darjee12Scranton49.684
2Mitchell Forgash12Wyoming Valley West50.634
3Tyler Reilly12North Pocono51.044
4Michael Bradley11Hazleton Area51.184
5Carter Schmalzle12Wallenpaupack52.244


Darjee made the pass and then -- improbably -- turned the race into a runaway, capturing the win by nearly a full second. His time of 49.68 was a big PR for the senior in one very memorable race.

We're looking back on some great district meet moments this week, in what would have been a busy week of PIAA district championship meets across the state of Pennsylvania. Watch the an unlocked clip of the finish in that boys' 400 above and the full race below: