AA Boys 1600m Preview
There's a ton of talent set for the AA boys 1600 meters in what should be a really intriguing race for the state title.
Grove City's Gabe Nichols is in the midst of a huge season. He went 4:15.55 for a full mile, which is faster than the fastest 1600 of anyone else in the field. He cruised to the District 10 title, and looks very fit heading into the state meet and is the favorite heading into the race.
Luke Miller of Jenkintown went 4:16.79 this spring in the loaded race at the Whippet Invite. He ran to the District 1 title last week. On Friday, he'll be coming off the 3200 earlier in the meet, but he'll hope to return to the 1600 with his legs still under him.
Schuylkill Valley's Luke Seymour is enjoying a big season, and the junior has a best of 4:18.01 this spring. The District 3 champ has been grabbing a lot of wins and will likely find himself right near the front, battling it out for the win.
The top seeds hail from the WPIAL. Gabe McConville of Waynesburg Central went 4:18.01 (the same PR as Seymour) to grab the win. Carson McCoy of Deer Lakes was second in 4:18.96 and Kirk Stewart of South Park was third in 4:21.18. All three appear to be in a good spot to make a run at the title in this field, as they should make it close.
Then there's the Penns Valley boys -- Colton Sands and Brendan Colwell. Both have battled injuries dating back to the XC season, but the pair went 1-2 at the District 6 Championships in 4:21.81 and 4:21.83. Sands and Colwell have a ton of talent, as we've seen over the year (Sands is the reigning AA 3200 state champion from 2019), and can't be counted out in this field. They are a bit of an unknown entity from a fitness standpoint, but it would be wise not to sleep on them.
The lone returning medalist in this field from 2019 is Northern Bedford's Ian Zimmerman, who went 4:23 that day. He's seeded 22nd, which means he'll be in the first section, but he has the talent to make a run at the podium.
ENTRIES:
Event 604 Boys 1600 Meter Run AA
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NFHS Record: 3:59.51 2001 Alan Webb, RestonSoLakesHS, VA
PIAA Record: 4:03.22 1987 Paul Vandegrift, Arch Kennedy 01
NFHS Hnr Rol: 4:11.00
4:31.13 SQS
Name Year School Seed Finals
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1 McConville, Gabe 12 Waynesburg 07 4:18.01 SQS
2 McCoy, Carson 11 Deer Lakes 07 4:18.96 SQS
3 Stewart, Kirk 12 South Park 07 4:21.18 SQS
4 Seymour, Luke 11 Schuylkll Vly 03 4:21.52 SQS
5 Sands, Colton 12 Penns Valley 06 4:21.81 SQS
6 Colwell, Brendan 12 Penns Valley 06 4:21.83 SQS
7 Nichols, Gabe 12 Grove City 10. 4:23.24 SQS
8 Miller, Luke 12 Jenkintown 01 4:24.75 SQS
9 Cree, Toby 12 Cntrl Cambria 06 4:25.47 SQS
10 Brett, Mitchell 12 Kutztown 03 4:27.35 SQS
11 Myers, Daniel 12 Lanc Catholic 03 4:27.36 SQS
12 Aiken, Sean 10 Eden Chrstn 07 4:27.78 SQS
13 Nicholls, Lance 11 Wnchstr Thrst 07 4:28.07 SQS
14 Moore, Mason 11 Lanc Catholic 03 4:30.12 SQS
15 Habalar, Port 12 So Wlliamsprt 04 4:30.31 SQS
16 Buckner, Zach 12 Fairview 10 4:30.68 SQS
17 Gargani, Anthony 11 Lansdale Cath 12 4:32.16
18 Buzard, Koby 12 Keystone 09 4:33.32
19 Wolfe, Joe 12 Elk Cnty Cath 09 4:33.79
20 Cummings, Owen 9 Williamson 04 4:34.25
21 Smigo, Thomas 10 Palisades 11 4:36.71
22 Zimmerman, Ian 12 Nthrn Bedford 05 4:37.98
23 Snee, Christian 12 Mid Valley 02 4:38.88
24 Branley, Michael 12 Wyoming Area 02 4:40.30
25 Burke, Calder 10 Masterman 12 4:43.18
26 Glavin, Michael 10 Abp Carroll 12 4:48.06