AAA Boys 1600m Preview
The 1600 has been jam-packed with a ton of great performances this season, and, like the 3200, it will produce what should be a memorable finale at the state meet in AAA.
At the top, there's Gary Martin of Archbishop Wood, who zoomed to one of the fastest times in state history way back on April 24, when he went 4:07.20 at the Whippet Invitational. Martin is the top seed in the 3200, so the 1600 will come second for him. It's been a terrific year for Martin and he's got a shot to grab his second gold of the day here.
But it won't come easy. There are a number of contenders looking for the upset.
Butler's Skyler Vavro went 4:13.98 to win the WPIAL title -- a huge PR for the senior. He's riding some good momentum into states and we'll see what else he's got in store, possibly coming in on fresh legs. His teammate CJ Singleton was second at WPIALs. Singleton's run 4:11.09 this year. He'll be coming off the 3200 earlier in the day, but should be right up there.
Downingtown West's Declan Rymer was third in that Whippet Invit race, running a PA No. 3 time of 4:10.59. This past weekend, Rymer ran a perfectly executed race to win the District 1 title in 4:14.02. He'll be fresh for the 1600 and will have a shot to do make some noise. Hatboro Horsham's Devon Comber was second to Rymer in D1, running 4:15.20. It's no secret he's got a great kick, and even though he's doubling off the 3200, Comber will have a shot at this win, too.
District 3 champion Weber Long of Greencastle-Antrim has been impressive all season long. He put down a 4:14.32 to win this past week, and he'll be a factor, too, after his 3200. District 6 winner Brady Bigger of State College is a threat, as well. The AAA XC state champion will be looking for gold with SC's 4x8 earlier in the day, but he's got a season best of 4:16.62, so his sights will be set on another big race.
There are a lot of contenders here. Boys like Lower Merion's Trey Gannon (4:16.87) and Knoch's Mike Formica (4:16.72) also come in with sub-4:17 times. It's an incredibly fast here for the 1600 and we should see even more on Saturday.
ENTRIES:
Event 704 Boys 1600 Meter Run AAA
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NFHS Record: 3:59.51 2001 Alan Webb, RestonSoLakesHS, VA
PIAA Record: 4:07.32 2011 Drew Magaha, Upper Moreland 01
NFHS Hnr Rol: 4:11.00
4:24.22 SQS
Name Year School Seed Finals
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1 Martin, Gary 11 Abp Wood 12 4:12.73 SQS
2 Vavro, Skyler 12 Butler 07 4:13.98 SQS
3 Rymer, Declan 12 Dtown West 01 4:14.02 SQS
4 Singleton, CJ 11 Butler 07 4:14.10 SQS
5 Long, Weber 11 Greencastle 03 4:14.32 SQS
6 Comber, Devon 12 Hatboro Hrshm 01 4:15.20 SQS
7 Gannon, Trey 12 Lower Merion 01 4:16.87 SQS
8 Formica, Mike 12 Knoch 07 4:18.10 SQS
9 Bigger, Brady 12 State College 06 4:19.27 SQS
10 Gatons, Quintin 12 Grnsbrg Salem 07 4:19.40 SQS
11 Bailey, Calvin 12 Lewisburg 04 4:19.87 SQS
12 Roden, Timothy 10 Cntrl Dauphin 03 4:20.25 SQS
13 Dooley, Max 12 Radnor 01 4:20.47 SQS
14 Leen, Caiden 11 Dtown East 01 4:20.62 SQS
15 Thomas, Graham 12 Penn Manor 03 4:20.88 SQS
16 Betz, Holden 12 Dtown West 01 4:21.16 SQS
17 McCann, Michael 12 Dallas 02 4:21.32 SQS
18 Maxwell, Gavin 12 Kennett 01 4:21.46 SQS
19 Kenyon, Caleb 11 North Pocono 02 4:21.52 SQS
20 Hess, Jacob 11 Lewisburg 04 4:21.73 SQS
21 Throop, Dylan 12 Gnrl McLane 10 4:22.83 SQS
22 Holbrook, Alex 11 Exeter Twp 03 4:23.44 SQS
23 Heidemann, Alex 11 Freedom 11 4:23.62 SQS
24 McIntyre, Ethan 12 Unionville 01 4:23.94 SQS
25 Kroboth, Brett 10 Peters Twp 07 4:24.10 SQS
26 Thrush, Kyle 12 Conestoga Vly 03 4:24.39
27 Chaikowsky, Matthew 12 Saucon Valley 11 4:24.93
28 McGinley, Ryan 10 La Salle Cllg 12 4:28.26
29 Barnhisel, Jack 11 Allderdice 08 4:40.20
30 Foradora, Joseph 11 DuBois Area 09 4:43.49