Boys Mile Preview
The first individual boys distance event of the day will bring some big-time fireworks to the track in the mile. It's a star-studded field and one that should see some very fast times up front.
Leading the charge is newly-minted indoor state record holder, Gary Martin of Archbishop Wood. The senior University of Virginia recruit went 4:05.47 against a professional field at the Millrose Games in late January, breaking Noah Affolder's 2017 all-time indoor best. Martin has done quite a bit to cement himself as one of the state's greatest distance runners ever, and this would be his first indoor state title after the pandemic forced the cancellation of last year's state meet.
Martin has opted to chase just the mile as an open event, and he'll return later in the DMR. He did run a 9:04 for a full two miles earlier this season (which included a PA#1 8:28 3K split en route).
But CJ Singleton isn't going to go down without a fight. The Butler senior has had a monster indoor campaign that has included a 4:13.47 1,600m, to go with a 1:53.64 800m and 9:02 3,200m. Look for Singleton to go after a big race here. Like Martin, the mile will be his only open event of the day with the DMR coming later on.
With Singleton and Martin battling up front, there's a good chance this race produces a very fast time. Martin's record -- 4:05.47 -- could be on alert depending on how the race plays out, and the meet record (4:09.56 by Sam Ritz in 2015) is surely in danger.
This is a strong field after those two favorites. Quinn Worrell of Saint Joseph's Prep has been having a breakthrough winter. He dropped a 4:17.18 mile to take second to Martin at PCLs and has speed, as evidenced by his 1:56 800m to win the TFCAofGP Meet of Champs last week. Episcopal's Michael Woolery is a sophomore in a field packed with seniors, but he's proven he belongs in the discussion. He dropped an impressive 4:17.66 at the Armory this past weekend and is in a good spot entering Sunday.
Carson McCoy of Deer Lakes is one to watch. He won the AA state title in the 1,600m last spring and comes into this meet with a 1,600m season best of 4:18.29 from the SPIRE Showcase. He went 4:16 to win the state title last spring, and he's in a good spot for a good performance in this loaded field.
There are plenty of others here with a good shot of competing for a top five finish, including Lansdale Catholic's Anthony Gargani, South Fayette's Jake Borgesi, State College's Trent Dinant, the LaSalle College duo of Will Rau and Zachary Brill, and Holy Ghost Prep's James Corbett.
ENTRIES:
Event 8 Boys 1 Mile Run
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Meet Record: 4:09.56 3/1/2015 Sam Ritz, Germantown Acad
Name Year School
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1 Borgesi, Jake 11 South Fayette
2 Brill, Zachary 12 LaSalle Coll
3 Brown, Luke 11 Cathedral Prep
4 Corbett, James 12 Holy Ghost Prep
5 Dinant, Trent 12 State College
6 Fingerhut, Ethan 12 Haverford To
7 Fluharty, Ty 12 Riverside (7
8 Gargani, Anthony 12 Lansdale Cath
9 Lackman, Vaughn 12 Methacton
10 Lawson, Patrick 11 Haverford To
11 Martin, Gary 12 Arch Wood
12 Mattern, Christian 11 McDowell
13 McCoy, Carson 12 Deer Lakes
14 Rau, Will 12 LaSalle Coll
15 Ryan, Quentin 11 Haverford To
16 Singleton, CJ 12 Butler
17 Tarapchak, Ryan 12 Neshaminy
18 Whitaker, Colin 10 Lampeter Strras
19 Woolery, Michael 10 Episcopal Acad
20 Worrell, Quinn 12 St Joseph Prep