PIAA Preview: Boys' Sprints

Championship season is upon us. The PIAA state championship is this weekend and we're rolling out previews for all of the hotly contested jumps, throws, and races.

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AA Boys 100m 

Ethan Black of Conemaugh Township is the reigning champion in the AA 100m dash. His title defense looks extremely strong as we near states. He comes in with the fastest seed time of 10.48 after winning the District V Championship. Crazy stat: Ethan Black hasn't lost a single 100m or 200m race in the entire outdoor season this year or last year. 

Black is the clear favorite but a name you can't count out: Jackson Clarke (Danville Area). Clarke is the two seed. He won District IV in 10.61 and is gaining momentum at the perfect time. He will have the next best shot at taking down Black for gold. 

Dane Asbury, the junior from Washington, comes into the meet as the third seed after running 10.75. Evan McCracken (Richland), the indoor 60m champion, took fourth in the finals last outdoor season and is someone you can't count out. He also has the fourth fastest time in the state this season with 10.58.

AA Boys 200m

The top seed in the 200m dash goes to Jackson Clarke. Clarke bolted to a new PA #2 in 21.23 and is poised to make a splash in the state meet. He is undefeated over the distance so far this season. 

No surprises here, Ethan Black is the returning champion in the event. He ran the fastest All-Conditions 200m in the history of the state with 21.18. Yet, he enters as the four seed after cruising to victory in District V. 

The second best seed time goes to Josh Stolarski (Penn Cambria) who ran 21.82 and Dane Asbury gets the third seed in both the 100m and 200m. 

Bold Prediction: it will take a PIAA record to be the AA boys 200m champion.

AA Boys 400m

Josh Stolarski is the top seed in the 400m after winning the event in a huge new personal best of 49.26 at the district VI championship. With a couple victories over the distance so far this season, he is looking good for a state title.

Gabriel Cuffey (Archbishop Carroll) is a name to watch out for in this race with his seed of 49.75. He is fresh off of victories in both the 400m and 800m at District XII. Normally an 800m specialist, he has been consistently under 50 seconds in the 400m since March. 

Mason Winslow (Montoursville) rounds out the sub 50 efforts after winning District IV in 49.95.

AA Boys 4x100m

Brookville Area comes in as the favorite as they've run 42.57 as their season's best. They placed fifth in this event last year and return now as the top seed with the only sub 43 effort. 

Although, you won't be able to count Conemaugh Area Township who entered as the two seed in 43.21. Especially if Ethan Black is somewhere in the mix of their lineup. 

Some other schools that will make pushes for podium finishes: Church Farm SchoolWyomissing Area, Mastery Charter North, Carlynton

AA Boys 4x400m

The final event on the track features the fastest team in Jim Thorpe Area who enter in at 3:26.93, a season's best.

The next closest will be Montoursville Area who ran 3:27.32. Some other teams that could be in the mix for a title: Nativity BVM, Mifflinburg, Palisades.