Sprints & Hurdles | Distance | Field | Relays |
Distance
Boys Group 1 800m Championship, Drew Maher 1:55.86.
800 Meter Run - State Rankings
Drew Maher has taken state season by storm out of the Group 1 leading both the 800m, 1:55.86, and 1600m, 4:13.72, during Groups weekend. We'll have to see which event he looks to focus on come Sunday.
While Drew Maher, if he runs this event, is the top dog going in things became more interesting after Eastern States on Tuesday. Dominic DiNardi of Hillsborough won Easterns with a huge PR of 1:55.20 for NJ#4 on the season, his previous indoor best was a 1:58.13 from Group 4 Championships on Saturday.
Damien Dilcher is the second seed out of Groups, he showed strength to win the Group 3 title over third seed Atharv Kulkarni of West Windsor Plainsboro North on Friday 1:56.15 to 1:56.32. Luis Peralta of Passaic won the Group 4 title at 1:56.46 and Christian Brothers Academy's Tim McInerney looked very strong during his double win during Non-Public A, both could definitely shave some time off their bests to contend for the title as well. McNair Academic's junior Marcus Hardy gained some in race experience with Maher during Group 1 Champs last weekend when he placed second at 1:58.91, he has a 1:57.47 at the Bubble from Sectionals.
This could be a fun race to say the least. Drew Maher of Shore Regional is hitting pace at just the right time and is NJ#1 US#14 heading into the Meet of Champions thanks to his 4:13.72 last weekend. If there was any doubt to his shape right now he also split 4:11.82 on Shore's DMR team at Eastern States Championships on Tuesday. If he wins this weekend he would be Shore Regional's first indoor Meet of Champions winner.
While Maher is looking very strong coming in the competition in this race is the real deal. We're going to assume Devin Hart is going to concentrate on the 3200m this weekend. That leaves Group 2 champ Chris Romero of Voorhees 4:16.57 ( should he choose the 1600m), Fahd Nasser of McNair Academic 4:17.89, Group 4 champ Francis Martingale of Memorial WNY 4:18.80, Derek Gess, Sameer Das, Will Hare, and the list of high end competitors just keeps on going.
3200 Meter Run - State Rankings
While Devin Hart doesn't have the top time from Groups weekend on this performance list he is definitely the favorite going in. The Pt. Pleasant Boro junior is the state leader with a US#9 time of 9:10.21 from Sectionals, and that was on a double back from a 4:16 time in the 1600m.
It seems the rest of the race will be about who has what it takes to go with him, and even then you'll have to take on his kick at the end which you can watch in last week's double duel with Romero. That effort is led by top seeded Vedang Lad of West Windsor Plainsboro North and his teammate Matthew Santamaria who went 1-2 in the Group 3 title race at 9:20.57 and 9:22.97. If Chris Romero chooses this race over the 1600m he is of course a major contender as well after matching Hart almost step for step last weekend. Sameer Das of West Windsor Plainsboro South was crowned champion of the Group 4 title race and depending on if he chooses this race or the 1600m, which he also advanced him, he could make some noise here.
Colin Logsdon of Chatham, Jack Jennings of Mendham, Fahd Nasser of McNair Academic all strong 3200m runners that will toe the line on Sunday as well.
