State Predictions: 800m

800m
There are 35 entries in the mens 800! Wow! Last year they divided 27 guys up over three heats, this year I expect four heats with the additional entries, but we may see three. I see 9 in the first heat, 9 in the second heat, 8 in the third and 9 in the last heat.

Projected First Heat:
1 Dallago, Perk Valley 2:01.06
2 Gibson, Canon-Mac 2:00.47B
3 Duda, Lower Moreland 2:00.50B
4 Bekelja, Hershey 2:00.56B
5 Rivera, Bensalem 2:01.16
6 Dewille, Hershey 2:00.61B
7 Trueman, Springfield Montco 2:01.23
8 Lamour, E&S NS
9 Meterko, Puxsatawney NS
Projected Second Heat:
1 Sheltzer, Friend’s Central 1:59.37
2 Squirees, Penn Hills 1:59.10B
3 Bailey, Penn Hills 1:59.90
4 Witmer, McCaskey 1:59.36B
5 Ferris, Conestoga 1:59.44B
6 England, Easton Area 2:00.63
7 Holder, Chambersburg 2:00.82
8 Cassey, Penncrest 2:00.35B
9 Ahearn, Twin Valley 2:01.04
Projected Third Heat:
1 Cosgrove, McKeesport 1:58.38
2 Urso, Trinity 1:58.60
3 Gonzaga, Archbishop Ryan 1:59.05
4 Gomez, Butler 1:58.46B
5 Trimble, North Penn 1:59.12
6 Lidwell, Altoona 1:58.54B
7 Essex, Conestoga 1:58.64B
8 Jordan, State College 1:58.74B
Projected Fourth Heat:
1 Endress, Altoona 1:53.94B
2 Cho, Wissahickon 1:56.22
3 Magaha, Upper Moreland 1:56.61
4 Moran, Abington 1:56.24B
5 Lefebure, Henderson 1:57.02
6 Krszal, West Allegheny 1:56.43B
7 Flynn, Cumberland Valley 1:56.70B
8 Delahnman, Radnor 1:57.67
9 Timmins, Phoenixville 1:57.14B

The first heat is always exciting because you get to watch a lot of runners just go for it and chase PRs. Normally someone from this heat sneaks on to the medal stand and the guy I see doing is Bekelja. He’s a got a teammate in the heat with him and hopefully they can work together to a fast time with some other guys who go out hard. Bekelja in around 1:56 is my bet, sleeper pick to run quick would be Duda out of Lower Moreland.

The second heat again will just be a bunch of runners going for it which may lead to some fast times. I’ve always been a fan of Sheltzer out of Friend’s Central, but he’s not a guy who is going to push the pace and make this thing fast. I see Witmer ultimately pulling out this heat with a time around 1:57 low, maybe dipping into the 1:56s if the Penn Hills boys take it out hard enough.

Not really a lot of big names in this third heat and a few guys I’ve honestly never heard of. I think Trinity’s Urso is definitely a guy to watch along with Gomez. Deep sleeper might be Trimble who comes from a top notch program for the 800m. I see the winner of this heat again in the 1:57 range, maybe dipping into the 1:56s for the top two guys.

Hot heat should not be tactical this time around like it usually is. Krszal is a front runner and Flynn doesn’t like a slow pace either. Endress will be tired and Magaha I can’t see as a factor in this race on the double, but he is unpredictable to say the least. I think Cho and Moran will both look to make moves about 400m in and Endress and Lefebure will be the only ones to stay with them. I am really on the Endress bandwagon for this double because I think he has proven his fitness time and time again this season, but I think he will not be able to hold off Lefebure in the final straightaway. I have Lefebure winning in around 1:53 high again, Endress second in 1:54 low, Moran 3rd in 1:54 mid and Cho 4th in about 1:54 high. The other guys may mix it up in there and try to snag a medal.

Ultimately when the dust settles I have Lefebure, Endress, Moran, Cho, Bekelja, Urso, Witmer, and Gomez medaling in that order. Flynn with a near miss, same to Timmons.