History

So just like XC I was thinking any state medalists who want to message me about their experience at the state meet and what they thought of their race, I will glad post it up on the blog. Also splits! I want to try and get as many splits as possible and post them up on here, I think that'd be sweet. If we could get a bunch of different perspectives on every race that went down this past weekend I think that would make for quite the bit of reading for everybody on here. So yeah, keep in touch with me, if you don't know how to reach me by now then just comment here or facebook message me.

Something that I thought was worth noting: indoor state champions have struggled to repeat with victories outdoors. Let's look back a year to 2011 at states. On the distance side Gil and Endress took the individual titles, but come outdoors both struggled to come home with golds again. In fact state champion and state runner up in the 3200m Glenn Burkhardt and Zach Hebda both were completely absent from the indoor season. Magaha and Cho both were outside the top 3 at PSU before taking home the gold at Shippensburg.

And last year was not a fluke year by any means. In 2010 Rad Gunzenhauser was an easy winner in the 3k indoors, but faded to 5th outdoors as Matt Fischer took home the gold in a surprise win. Fischer failed to medal indoors and runner up Ryan Gil didn't even run the mile. Mallon and Lefebure, despite very fast 800 performances outdoors, did not repeat as the champions they were indoors. In 2009 and 2008 Ivo Milic and Max Kaulbach were not a part of the PIAA and their mile state championships went undefended come outdoors. Elliot Rhodes struggled outdoors and couldn't bring home the AA gold after his 2008 800m championship. Josh Izewski and Bobby Micikas both missed the gold outdoors in the 3200m after great indoor championship performances. Only Tom Mallon as a junior managed to defend his indoor state title (in a slower time admittedly) with an 800m gold in the winter and spring.

That being said, the relay teams have had much better luck. In 2007 and 2008 North Penn won both the indoor and outdoor state titles in the 4x800m. In 2009 CB South followed their near record setting performance indoor with a jaw dropping 7:33 outdoors. And in 2011 CB West managed another gold in the 4x800m. Abington's 2010 indoor state championship squad was 2nd outdoors to only Cedar Crest, who didn't compete at the indoor championships that year. Good news for Pennridge.

That being said Great Valley looks like they will continue the streak of DMR teams that have not run relays outdoors. In 2011, state champions Wissahickon didn't run a relay at states or a DMR at Penn Relays. The 2010 state champions Henderson also didn't run a relay at states or a DMR at Penn. The 2008 and 2007 state champions LaSalle and Henderson each tried for Penn Relays gold, but missed out to other PA teams. Then each school went on to be absent from the 4x8 at outdoor stats. Only the 2009 Upper Dublin team went on to achieve victory in the Penn Relays and a hard fought 2nd place in the 4x8 in a 7:40 clocking.

We already know that this year Dustin Wilson will not be able to defend his title outdoors as he is not in the PIAA. Haneef Hardy will be challenged again outdoors after what some might call an upset victory in the 800m. And of course Ned Willig should once again have to face off against state meet record holder Drew Magaha at 1600m.

No matter what happens, it should be an exciting spring.