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So the NJ Varsity Classic went down just recently and there were some very fast times from some relative unknowns on the scene so I figured I'd mention them here. Tony Russell won the 1600m in a time of 4:21.8. This time will put him in the top 5 or so in the state for the mile when you convert it, making it a very impressive mark. His teammate AJ Chaborek ran 4:29.8 which I believe is also state qualifying. These two legs obviously set the team up nicely for a DMR that can qualify and medal at states.

Oh yeah, they ran a DMR at this meet. A nice 10:35 mark for the group to put them right in the state championship conversation.

A huge surprise from Lyle Wistar with his 4:24.6. Obviously GFS had some nice pieces after their DMR, but I didn't think they had an anchor like this who comes from completely off my radar to drop a very nice 1600m run for 2nd.

(Just as a side note Muhlenberg recruit Alex Weiner 4:26.7, good work youngster.)

In the 3200m how about Sam Aziz? He didn't have a cross season mostly, I heard he went away for most of the fall or something? Dustin Wilson told me but I forget. Bascially he only raced regionals from what I saw but obviously he had solid potential after a solid year of XC and track as a Junior and he blasts his way onto the scene with a State Qualifying effort of 9:28.7 in the 3200m. It converts by PA standards down 37 seconds to a roughly 8:51 for 3k, a time which would put Aziz as #2 in the state behind only his fellow independent league runner Dustin Wilson. Very impressive performance. Turns out he is running for GFS now? Had no idea, but that DMR is shaping up to look pretty deadly after these two performances.

Kenny Leidal a solid 800m to go with his earlier mile that was state qualifying. Still some potential for a DMR or 4x8 at DTWest that could be pretty good (if only they had Quinn Devlin).

Penncrest, Glenn Mills, and Norristown all had very solid 4x4 performances of 3:26, 3:27 and 3:28 that qualify all the groups for states and put all of the relays in the medal conversation.

And guess what folks? You get a two for one today. In part because I really don't feel like starting my homework and also because the Carnival is coming up and I think a preview is probably in order. If somebody can get me a PCL performance list I'll do a preview for that as well.

I hope to be at the carnival meet this year, but no guarantees. I personally don't have a car, but my friend does, so I am going to have to do some scheming to get him to give me a ride. That being said, the races should be great either way.

Of course there is plenty to look forward to on the girls side, like the monster Angel Piccirillo running 3 events (she just won 4 not too long ago at TSTCAs, she has dropped the 400 for this weekend's meet). But unfortunately, I'm not going to talk too much about the girls meet (I could try but I feel like I would probably embarrass myself more than anything. So to the men.

First in the 60m Hurdles, Willet, Chris Williams and Jonathan Stiles will all take the stage for what should be an exciting race. Willet coming off an upset victory over Hairston, another one of the top notch hurdles in a great field for this year's state meet.

State leader TJ Elliot is the guy to watch in the dash as he will most likely be using his speed to race the clock this weekend and try to better his own PA #1.

In the mile a couple up and comers from XC like Alex Archer, Shawn Wolfe, Adam Katora, and John Felts are entered on the track to try and run with sub 3k runner Cole Nissley and mile state qualifiers Vinny Todaro and Avery Scripture. A sleeper pick in the race is Nick Rotz of Chambersburg. I don't see the race being particularly fast and ultimately I think Todaro will beat out Nissley for the win 4:29-4:30 or somewhere along those lines. Maybe one more guys hits the SQS out of the group that has it. Scripture is the wild card with a PR under 4:30 in the mile, one of the best in the field. Tyler Castelli of Central also a name to remember. He has a solid 800m PR from this season.

In the 400m Alex Shisler will look to better his time, which is one of the top 5 or so in the state, running against Jonathan Stiles fresh off a 48.6 anchor split on Pennwood's PA #1 4x4 team. A relay which has quickly become one of the best in state history.

In the 800m, an interesting field is laid out that includes AA state medalists Alex Archer, Dan Alexander and Mark Bachman, AAA state medalist Alec Kunzweiler, 1:19/1:55 runner Haneef Hardy, Chambersburg's Ryun Holder who boasts a 1:54 outdoor PR, and some sleepers like Jake Delehman, Ryan Dickson, Josh Rinker and Avery Scripture. DeLehman was a major factor indoors last season running 1:57-58 on a flat track, but has not yet matched his potential from a year ago. Dickson was a 1:56-57 split on CB South's excellent DMRs and 4x8s last spring, but also has not quite found his previous speed this indoors. Hardy has to be the favorite in the race after his 1:19 600m, and I do expect him to lead early and ensure a fast pace. But, I see this race ending in a win for Ryun Holder, who should hit the SQS and run around a 1:57 to take the win over a fading Hardy on the final lap. Kunzweiler should hang tough as well, somewhere around a 1:58 I see for him to take third behind Holder and Hardy. I'm hoping Delehman has a big day and mixes it up to get third. Plenty of potential for lots of guys to hit or better their SQS this weekend at Lehigh.

In the 200m it's the return of Almany Bangura, the former freshman sensation who has yet to recapture his former glory, but looks to get another SQS under his belt and go on to mix it up by states. He will have TJ Elliot, Kevin Smith III and Brandon Shippen to help him along the way.

In the 3000m, Dustin Wilson headlines the field, already holding the PA #1 3k. He will look to better his previous performance at Lehigh amongst a field that shows little signs of being able to better him. Aaron Wilkinson, a state medalist a year ago at 3000m and three time XC state medalist, will look to add his name to list of state qualifiers at 3000m. Wilkinson will be challenged by Francis Ferruzzi, Ryan Archer, and John Felts who all made great strides this past XC season. Ferruzzi boasts the best PRs of the chasers with a 9:09 and 4:31 1600m under his belt this season. Wilson should take the win easily, somewhere around 8:40-8:45 he chooses to really go for it. I see Ferruzzi (yes probably a little biased), taking second out of the group, right around 9:03, with Wilkinson not too far behind. Felts (if he passes on the mile) is probably the biggest sleeper of the bunch.

The relays are tough because you can never be quite sure who is going to throw in their A team. In the 4x2 it looks as though Cheltenham, Coatesville, CB South, CB West, Central Dauphin East (TJ Elliot's squad), Norristown, Swenson, and Pennwood are the big potential relays. If Bangura is in shape, Milton Hershey may also surprise in the 4x2.

In the 4x8s and DMRs, the DMR has just 5 entries (admittedly the entries include big time potential relays Strath Haven and GFS), so most likely teams will opt to go hot in the 4x8 this week. I'm hoping Abington shows their cards in the 4x8 this week, I know they have some potential, but they have been super quiet thus far this season. Maybe saving it for outdoor? Its hard to believe these guys are really out of stock. Meanwhile, CB West with a fresh squad and Nico Metzler, who we haven't heard much from after a great December, should be rounding into shape to hit the SQS. GFS, Cumberland Valley, Lower Moreland, Penncrest and Strath Haven are all entered in the 4x8 and all have potential to run very quick times. Millrose is on Saturday night so if Haven and Penncrest have decided to jump in that, than they won't have any sort of A squad at this meet. That leaves the door open for GFS to really go for it in either the 4x8 or the DMR and hit the standard. They should have a fresh squad that includes new state qualifiers Sam Aziz and Lyle Wistar who have shown potential to run very fast some time soon. Cumberland Valley, with a relatively fresh squad besides Kunzweiler, may also be able to better their SQS in the 4x8 and ensure an appearence in the fast heat, if things get split up into two heats.