Well for the start of indoors it was a nice little anything you can do I can do better Gatorade commercial as I commented previously on this blog between the MJ and Mia Hamm of track and field, Ned Willig and Drew Magaha (I'll let you decide who is who).
As we hit spring the story is surprisingly similar. Ned, who has hit 1:51 more times in the last year than most people dream of, boasts yet another 1:51 800m in his first race back from his shoulder injury. Its a good sign that shouldn't go over looked. It is the first piece that Ned has put into place to say something along the lines of, "Remember when everyone was like, Magaha just had mono and now he is a boss .... well now I am about to do the same thing off this shoulder injury. Watch out." In his first 800m back he did run a 1:51.7 ... maybe just a coincidence but if he jumps off like Magaha he will run 1:48 next week.
For his first 800 of his 1200m leg at Penn, as he goes on to finish in 2:43.
But in all seriousness, I doubt Ned or Drew is really that concerned about one upping the other. And considering I've met both fellas before, I doubt Ned would ever say the quote I just put above. He's a nice soft spoken guy.
But I am concerned about who will one up the other as the weeks go on as the two super stars of PA track and field get set to (hopefully) finally face off in head to head competition at Districts and States. Amazingly, both may be better at 800m right now than 1600m. Never thought I'd say it, but right now it feels like its true.
Drew's biggest glaring weakness right now is that lack of proof that he has the mile strength to get the job done at Penn. That field is stacked full of kickers, good sign for somebody like Drew who is more of a kicker than a karate black belt, but it doesn't mean those guys can't kick off 4:12ish pace. Drew has yet to run fast in the mile since last May when he ran 4:07. I'm not saying he can't, I'm just saying that's the weakness he has right now. The mile is a different animal than the 8, it requires much more focus. Take it from a guy who had a lot of mental blocks at that event until this past weekend when I ran my first big PR ever at that race.
Ned hasn't exactly blown our minds in the mile. He had a near national record in the 1k before the DQ, set the state record in the 800m and ran 1:51 twice indoors after a gutsy nationals performance where he made the race for Zavon and Malone (the two big headliners against Magaha at Penn ironically) and ran a couple of 3 flat 1200 legs. But his mile time of 4:15 was pretty unsurprising given his ability at the other distances and he didn't really make any big pushes for the record. Fluke race at Millrose probably cost him his only chance.
So needless to say there apparent weaknesses for both guys in the mile. BUT both guys can easily fix that.
Drew has the big knockout punch right now with that 1:48 and he has all the momentum going into Penn. But Ned has the advantage of consistency. Check out this stat for ya. Off the top of my head these are all the 1:51-1:52 800s Ned has ran in the past year or so:
Henderson Distance Festival '11
SMR Nationals Split '11
Open 800m at Nationals Outdoors '11
Indoor Association Meet Split '12
Yale Track Classic '12
Closing the 1k at the Armory (not exact here, but pretty darn close) '12
Indoor Nationals '12
Great Valley Relays '12
7-8 1:51 or 1:52 performances in the past year (that I know of anyway). I'm not sure even Tom Mallon can boast numbers like that, and he was state record holder at 800m until a couple nights ago.
Ultimately, things will be decided at Penn. I'd like to think both gents will run the "mile" (Ned's will be a 16 technically), and we will have a nice little comparison point. Ned, however, may run the 1200 which would be nice (especially if he broke 3 minutes) but not quite the comparison that we all want to see.
If Ned runs under 2:58 or under 4:12 we got a race on our hands for outdoors. If Magaha runs 4:07y then I'm not sure Ned has any sort of shot on him. Everything else in the middle ... eh, talk to me if that happens and I'll decide what it means.
Thanks sports fans.
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ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure ned is anchoring.
ReplyDeleteMagaha ran 4:19h(1600) his 1st meet back against Upper Dublin the end of March, and then pushed a 4:00F(1500) in the wind 10 days later at Kiwanas. Not stellar, but certainly in the ballpark. He's come a long way in 4 weeks, and it's only going to get better.
ReplyDeletei personally think this will be a kicker race at states going out at at least 2:10 or slower and you have to give it to drew in that case, but i feel like ned is more likely to close the final 800 in 1:58 maybe taking magaha's speedy last lap down after a 58 third lap allowing ned to keep up and let whoever has more heart win. hopefully they both double back in the 800 because they are head and shoulders above everyone else at this point.
ReplyDeleteI know you did something similar a few days ago but I think a preview and predictions for the Penn relays would be cool. Your probably planning on doing that anyway I just thought it'd be nice to show some interest.
ReplyDeleteneither Chambersburg or CV will do any thing special at states. they probally are going to run fast at districts or something but every year on of those teams (JP mcaskey)runs good and then does nothing at states
ReplyDeleteTo be fair in 2010 Cedar Crest won the race after winning districts while the 2-4 teams all qualified for the finals at states. In 2009 Carlisle was 7th at states and ran 7:44, and CV dropped the baton but did make finals. In 2008 the top two teams again made finals and finished 5th and 7th despite Troxell losing his shoe. Both ran under 7:50. In 2007 CD won districts and was third at states running under 7:50, while CV and Chambersburg who finished 2nd and 3rd also both made finals and Chambersburg snagged a medal.
DeleteNot sure if you can make that bold statement there my friend
C-burg 756.5 cv 756.6 tue. in a duel meet with the wind blowing everywhere dude state medal for sure both teams have been running under 8 all yr Houlder nips Kunnzwelier at the line classic race round 3 at penn relays
DeleteWouldn't it be something if Ned and Drew matched up in a fresh 800m sometime before Districts? The Puma/Henderson Inv comes to mind as a fast track with a good atmosphere to run fast.
DeleteYou can count on 6 to 8 secs for Cburg by end of year. Its only April.
Delete@etrain I maybe have been a little over critical of District 3, but I am just referring to the fact that at D3 champs last year there were 7 teams under 8 in the 4x8 with JP mcCasky at 747 and they went 757, then @ 750 they went 811, CV went 750 they went 755, cedar crest 752 they went 817, chambersburg 758 they went 819. I am just saying that the trend is that they generally do not run better at states, i understand that conrad wiser most likey had mcclaffery at D3 champs and not at states. And also Hershey ran 758 at D3's and went 751 in trials. I was just trying to say that i think that may happen again as it did last year
ReplyDeletefair point, last year definitely fits ur argument well
ReplyDeletei thinks its fair to say i was also a little overcritical haha my b
ReplyDelete