So here is the deal folks. We have got some things lined up for states that I hope you will enjoy and some things lined up for states that we are not really sure how you will feel about it, but there isn't much we can do.
First off, we can not video the races and post them up for free on the blog for copyright reasons. We have, however, likely negotiated the rights to view the race videos after the fact so that we can analyze them in depth, get splits, etc. But they will not go up on the blog, nor can we share them with anyone else. That's the bad news part.
Part of the good news is that you can buy a full video selection of the state meet events from: www.boblongsports.com.
Bob Long Sports will be providing exclusive free, live video coverage of the Pennsylvania High School Indoor State Track and Field Championship from Penn State University on February 23rd, 2013. Tune in to live coverage HERE and be sure to check out our LIVE SCORING page, instantaneously updated to reflect the most recently run events.
A DVD of the meet with all the track events will be available for sale after the meet, please contact bob@boblongsports.com for more information.
for HERE: Link http://boblongsports.com/ to it,
and for LIVE SCORING: link http://boblongsports.com/2013/02/22/pa-state-meet-live-
So that's all that not-etrain related news. Here is where we come in.
As you may or may not remember, I will not be able to attend the meet because of my Conference Championship meet that weekend. However, I have found a more than viable replacement who will be in attendance: Zack Neiner, currently attending Penn State University.
Zack ran cross country and track for Downingtown East, class of 2011, running solid marks in the upper distances like the mile and 2 mile posting PRs of 16:40, 10 flat, and 4:40 while in HS. He also had enough range to be an alternate for his state 4x800m team. He has not lost his passion for running as he just completed his first marathon this past May.
Zack's off the track credentials are impressive. He is a double major at Penn State in both Broadcast Journalism and Economics. Currently a sophomore, Zack writes for the student newspaper, the Daily Collegian while also writing and completing podcasts for his blog, 4th and hollywood, that covers sports and entertainment and has a full staff of over 10 writers. You can find out more about Zack from his blog and follow him on twitter @ZackNeiner (easy enough to remember).
Zack has graciously offered to do a variety of things for us at the meet. Although we had hopes of livestreaming the meet and getting race videos, unfortunately those plans will not work out under the copyright restrictions, but we do appreciate Zack's effort to make those things happen. What we will be doing is announcing the races without video, giving updates on Twitter when possible if you follow @ZackNeiner (Zack has a lot on his plate already), and we will be looking to interview a variety of the top runners in the state including all the distance state champions (boy or girl is fine! we are trying to expand our audience!)
If you are a state champion, we please ask that you try and find our coverage team out there and interview with us (I will be posting up more info as I know about it so you can more easily find Zack). Honestly, there is only so much we can do with our limited budget and lack of t-shirts and signs to get everyone to come interview with us so we need people to be proactive and don't be shy! If you are going to interview with penntrack, feel free to interview with us too! We would like to give our readers the inside scoop and ask the questions by the runners, for the runners. We understand the sport and we know what our readers want to hear and we feel we can do this better than any other site on the web so I encourage you to come out and interview with us.
Even if you are not the state champion if you are a state medalist or even a state participant we want you to come by. We feel each runner can offer a lot of insight, especially in these deep fields where fast times will be coming throughout the day.
Thanks for your help. If you have any questions feel free to contact me on facebook or on penntrack (I set up an account @etrain99) or on twitter or by email or by phone. Also feel free to contact Zack Neiner if you have any questions specific to him. Also Bob Long sports is available through their website if you have questions for them.
Let's make this a great state meet!
Way to step up Zack! or should we call you Ztrain for this weekend?
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to set this up
ReplyDeleteI feel like an army of tiny Neds is charging at me.
ReplyDeleteThese are really tough to call, but it’s fun to try it anyway so here are my picks, which all assume everyone is over their recent colds.
ReplyDelete800
Rivera 1:53.8
Logue 1:54.4
Stone 1:54.6
Lewis 1:55.8
Rivera’s early 1:55-800 and recent 2:29-1000 are impressive. I’m sure Stone has a good split out of the LaSalle 4x800 so he should be right there, Logue/Lewis too. After that I couldn’t even guess with so many guys in the mix. My sleeper pick out of the first heat is Yannacone. I believe he’s coming off of injury, but he has a 1:54 pr, he might be able drop a 1:57ish tomorrow.
1600
Huemmler 4:14.1
Russell 4:14.5
Coyle 4:15.5
Harriman 4:18.5
Groh 4:20.5
This should be the race of the day. It’s a tough pick for me because I’ve been going with Russell since the Immaculata Relays in August and he and WCH have kept me from looking too dumb many times. He’s silenced many a doubter during cross country and now again during indoor at the mid distances. He’s well coached and a disciplined, smart runner. If someone takes it out really quick, I expect he’ll hang near the 400/800 splits he wants and then start to push the pace before the kickers try to take over. If it goes out too tentative, he’s not afraid to take the initiative to bring it through where he wants to be, maybe 63/2:07/3:11. However, this is a very strong field and I doubt Coyle/Huemmler would let him get too far out. I believe Russell can win state gold at this distance, but I’m just not convinced he can push this race enough to take the kick out of both Coyle/Huemmler just yet.
Coyle runs smart, has the killer kick, but hasn’t dropped the low mile time yet this indoor, though that’s not to say he won’t. He has a great chance of winning this thing too. However, I’m going with Huemmler for the win. He has the strong 4:16 indoors already. Like Russell, he’s not afraid to push early. He had the guts to stay within striking distance of Magaha at districts last spring until the last lap. Since Magaha is Magaha and had it going that day, Huemmler had no chance but pushed through uncontested for a solid 2nd. He had the lead at outdoor states for most of that race too and still held off the field, except for Coyle. He put together a heck of a trophy case last year that has just about everything except individual state gold. This may be his time.
3000
Russell – 8:38
Colwell – 8:42
Barchet – 8:43
Savage – 8:45
Shearn – 8:46
This is another real tough one to pick with just a huge pack capable of 8:45ish If Russell weren’t in the mile I’d feel very confident picking him for the win going away with a strong PR. However now I think he brings a very deep field back to him a little. Henderson trains as hard/smart as any team so he’s definitely a guy who can pull it off. And there’s no way Coach Kelly puts him in that double if he weren’t very confident. But it’s a tough double anytime, let alone a state championship. That said, I’m still going with Russell. There’s plenty of time between races and I think he’ll be strong enough to take it. Everyone in the field knows what he can do so I expect they’ll follow him in a jockeying lead pack. Somebody might try to makes a move around 600 to go, but I think Russell will run what it takes to win. I like Colwell and Barchet chances of too and Savage always seems to be in the mix. Shearn is a sleeper pick, he’s obviously a very talented guy who could win this thing if he’s 100%. I believe he missed some training but he’s too good to count out.
4 x 800 – WCH – 7:58.5, Pennsbury 7:57.8, O’Hara 8:00.0
DMR – LaSalle – by a lot.
Sorry for the long post, but there’s only one indoor states!
-RJJL
Your crazy lasalle gets all they can handle...
ReplyDeleteGood joke runner whose initials are probably AK who's been posting about how great CVs DMR is for the last week. Lasalle is the best DMR by far.
ReplyDeleteAK does not post on the blog. If you knew him you would know this. Good luck to ALL of the athletes competing tomorrow. You've worked hard to get here, enjoy the day. AK' Dad
ReplyDeleteBob Long Sports video stream is just terrible. It lags, lags and lags some more. I bailed, I'll wait for Etrain report.
ReplyDelete