Guest from the East
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Post by Guest from the East on Apr 18, 2012 9:33:17 GMT -5
The big boys have come out to play. While there have been some early season impressive runs in the 800 by some younger guys, two veterans set the standard last evening.
Alex Waddell and Ben Schultz blistered to a 53 high and 54 high first lap respectively taking away everyone's legs. They were in the 1:24 area at 600. While Schultz had closed the gap to under a second at the 600, Waddell was able to pull away the final 50 meters. Waddell finished in 1:53.7 and Schultz in 1:55.5. This was Waddell's third 800 of the outdoor season while it was Schultz's second. Waddell was the runner-up last season as a junior after winning the 800 as a sophomore. Schultz was 6th as a sophomore and 4th last year.
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Post by thanks on Apr 18, 2012 15:00:57 GMT -5
Thanks for that recap; wow- 53/54 for the first lap! NICE
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Post by River Rat on Apr 27, 2012 9:11:57 GMT -5
Here are some of the top 800m runners in the state right now. Add to the list if you feel so inclined.
Boys 800:
Waddell 1:53.7 What's his mile endurance like? We know he can go 49's in the open. Very similar to former Washington guy, Casey Shade.
Schultz 1:55.0 (yesterday) Not sure the leg speed, but he's a 4:31 guy and probably faster in the Mile right now.
Frohling 1:59 (Britton-Hecla) Not sure where he ran this mark, but if it was a low-key meet that he won by 10 seconds, he's probably a 1:58 low/1:57 high guy.
DeHaven: 1:58 speed right now. USF Meet will be very, very interesting if he's with Smoragiewicz with a lap to go.
Roosevelt: They'l likely have 5 guys Sub 2:00 this season. Slaba went 1:57 last night.
Washington: See Roosevelt + the speed-demon in Waddell
Simmons: 1:59 right now. Seems that he'll likely run the 800m this weekend @ the Black Hills Track Classic. Smart, smooth runner. Could probably include Brennan Witt in this same category. He's only 2:01 right now, but the defending state champ in the half mile.
Girls 800:
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Guest from the East
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Post by Guest from the East on Apr 27, 2012 23:11:13 GMT -5
Brookings canceled for Saturday...would have been good to watch Sioux Falls, Brandon Valley, and Brookings come together. Some great middle distance runners. Unlikely to see any different times than those posted.
800
Waddell - 1:53.7 and followed up with a 1:55.7 in Pierre. I'm told he will not run a 1600 this year. Much faster than Casey Shade. The problem with SD track schedule is that being a 400/800 runner is a disadvantage rather than an advantage. You have to be really good to do both.
Schultz - 1:55.7 and followed it up with a 1:59.9 in Pierre and then 1:55.0 in Yankton. First team all state basketball player and will lag behind other 1600 runners. Was right at 50 flat in his leg of the 4x400. Very similar to Espland from a few years ago.
Slaba - his fastest times have come in relays up to last night when he went 1:57.9. The SDSU recruit is a better 1600 runner but is maybe the best 800 guy at Roosevelt.
DeHaven - it is doubtful that they would run him in the 800 at the state meet. Ran consistently at 2:02 and then dropped 4 seconds to 1:58. It's tough to figure out what his limit will be in the 800.
Frohling - was running in the 2:05 to 2:10 range until the Groton meet where he dipped under 2:00 at 1:59.7. He edged out Gillette from Redfield Doland who ran 2:00.5. Two good class A runners.
Simmons - 1:59.4 at the track-o-rama which followed up his earlier best of 1:59.7. Good young runner, but is a better 1600 M runner right now. Not sure he has the 400 speed to stay with Waddell and Schultz.
Johnson - The Roosevelt senior ran a 1:57 split last night to gain a spot on Roosevelt's top 3200 relay team. Could be a threat later in the season.
In a race where Alex Waddell is fresh, I'm not sure there is anyone who will touch him. He may be the best talent to run the 800 since Alex Muntefering...and I think he is much faster. In a normal year, Ben Schultz would be a highlight runner. Unfortunately there are better 400, 800, and 1600 runners...but no one that has the combination he does. Addison DeHaven and Jacob Simmons are definite threats to run very fast 800s for their ages, but they do not have the speed of the top two. Isaiah Frohling and Ben Gillette look to be very good A runners and threats to take the top spot from Brennen Witt.
Right now, no one is able to finish the way Waddell and Schultz are able to finish. Waddell goes out in 54 and Schultz in 55...others might be able to go out that fast but none are able to follow it with a sub 60. In a race where these two are fresh, both could be under 1:54 and Waddell under 1:52.
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Post by River Rat on Apr 28, 2012 21:35:34 GMT -5
That's a problem for Waddell...being fresh. He will likely have the 4x800-400 prelims and then the 800m at the state meet.
That being said, I think Schultz can win the 800m for AA's. He'll have the 4x800, while Waddell will have already had a busy day.
It seems like Smorgiewicz will probably pass on the 800/3200 double this season. Too many good 800 guys...and Dehaven, to make the double worthwhile.
Witt was 52.0x today in Sturgis (400m); Simmons was in it, but not sure of his time.
Will be exciting this final month.
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Guest from the East
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Post by Guest from the East on Apr 29, 2012 22:51:44 GMT -5
That's a problem for Waddell...being fresh. He will likely have the 4x800-400 prelims and then the 800m at the state meet. That being said, I think Schultz can win the 800m for AA's. He'll have the 4x800, while Waddell will have already had a busy day. It seems like Smorgiewicz will probably pass on the 800/3200 double this season. Too many good 800 guys...and Dehaven, to make the double worthwhile. Witt was 52.0x today in Sturgis (400m); Simmons was in it, but not sure of his time. Will be exciting this final month. Did Witt beat Simmons. Was that all that Simmons ran? I see Warwick from Washington won both the 200 and 400. He could give Waddell and Greenway all they can handle in that open 400. I doubt that Schultz will run the 4x800. He will most likely go 800, 4x400, 1600, and Medley relay (second day). However, Waddell is just so fast that he can make up ground in a hurry. Schultz will have to run an extremely smart race and put enough space between himself and Waddell while still having some left in the tank. Not an easy task. Waddell will hope for a slow early pace so he can use his superior speed to run everyone down the final 200 meters. However he will be expected to run Roosevelt down in the 4x800. He will also have to stay close in the 400 and it could turn into a dog fight. Smorgiewicz is not running the 800 well. He has yet to break 2:00. Maybe he can turn it on and suddenly run fast but it will be extremely risky for RC Central. He could be in the first heat of the 800 if his time doesn't come down. Do you risk him scratching out a couple of points in the 800 and get a second in the 3200? Would it be smarter to use him in the prelims of the Medley relay to insure it gets in for the second day? It would give him an extra 25 minutes and he may not have to go as hard. Can RC Central get it in without him? Simmons might be a factor if no one takes the race out hard. I don't think that will be the case, however. Tuschen from Roosevelt could be a factor as well. He placed last year in 1:58. He is a 400 guy moving up. Slaba or Johnsen could also run but one will run the medley the first day. |
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Post by River Rat on Apr 30, 2012 8:07:18 GMT -5
Now that you say it, I really could see Smorg doing the Medley. 2:00 probably won't make the fast heat and he was well beaten by even the guy from Faith last weekend. Sanders will probably run the 3200, so he would not anchor for them. Outside of Sanders, they might have a 2:10 guy, but that won't cut it for a Med anchor.
Yes, Witt beat Simmons, both were fresh. 52.0x- 52.99. That being said, Simmons is strong, but I could only see 58-59 out of him for 1:57 ("only" haha- he's a frosh, that's awesome- and one of the top Freshman Milers in the US). 55 first lap would tank him. I think Witt wins in the 'A's still.
I think Waddell's meet will be tough. He's extremely talented, but he'll have 2 hard MD races under his belt and Schultz to deal with in the 800m. But hey, that's why they have the races!
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Guest from the East
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Post by Guest from the East on May 1, 2012 23:15:29 GMT -5
How many are they running in the special 800 at USF? If it is less than 9, Simmons won't be in it. Waddell - 1:53.7, Schultz - 1:55.0, Seibel - 1:55.5, Leingang - 1:56.4, Bismarck runner - 1:57.7, Slaba 1:57.9, DeHaven 1:58.0, and Johnsen - 1:59.2 have all run faster than Simmons 1:59.4.
Some stats from todays meets. Waddell ran a 22.5 in the 200. DeHaven ran 1:58.0. Schultz ran a 1:56.0 in the medley relay. They ran a 3:30.4...third fastest all time. Not a very good day to run fast, but somehow they managed.
Also, doesn't look like Bismarck entered a 3200 relay. Might be between Roosevelt and Washington in what could be a very good race.
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Guest from the East
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Post by Guest from the East on May 6, 2012 0:11:59 GMT -5
A stacked field in the 800 to run on a day that was less than good for fast times...yet Waddell runs 1:53.55 and Schultz goes 1:54.90 FAT.
Waddell takes control for the first 400. Schultz runs even at 600 and stays close for another 100 meters. Waddell uses his speed to pull away. Similar to the first race between these two only this time Schultz is a half second closer. Final results:
Waddell 1:53.55
Schultz 1:54.9
Siebel 1:56.03
Leingang 1:56.78
Tuschen 1:57.06
DeHaven 1:57.12
Simmons 1:58.09
Werner 2:00.43
Slaba 2:01.34
Abdullahi 2:02.21
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