SmoothieKing23 wrote:
For anyone interested in the 4a state title race this year, Dani Bates is going to be a great race to keep track of.
The 3 top 4a team contenders (BK, IF, Burley) will all be there, along with almost every frontrunner in the 4a individual race as well. Charlie Goss from BK the current top seed in 4a by time right now, but that comes without significant races from Luke Athay of IF(5a individual champ 2021), Jaiden Liddle of IF(Top returning time from last year's 4a state race) and Goss's teammate Isaac Edwards(2nd fastest returning time from last year's 4a state race). If all four of them run, it will make for a great front pack also highlighted by Twin Falls' Russell Frampton and Preston Dopp (current 2nd and 3rd fastest times in 4a), and BK's Manuel Valdez, Jack Tobin, and Liam Durcan (current 5th, 7th and 8th fastest times in 4a) along with the rest of IF and Burley's squads.
Both the individual and team winner of this race will no doubt be the favorite to win the 4a title if all teams are running at full power, so this meet can hopefully serve as an early season 4a state preview.
Thoughts? Predictions?
Individually, 4a looks something like this based on their highest recorded speed ratings. Most the top ones are from prior year’s results.
Athay 191.57
Liddle 173.38
Edwards 173.38
Goss 167.64
Caleb Boyle 167.55 (highest in 4a so far this year, by a sliver over Goss)
Jack Tobin 166.87
6 more over 160.
11/15 that have topped 160 are from IF or BK.
From what we’ve seen so far, and it can of course change, IF looks to go 6 deep when Athay and Liddle run. BK goes 5 deep. I haven’t see 2023 speed ratings for Burley or a basis to estimate them (like you can do for IF at Cardinal Classic).
