for real? wrote:
Thanks - I figured someone on here would know the scoop.
Talking about fast 3200 times, what are your thoughts on Arcadia this Saturday. Fahy and Futsum Z and I don't know who else. Any predictions on winning time, who might win, and how many sub 9 this year?
This is the (alphabetical) list of entries into the Invitational section that I feel have a very good shot at going sub-9 at some point this year... maybe they'll do it at Arcadia, maybe they won't get there until later this year, or maybe they won't quite get there this year... who knows.
Albertson, C.J. (Buchanan, CA)
Armstrong, Anthony (Kamiakin, WA)
Baker, Brock (Oakland, TN)
Bishop, Kevin (Monta Vista, CA)
Clevenger, Michael (MacArthur, IL)
Diaz, Jonah (Palos Verdes, CA)
Fahy, Darren (La Costa Canyon, CA)
Farnsworth, Dallin (Highland-Pocatello, ID)
Graham, Thomas (Cary Academy, NC)
Guijarro, Bryan (William J. Pete Knight, CA)
Leingang, Jake (Bismarck, ND)
Miller, Cameron (Stockdale, CA)
Montoya, Bernie (Cibola, AZ)
Nowak, Craig (Cy-Woods, TX)
Smith, Myles (St. John Bosco, CA)
Smoragiewicz, Tony (Rapid City Central, SD)
Vertiz, Daniel (Reagan, TX)
Zeinasellassie, Futsum (North Central, IN)
(and there are several others who aren't so far away they would be a surprise... those are the 18 I see in the field that I feel SHOULD be under this year. Apologies if I missed someone when checking the entries)
As for who I think will win... that's a crapshoot, most of those 18 guys could come out on top (and a few others could surprise, but I don't think they'll get top-5).
Here would be my top 5 candidates though and why:
1. Daniel Vertiz TX - Won the Brooks PR 2 Mile this year, which was the most recent BIG meet and featured several of these guys.
2. Futsum Zeinasellassie IN - Cheserek (FLN) is the only one to beat him yet this year.
3. Thomas Graham NC - Ran the most impressive mark of the season thus far @ 14:11.66 5k last weekend
4. Bernie Montoya AZ - Won the Chandler Invite mile, which was the biggest showdown of elites so far this outdoor season
5. Darren Fahy CA - Best 1600m time in the nation so far this year
Winning time? I'll say mid 8:40's. Graham's 5k is worth an 8:46 IMO, and I don't think those other guys are going to let him win without a fight :)