Class 4 Boys Distance
800 Meters
Video of 2010 Class 4 Boys 800 Meter Run
Returning All-State Runners
Evan Adams, Carthage, SR, 4th
Curt Wood, Summit, SR, 6th
Nathan Fisher, Joplin, SR, 8th
Andrew Pisechko, Webb City, SR, 8th (Class 3)
(Daniel Mazar)
This Year
The pecking order in the Class 4 boys 800 was thrown amiss this year with the arrival of senior transfer Daniel Mazar at Rockwood Summit. Mazar, whose 1:52 is tops among Missourians this year, spent his first three years at Edwardsville High School in southern Illinois. On this side of the river he has done nothing but impress, finishing eighth in cross country after an injury-plagued summer and then going undefeated so far this spring in the two-lapper. That untarnished record will be challenged by this year’s top returner, Carthage’s Evan Adams, as well as Holt senior Kenny Cushing. The other top contender is Mazar’s own teammate, Curt Wood, who ran a solid 1:55 at Sectionals.
1600 Meters
Video of 2010 Class 4 Boys 1600 meter run
Returning All-State Runners
Brandon Brott, Branson, SR, 3rd
Caleb Wilfong, Rock Bridge, JR, 4th
Kenny Cushing, Holt, SR, 6th
Andrew Pisechko, Webb City, SR, 7th (Class 3)
Drew Padgett, Ladue, SR, 8th
This Year
Two of the four sectionals went very fast last weekend and two did not. That does not always mean much but you have to like the winners of the fast sectional races as they showed the ability to win off a fast rhythm which is what we are likely to see in Jefferson City. That theory would make Summit senior Dan Mazar and West Plains junior Drew Cargill the favorites but we think there are others who can be there at the end as well. They include DeSmet’s Kevin Abernathy, Branson’s Brandon Brott, Holt’s Kenny Cushing, Fox’s Tyler Holmes, Ladue’s Drew Padgett, Webb City’s Andrew Pisechko, SLUH’s Tim Rackers, Rock Bridge’s Caleb Wilfong, and the very dangerous Devon Young from Raymore-Peculiar.
3200 Meters
Video of Class 4 Boys 3200 Meter Run
Returning All-State Runners
Caleb Wilfong, Rock Bridge, JR, 3rd
Tim Rackers, SLUH, SR, 4th
C.T. Smith, Liberty, SR, 5th
Zach Herriott, Rockhurst, JR, 8th
This Year
Zach Herriott may only be the fourth-best returner from last year’s State 3200 but that stat pretty much lost all meaning when the Rockhurst junior dominated the State Cross Country Meet in November, running the second-fastest time ever at the Oak Hills Golf Course. Now he joins last year’s third, fourth and fifth placers; Caleb Wilfong from Rock Bridge, Tim Rackers from SLUH and Liberty’s C.T. Smith as favorites to take home the victory this weekend. With temperatures expected to be in the 70s look for a fast pace with the four aforementioned athletes up front along with Branson’s Brandon Brott, Drew Cargill from West Plains, and Ladue’s Drew Padgett.
4 x 800 meter relay
Video of Class 4 Boys 4 x 800 meter relay
If you really study the contenders for this year’s 4 x 800 title one clear-cut favorite emerges and no one else seems to be particularly close. That team is, drum roll please, Rockwood Summit. Check this stat out- the boys from Summit ran 7:57 at Sectionals without 1:52 man Daniel Mazar. We know it says he ran in the results but that was not the case. In fact, they anchored 1:55 man Curt Wood who cruised home in 1:58 for the easy victory. Throw in Mazar and an all-out effort from Wood and these guys are looking at a sub 7:50 without question. If anyone can hang close it might be Rock Bridge or perhaps Ray-Pec who each bring solid squads to the table. No one can match Summit’s anchor though and ultimately that is what this race usually comes down to.