2011 Class 4 Boys 1600 finish
Class 4 Boys Distance
(From L-R: Haik, Photo Credit: Brandon Daniels, Medler, Ruth)
800 Meter Run
This might be a first - the top five runners in this event all were not at the state meet last year. The runner with the top time, Caleb Ruth, a junior from Jefferson City, has run 1:54.15, the only Class 4 runner under the 1:55 mark. Ruth made a name for himself at the Missouri Relays, running 1:56.52. With the exception of a 2:06 early in the season, Ruth has gone undefeated in the 800 this season. The Sectional 1 champ, Adam Shivers, is also a new face to watch out for. The Northwest senior has been dropping time consistently through the season, running his PR of 1:55.12 at sectionals. Spencer Haik, a sophomore from Glendale, is quickly becoming one of the best middle distance runners in the state. His 1:55.65 puts him third in the rankings. The Sectional 3 champ beat Jordan Cook, a Rock Bridge senior who has a proven track record. Another newcomer is Cody Medler. Medler is a Ladue senior who has consistently gotten better throughout his four years. Medler finished third at sectionals behind Shivers and Cyle Quick. Quick, ranked sixth, is only a sophomore from Fox. He ran 1:57 last year and has improved on that this year, running 1:56.45 at his sectional meet.
1600 Meter Run
(From L-R: Wilfong, Kauppila, Cargill, Sivill)
With the top eight guys in this event all within four seconds, this race is up for grabs. Starting with the state leader, Drew Cargill, he has run 4:16 this season. He was last year's runner up in the 3200m and sixth in the 1600m, and runs for West Plains, a team that has performed well at the state meet for years. Next there is Caleb Wilfong. The Iowa signee was third last year, only .39 seconds behind first place. After him is super sophomore Noah Kauppila. As only a freshman last year he ran 9:25 at the state meet to finish seventh in the 3200m. He and his teammate Adam Roderique have both run well in the mile this year, both under 4:20 with Noah running 4:17.84. Someone who could surprise a lot of people and win the whole thing is Eric Sivill. The Parkway Central senior who is headed to Alabama next year has run 4:18.11 earlier in the year. In that race, he won by eight seconds. He has the potential to be in the mix for the title. Jordan Cook, who has had one of the better track seasons for distance runners in Class 4, ran 4:18.82 at his district meet, putting him fifth in the rankings. The last two people I will mention are two more sophomores Elvir Sarajilic and Spencer Haik. Mentioned above, Haik has run well throughout the season. Sarajilic busted a sub 4:20 time at sectionals to move on to state.
3200 Meter Run
(From L-R: Herriott, Rockhold, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)
Last year CT Smith pulled off what I would consider somewhat of a surprise to win the state meet in this event. This year, Zach Herriott comes in with the top time of 9:17.15, but a couple of other names will likely be in the mix. I will start with yet another sophomore, Cole Rockhold. Rockhold was the sectional 4 champ ahead of Herriott. I know it is sectionals and it has to be taken with a grain of salt, but Rockhold has run great times throughout the year. His PR comes from KU Relays where he ran 9:22.31. Another guy from sectional 4 is Simon Belete. Belete was second in sectionals, also ahead of Herriott. Three guys who aren't ranked in the top five that are likely to have great races in this event are Drew Cargill, Caleb Wilfong, and Noah Kauppila. Cargill was second in this event last year and won his sectional. Kauppila was eighth as a freshman and won his sectional. Wilfong was the state XC champ, and is Caleb Wilfong. He can race. He had some struggles to begin the year but he has been headed in the right direction lately.
4x800 Meter Relay
This has been a crazy year in the 4x800m relay as nine teams have broken the eight minute barrier…and not all nine of those teams will be at the state meet. The state leader, Fox, has Cyle Quick. Quick is one of the better 800m runners in the state. Also, Larry Lopez has dipped under 2:00 while Kennan Hindes is at 2:00.23. They won their sectional meet, beating a tough Marquette team. They also have three solid legs in Kauppila, Roderique, and Jeff Orf. Orf has run 1:57 this year and made it to state in the open 800m. The SLU Signee will lead his team along with two guys who qualified in the 1600m. Both of these teams have three solid runners, leaving it up to the fourth runner to decide between the two. However, there are many other teams that can win this. Ft. Zumwalt West ran a 7:53 at districts to become the state leader at the time. They were third last year and return three of their runners. Lindbergh and Ladue both survived a tough Sectional 1, which saw a team run 7:57 and still not make the state meet. Rockhurst and Lee's Summit North battled in Sectional 4. Rockhurst has two guys under 2:00 and another at 2:00. Two teams that are buried in the rankings that will surely succeed - West Plains and Rock Bridge. Rock Bridge was second last year and returns all of their legs. A quick run trough of their squad is shocking. Cook has run 1:56, Collin Sees has run 1:57, and Wilfong is a 4:12 1600m guy. West Plains is mentioned because of their history. They succeed year after year and I expect this year to be no different.
Check back all week for other Class 3-4 State Previews.