The third annual BSR Elite Scholastic Mile will have a new addition this year. In conjunction with the girls’ and boys’ mile races will be the inaugural BSR Elite Scholastic 800m. Just like the mile, a talented field will lining up for the 6:45 p.m.. start. All three races are part of the New Hampshire Distance Festival.
Here’s the 800m field.
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Ryan Zumbach, Winnacunnet (NH) – Zumbach comes into the race with the fastest time among all entries with his best of 1:53.77 from his third-place finish at last year’s Meet of Champions. The University of New Hampshire commit was the Division 1 titlist for 1,000m during the indoor season. He achieved a PR of 2:30.90 to place fifth at the New England’s. This past winter, Zumbach clocked an indoor best of 1:56.07 for the 800m at the New Balance Nationals.
Lucian Gieiser, Phillips Exeter Academy (NH) – Gieiser is the only other runner to break 1:54 for the two-lapper. He blazed to an all-time best of 1:53.80 to finish sixth at last year’s New England Championships. Gieiser posted solid PRs on the track this past winter, proving that he has potential to run faster than his current best and contend for the individual crown. Among those times are a 50.1 split on his team’s 4x400m relay, 1:20.50 for the 600m, 2:30.45 for the 1K and an indoor best of 1:54.35 for the 800m.
Eamon O’Brien, La Salle Academy (RI) – O’Brien was just added to this field this past week, earning his spot on the line after winning the 800m at the 3rd annual BSR Mid-Distance Classic with a three-second PR and meet record of 1:54.39. O’Brien was the runner-up for the 600m at the RI State Meet, an event he raced to a best of 1:23.77 at the New England’s. No doubt, O’Brien gained some confidence from his recent 800m effort, one he had negative splits the final 400m.
Levi Harrison, Roxbury Latin (MA) – In a race that we are anticipating could have several still in contention during the closing stages, Harrison is one of those runners we expect will be with the group. On Jan. 19, Harrison ran a PR of 1:54.78 at the GBTC Invitational. A month later, he went 1:55.99 at The CIRCUIT Boston. Harrison ran an outdoor best of 1:56.15 during a league meet this past Sunday and followed that up on Wednesday with a quick 50.82 for 400m. He appears ready for a fast one this Friday
Jacob Szalewicz, Marblehead (MA) -Szalewicz, a transfer from William Hall (CT) this past year, is another quality middle-distance runner. He has a best of1:54.97 for the 800m, which he did to finish sixth at the Glenn B. Loucks Games last May. The Marblehead senior, who has sub 51-second for the 400m, had a strong indoor season. It featured PRs for the 600m (1:23.73) and the 1,000m (2:30.38).
Daniel Padley, St. John’s Prep (MA) – Padley is coming off a season best of 1:56.40 for the 800m, an effort that placed him second overall at last Friday’s BSR Mid Distance Classic. The Eagle senior won the Weston Twilight Invitational last spring with an outdoor best of 1:56.02. At the New Balance National this past March, Padley raced to a PR of 1:55.02. Like a few others in this field, he also has 50-second speed for the 400m.
Altamo Aschkenasy, Brookline (MA) – Whenever Aschkenasy steps on the line, he’s always ready to race. The Warriors’ talented senior was fourth in the 800m at last year’s Meet of Champions and ran a best of 1:55.10 to take runner-up honors at the Bay State Conference Championships last spring. Aschkenasy won the recent BAA Invitational Mile where he ran a near record for the road mile of 4:25.70. Don’t be surprised to see the Brookine runner trying to push the pace early in this race. That’s what he likes to do.
Cole Francis, Narragansett (RI) – Here’s another runner that always likes to run hard from the start. The Mariner senior has run 1:55 twice for 800m. He was second at last year’s Hendricken Invitational where he was timed in an all-time best of 1:55.27. He also finished fourth at the GBTC Invitational on Jan. 19 with an indoor best of 1:55.77. This winter, Francis captured his first individual state title by winning the 1,000m at the RI championship meet. He led for most of the way in the 1K at the New England’s before eventually placing second overall with a five-second PR of 2:30.33. Francis has not raced yet this season, perhaps to focus on Friday’s race. We expect he’ll be one of our contenders late in the race.
Matt McCabe, Marshfield (MA) – McCabe has strong range from a low 50-second 400m to a 4:24 mile. The Rams senior clocked his all-time best of 1:55.71 for the 800m to win the Patriot League Spring Championship last year and recently ran a season best of 1:56.07 in a league meet on April 15. During the indoor season he had bests of 2:31.90 for the 1,000m and 1:24.0 for the 600m. He should definitely be in the mix.
August Doetsch, Austin Prep (MA)– We’re picking Doetsch as our dark horse. He comes in with a best of 1:55.04, which he ran just last week at a league meet. During the indoor season, he clocked 1:55.89 for the 800m at the New Balance Nationals and placed second in the 600m at the Last Chance Indoor Nationals Qualifier where he posted a PR of 1:19.83. Where he holds the edge is in his speed. He has the fastest 400m among his rivals with a best of 49.85 from the Marianapolis Prep Invite.
