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A major 800m clash took center stage at the Carolina Distance Carnival on Saturday night under the lights of Weddington HS. Two North Carolina State Champions were set to battle in Will Cuicchi (Seaforth) and sophomore Joshua Cooper (Willow Spring) who both held 1:51 PRs heading into the event. Virginia State Champion Jayden Curry (Bruton) and South Carolina State Champion Knox Eaton (Spartanburg) were set to battle with the two North Carolina stars both looking for a massive win in their home state.
The pace was expected to get out fast as the field looked certain to break Tim Brown's (Hough) meet record of 1:52.21 set last year. Junior Drew Johnson (Hough) would get to the front at the break with the field tightly bunched behind him while no one really challenged for the lead until 300m into the race.
Cuicchi would make his move to the front and cross 400m in 55.4 with Cooper, Curry and Eaton just on his heels. You don't often see a negative split in the 800m, so sub 1:50 and possibly even sub 1:51 seemed to be in question.
Cooper sat just behind in second looking like he was bidding his time as Cuicchi charged down the backstretch with the pace increasing as they put a slight lead on Curry and Eaton.
Cuicchi held the lead through the homestretch as Cooper moved out to lane 2 looking primed to make the pass, but the long stride of Cuicchi was too much to catch as he'd hold on for the win in an NC#2 All-Time Outdoor mark of 1:49.16 good for a two second personal best and current US#4.
Cooper at a NC#4 All-Time mark of 1:49.63 and current US#6 as well as the US#5 All-Time mark amongst sophomores.
Both Cuicchi and Cooper would negative split the race with 53.7 and 53.9 second final 400m.
Curry would hold off Eaton for a new VA#1 mark of 1:50.52 as Eaton broke the South Carolina 800m State Record in 1:50.72 for fourth place.
Varsity Boys 800 Meter Run Finals
