Chris Seaton of NC State University has put together an excellent fields for this year's Raleigh Relays High School 3200m Invitational. The boy's field has 26 athletes from North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Chris Seaton has this to say, "As much as I did not want the boys to get that big, I could not really turn any of those guys away. Now we just to have some good weather, and I think we may see one of the best 3200m races ever in North Carolina."
This will definitely be the top 3200m in state history . . . run in March (April, May). There is no doubt in my mind that beside the National Championships which are held in Greensboro each year, that this is the top 3200m in state history. There are a couple athletes here who look like they could be pusing sub 9:00. A host of others should be looking for times in the 9:05-9:20 range.
Those of you wanting to see the top public and private school stars from North Carolina light up the track and battle one another . . . this is your chance. On the boys side, 15 of the top 16 boys from NC during the Foot Locker South meet will all be on hand. That is an incredible stat!
Those athletes are:
Jake Hurysz, Eastern Alamance – 14:46.00 5,000m; 9:02.29 2-mile
*Foot Locker XC All-American & Runner-up at 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals in 2-mile
Blake Williams, North Durham – 9:18.01 2-mile; 4:19.70; 14:52.00 5,000m
Thomas Graham, Cary Academy – 9:27.70 3200m; 15:06.00 5,000m
Mohamed Abushouk, Cary – 9:12.36 3200; 15:10.46 5,000m
Isaac Presson, Asheville – 9:14.50 3200m; 15:13.00 5,000m; 1:55.34 800m; 4:17.96 1600m
Scott Morgan, Calvary Baptist – 9:32.70 3200m; 15:21.00 5,000m
Sean Magee, Cardinal Gibbons – 9:32.56 3,200m; 15:34.00 5,000m
Jack Anderson, Reagan – 15:33.08 5,000m; 9:35.80 3200m
Patrick Crawford, East Forsyth – 15:23.44 5,000m; 9:27.20 3200m
Bobby Mintz, Cary Christian – 9:21.00 3200m; 15:41 5,000m
Ryan Walling, Green Hope – 15:49.00 5,000m; 9:35.02 3200m
Mark Sullivan, Cardinal Gibbons – 9:23.80 3200m; 15:54.00 5,000m
Graham Crawford, Walter Williams – 9:38.00 3200m; 15:57.00 5,000m
Carl Ward, Durham Academy – 15:53.30 5,000m; 4:24.69 1600m
Rolland Geiger, Middle Creek – 9:29.06 3000m; 1:57.72 800m; 15:58.00 5,000m
That's a great list, but let's add more of NC's top athletes into the mix. State champions, fast PR's, and top national finishes:
Mitch Mallory, Wakefield – 9:16.11 3200m
Bryan Spreitzer, Green Hope – 9:28.21 3200m; 15:26.19 5,000m
Fred Ward, Durham Academy – 9:26.63 3200m
Jack Klecker, Ardrey Kell – 9:38.24 3200m; 4:20.90 1600m; 15:52.00 5,000m
John Harwell, Asheville - 9:28.96 2-mile; 4:20.29 1600m
Pierre Malherbe, Broughton – 9:28.60 3200m; 15:50.95 5,000m
Scott Foy, Charlotte Country Day – 15:51.46 5,000m; 1:55.68 800m; 9:54.00 3200m
Finally, let's not overlook the athletes Chris Seaton has been able to bring in from out of the state. This list is topped by Colin Mearns of Virginia who just won the 1-mile run at the NSIC meet this past weekend.
Colin Mearns, Jamestown (VA) – 9:13.74 3200m; 15:07.00 5,000m; 4:13.08 1-mile
*National Scholastic Indoor Champion at 1-mile distance in 2010
Michael Mansy, Science Hill (TN) – 9:23.82 2-mile; 4:19.97 1-mile; 15:24.00 5,000m
Brent Coulter, Landstown (VA) – 9:39.20 3200m
Brad Shultis, Mountain View (VA) – 16:07.00 5,000m; 9:44.13 3200m