Massachusetts will have four of its teams in the 4x800m relay at the New Balance Nationals, a talented quartet that are all capable of breaking eight minutes on the banked oval of The Armory.
Marshfield's foursome of Mike Maglio, Joey Donovan, Derek Holmes and James Condon captured the MIAA All State Meet by improving on their state best by three seconds with a winning 7:54.83 (US #16). The quartet indicated after that race that they are looking for bigger and better things at the nationals. If this team can improve on that clocking, possibly with a sub 7:50, that goal could be accomplished this weekend. You also can't forget St. John's Shrewsbury, a team that ranks No. 2 in the state with a best of 7:58.19. Among that group is Patrick Craemer, Tyler Griffith, Mitchell Will and Ben Kovacs. With a team that includes Matthew Walak, Owen Chase, Paul Neilan and Casey Kuehnapfel, Natick was fifth at the New England's this past week with a season best of 8:01.05. Just ahead of them in fourth was the Wakefield squad of Matt Greatorex, Ryan Sullivan, Nicholas McGee and Adam Roberto that clocked 8:00.31. Both rivals will certainly have "sub-8" on their minds, a time that could break the top 10.
The Distance Medley features three teams from the Bay State - Marshfield, Needham and Peabody. Marshfield's squad consists of Joey Donovan, Jimmy Jordan, Condon and Holmes. Holmes brings sub 4:20 speed for the mile, Jordan is a 52-second 400m runner, Condon has done 1:58 for 800m and Donovan has done 2:01. With times like that, this foursome should be able to at least clock a time in the 10:15-10:20 range, which should guarantee a top placement.
Needham will have an impressive team on the line, too. Kevin Quin, Cameron McLeod and Steve Flanagan are all sub 4:30 milers with Flanagan the best of the bunch with a 4:21 to his credit. Jordan has done 1:26 for 600m, a time that compute to at least a 54-second leg for 400m.
In the 4xMile, Wellesley's quartet of Benjamin Matejka, Thomas Weiss, Zachary Barry and Max Perozek are capable of a time in the mid-to-high 18-minute range. St. John's Shrewsbury will also have a talented squad on the line. Team members Craemer, Joshua Rahn and Joseph Walsh are all capable of running a time in the mid-to-high 4:20 range and Kovacs recently clocked 4:16 at the New England's
Newton North (3:35.75) and Lincoln Sudbury (3:36.36) both rank among the top 20 nationally in the Sprint Medley.
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Relays
4xMile
Wellesley
St. John Shrewsbury
4x200m
Lexington
4x800m
Marshfield
Wakefield
Natick
St. John Shrewsbury
SMR
Lincoln Sudbury
Newton North
Northampton
DMR
Marshfield
Needham
Peabody
4x55m HH
Andover
North Andover
Shrewsbury
Woburn