Contenders, Safe Bets And More: Our Eastbay Boys Breakdowns

The Contenders

1. Gavin Sherry, Conard (CT)

2. Marco Langon, Bridgewater-Raritan (NJ)

3. Jackson Barna, Ridge (NJ)

4. Aidan Puffer, Manchester (CT)

5. Gitch Hayes, LaSalle Institute (NY)

The Northeast is deep, and in that beyond just the region kind of way. 

Looking directly at the top contenders of the Eastbay Northeast Region heading into Saturday's outing at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, you have to think there are five locks here. And if these five runners don't finish within the top 10, I think there would be a fair amount of shock from that result. 

Which athletes are win-contenders? You have to look at those two at the front.

Right now, Sherry and Langon are competing at national top-five type levels, with both within the top five in the country right now as far as speed ratings are concerned. Now, speed ratings shouldn't be the be-all-end-all, but when you evaluate runners, they are a great measuring stick. They're often a great starting point, and they can point you in the right direction. Both are undefeated. Both have racked up some major wins. Both have great confidence. 

But that discerning ingredient you can't exactly measure? You usually tend to see it when everything else is equal and a runner is forced to dig deep internally to come up with something special in the final moments. Maybe we won't see it here. But you can at least bet your bottom dollar that it'll come out at nationals.

6. Aidan Ross, Uxbridge (MA)

7. Callum Sherry, Conard (CT)

All things considered, being in the "safe zone" is a great place to be. Both athletes have had outstanding seasons, and Ross is coming off a course record at the MIAA State Championships. 

Sherry has won just three races all year, but he's battled-tested in a way that most others aren't. He's probably made one of the best leaps from any runner going from standout-state-athlete to national-level-competitor. 

And here we arrive at the anything can happen juncture of the race. In these qualifiers, the ever-important moments are always in those last few spots, when a litany of finishers are all within seconds of one another. 

Van Cortlandt features a pretty straight path to the finish, which will welcome a rabid finish. In my mind, I have at least one of these guys qualifying for Eastbay Nationals by the end of Saturday's action. 

Will it be more? I guess we'll see.