Boys Preview
There is a star-studded line up for the boys race as well. There will definitely be a closer race than there was last year. Gabe Fendel has not looked like the Fendel we all know just yet, but Friday may be his day to come back to it. Fendel does hold the meet record after last years 4:11.31 solo performance, but it's looking like he will have a hard time to repeat as champion this year. With top talent like Cole Hocker, and Matthew Schadler, the pressure will be on for him to push the pace from the gun. No matter what this will be one of the fastest races we've seen at this meet in a while, just like with the girls. Cole Hocker knows how to race right with Fendel and will likely stick with the usual tactic of being right on his heels the whole time. Matt Schadler has less experience leading big races like this but showed stellar improvement over the cross country season and is hungry for a new PR in the mile. This will also be his first and only Flashes Showcase, so we know he'll want to make a big name for himself. Skylar Stidam will be another one to keep an eye on as this will be his first race of 2018. He finished 3rd at the state cross country meet, dropping a big PR.
Cole Hocker is ready for big time win on the track, and Friday may be his day. He'll look to hold onto the front pack and then in that final lap he should just explode and take over. He ran a 4:16.4 last year at this meet, but growth takes place in the off-season and he looks like he could be one that has had some major growth.
This race looks like it could be Hocker's breakout and first major min on the track of 2018. He'll run around a 4:15 and bring at least 4 other guys with him under 4:20.
Boys Fast Heat Predictions
1st Cole Hocker - 4:14.7
2nd Gabe Fendel - 4:14.9
3rd Matt Schadler - 4:15.2
4th Skylar Stidam - 4:16.5
5th Richmond Stoltzfus - 4:18.3
6th Jesse Hamlin - 4:19
7th Caleb Futter - 4:22.6
Dark Horse
Gibson shocked everyone at HSR and came out and won the boys 3200 in 9:16.72. He's run a 4:40 1600 indoors this year and he ran a 4:33.43 in the freshman mile last year to take 2nd. Depending on how strong he feels on Friday, he could pull out a top 10 finish.