Boys Distance

800 Meters

The boys 800 is seeing a total turnover of top talent as the top 15 boys in the state from 2013 based on time have graduated. Jeremiah Bias of Vista Del Lago is the sole returner from the 2013 State Final and the top returner based on time as well. Bias has a PR of 1:52.84 from State Prelims, and ran under 1:55 seven times last year, showing tremendous consistency.

Sahm Bazargan of Oak Park is also a top contender, coming of a hot XC seaason which included a screaming fast 15:02 at CIF SS Finals and a Ventura County Championship title. Bazargan's 800 PR is 1:53.28 from the Ventura County Championships.

Other serious contenders include Eamon Smythe of Edison, Dustin Herold of Redondo Union, and Dante Hay of Maria Carrillo, all of whom have sub 1:54 PRs from 2013. With a mere 2 1/2 seconds separating our top 10 returners, the 800 meters could be anyone's race at season's end.

(Update 3/14) - Another notable is David Manahan of Harvard-Westlake who, as a sophomore, was the Southern Section D3 champion in 2012 with a best of 1:53.79. Manahan missed the 2013 season with an injury, but is now reportedly healthy. 

800 Meters Top Returners

* 2012 Performance - missed 2013 due to injury

1600 Meters

Blake Haney of Stockdale is our returning state champion in both the 1600 and 3200, and is the fastest 1600 returner in the nation at 4:06.91. Haney did not lose a track race in 2013 to California competition, (though he was beaten in the Dream Mile and Arcadia 3200 by out of state competition). In July he went on to the IAAF World Youth Championships, where he ran 3:44.69 for 1500, worth about 4:01.6 for a 1600, and finishing in fifth place. Haney is coming off a strong XC season, which was capped by a runner-up performance at Nike Cross Nationals. 

For all these accomplishments, Haney is not without serious competition in California. Chief among them is Austin Tamagno of Brea Olinda.  Just a sophomore, Tamagno captured third place in the State 1600 final with a 4:09.43 clocking last spring, and traded the national frosh record with Minnesota's Eli Krahn (the current record holder at 4:09.38). Tamagno is the #4 returner nationally behind Haney, Iowa's Josh Evans, and Krahn.

Garrett Corcoran of Villa Park is the next challenger in line, with a 4:10.95 PR from his Orange County Championship performance last spring. Corcoran dipped under 4:15 seven times last spring, and will be gunning for the podium this year at the State Finals. Tamagno and Corcoran are joined by El Modena's Sydney Gidabuday (4:12.43) and Tamagno's Brea Olinda teammate Brennon Koryta (4:13.22), to form the fastest 1600 league the state!. Look for some ridiculous 1600 times from the Century League this spring! Also right in that ballpark are David Luna of Indio (4:11.91) and Scott Edwards of Scott's Valley (4:12.55) who will be looking to make a statement of their own.

Blake Haney runs 4:10 wire-to-wire at the West Coast Relays 1600 last spring.

1600 Meters Top Returners

3200 Meters

Blake Haney is the top returner nationally in the 3200 with an 8:48.58 PR from the Arcadia Invitational last April. Ironically, Arcadia is the only 3200 he entered and didn't win: he won at West Coast Relays, Central Section Masters, and of course the CIF State Final.

Steven Fahy of La Costa Canyon has the second fastest PR at 9:02.61, and should always be considered a threat. Also proving his toughness is Indio's David Luna, who ran 9:05 twice last spring and wound up 13th in the state final. Tal Braude of Torrey Pines is another 9:05 runner who made a statement in winning the Mt. Sac XC Invitational Individual Sweepstakes in October with the fastest time of the day. Braude was fifth in the state 3200 last June.

And in recognition of the most recent season, let me mention a couple more boys who's cross country performances indicate podium potential. Aidan Goltra of Campolindo had the fastest time in the CIF State XC Championships in November (15:02), and it will be interesting to see how to transitions to the track. Also Estevan De La Rosa of Arcadia didn't run track last spring, but ran 15:03 at state XC and has to be considered a threat at 3200 as well.  

To summarize, the boys 3200 will be loaded in California this spring. Last year we only saw one boy under nine minutes from California. This year I anticipate multiple sub-9's from the golden state.

3200 Meters Top Returners

CIF State Cross Country Top Returners