Boys 1600 Run
Photo by Brandon Miles
Saturday's 1600 features a matchup between two cross country state champions. Eastern Tech's Taylor Baranoski ran away with the 2A state cross country title this past fall, and has carried that success into the winter so far. He challenged Dalton Hengst in the 1600 at the Frostbite Invitational a few weeks ago and could drop a sub-4:20 before the winter is over.
Baranoski will have some out-of-state competition in Loudoun Valley's Peter Morris. Morris won the Virginia 4A State Championship this past fall and brings an outdoor 1600 personal best of 4:20.64 into Saturday's matchup with Baranoski.
Last season there were seven boys under 4:40 in the 1600 at the SMAC Classic and this year there could be even more. Notable Maryland names in the front of the field include Jonathan Johnson, Reuben Winston, Samuel Katulich, Ablel Gebreselasse and Colin Flynn - all who have run 4:42 or better in the 1600 entering Saturday.