4A Boys State Meet Preview By Event

4x400 Meter Relay

If the Wise boys are going to contend for the team title it will be on the strength of their sprints and relays - both their 4x2 and 4x4 currently lead the 4A classification. (Photo by Lisa McArthur)

TeamSeason BestRegional Performance
Henry A. Wise3:23.77 (Virginia Showcase)3:31.00 (1st, 4AE*)
Howard3:29.45 (Last Track to Philly)3:43.74 (2nd, 4AC)
Springbrook3:32.55 (MoCo Champs)3:45.66 (1st, 4AW)
Paint Branch3:32.76 (MoCo Champs)3:49.68 (3rd, 4AW)
DuVal3:32.83 (4A East Regionals)3:32.83 (2nd, 4AE*)
Eleanor Roosevelt3:33.99 (4A East Regionals)3:33.99 (3rd, 4AE*)
Dulaney3:36.92 (Frostbite Invite)3:42.34 (1st, 4AC)
Northwest3:37.53 (HoCo Winterfest)3:48.36 (2nd, 4AW)


The 4x400 is often one of the hardest events to predict at the state meet. It's the last event, and athletes are usually coming off at least one other event, if not two or three. One injury or one bad leg can throw off the entire relay. But based on performances so far this season, it looks like the Wise boys are up to the challenge of defending their "favorite" status.

Only the Bullis boys have clocked a faster performance so far this season, and their 3:23.77 season best from the Virginia Showcase is nearly six seconds faster than the next-fastest 4A team has run this season. They also have a strong flat track time of 3:26.00 from their victory at the PG County Championships.

The Howard boys are the only other 4A team to have run sub-3:30 this season, which they did at the Last Track to Philly a couple weeks ago. However, they were defeated by Dulaney at the 4A Central Regionals in what was the fastest 4x400 race at the Armory this winter.

Springbrook, Paint Branch, DuVal and Roosevelt have all run under 3:34 this season, and the Northwest boys turned in a solid second-place effort at the 4A West Regionals to throw themselves into the picture as well. Don't be surprised if a team goes sub-3:30 in one of the slower heats to put the heat on Wise in the fast heat at the state meet.