Beck Wittstadt (left) and Baidy Ba. (Photos by Craig Amoss and John Roemer)
With Adidas Indoor Nationals quickly approaching, we continue our preview coverage by looking at the Maryland athletes entered in the boys distance events!
Championship Events
800 Meter Run (5 entered)
In a normal indoor season, Kent Island senior Isaiah Schulties may be generating even more buzz as he takes on - and usually beats - many of the top mid-distance runners in the Mid-Atlantic. Dating back to the 2019 outdoor season, he has lost two races in the 800 - a runner-up finish behind 2A state meet record holder Kyle Lund at the indoor championships last February, and a runner-up finish at this year's Virginia Showcase where he clocked a personal-best time of 1:54.11. That marks currently ranks ninth in the U.S. A slew of seniors will also be vying to join Schulties in the sub-1:55 club: Alexander Lombardo (Gov. Thomas Johnson, 1:55.99 season best), Zachary Wedding (Chopticon, 1:58.30), Severna Park's Carson Sloat and Gilman's Beck Wittstadt.
Two Mile Run (9 entered)
Maryland distance runners are stacked in the two mile as this year's group is one of the strongest at the top end in recent indoor history (especially given the training constraints of COVID-19). Severna Park senior Jake Gelfand (9:15.10) leads a group that includes a staggering seven boys who have already run under 9:25 this season: Luke Coffin (Annapolis, 9:16.40), Timothy Synowiec (Bennett, 9:19.01), William Jones (Mt. Hebron, 9:20.25), Andrew Schell (9:20.65), Kevin Baranoski (Harford Tech, 9:24.43) and Zachary Wedding (9:24.58). That doesn't include Oakland Mills senior Baidy Ba (9:13.46 personal best) and Calvert Hall senior Andrew Myers (9:32.65).
5000 Meter Run (1 entered)
Jake Gelfand will be tackling both the two mile and 5K this weekend. Could be beat out former Falcons great Ryan Forsyth (14:48 at 2014 New Balance Indoor Nationals) on Maryland's all-time indoor 5K leaderboard?
Open Events
800 Meter Run (10 entered)
Howard junior Joseph Raudabaugh is one of just eight Maryland boys that have run under 2 minutes in the 800 this season. He'll be joined by teammate Kendall Phillips (2:01.14 personal best) and Chopticon's Jeffrey Wedding (1:57.93). Also entered: Antwon Harris (Digital Harbor), Aaron Lippman (EYT Spartans), Marcus Lomax (Digital Harbor), Harry Rathbun (Mount St. Joseph), Alonzo Sims (Riverdale Baptist), Sean Smith (Bishop McNamara) and Rajan Turner (Kent Island).
One Mile Run (17 entered)
No Maryland boys made it into the championship section of the mile, but that doesn't mean the event won't be interesting this weekend. Among those entered in the event, Gov. Thomas Johnson senior Mack McKeever - enjoying a stellar breakout senior season - leads the way with a 4:22.33 season best. Also entered: Kevin Baranoski (Harford Tech), Tyler Canaday (Severna Park), Lucas Corea (Richard Montgomery), Tyler Dailey (Dulaney), Charlie Dance (Calvert Hall), Thomas Foulkes (Huntingtown), Andrew Myers (Calvert Hall), Kendall Phillips (Howard), Harry Rathbun (Mount St. Joseph), Joseph Raudabaugh (Howard), Coleman Ruiz (Archbishop Spalding), Kyle Scherock (Centennial), Sean Smith (Bishop McNamara), Tafari Stephenson (Bowie), Eddie Sullivan (Severna Park) and Rajan Turner (Kent Island).
Two Mile Run (10 entered)
With nine entered in the championship section, how fast can the runners in the open section be? River Hill senior Joshua Galindo (9:39.36) leads a group that also includes Kendall Phillips (9:49.15 personal best) and Jeffrey Wedding (9:51.70). Also entered: Lucas Corea (Richard Montgomery), Charlie Dance (Calvert Hall), Tyler Flatau (Fallston), Coleman Ruiz (Archbishop Spalding), Mason Siebenhaar (Severna Park) and Tafari Stephenson (Bowie).
