2009 Indoor Div I Boys Preview

The boys Div I meet looks like the most unpredictable team competition in years, with no team standing out as the favorite, and many teams with a shot at the title.

Div I Boys and Girls Performance Lists

Based on seeds only, projected team scores for the top ten teams look like this:

Andover 35
St John's Prep 33
BC High 30
Xaverian 28
Lowell 26
New Bedford 26
Lawrence 24
Methuen 20
Newton South 19
Cambridge 19

How reliable are these points? Where is there upside?

Well, to begin with, BC High has to like their chances, since 20 of their projected points come from the state's best male athlete, Corey Thomas, in the high jump and hurdles. They also have Ibi Wilcox, who has run 7.91 in the hurdles, two OTHER high jumpers who have cleared 6-1, and two shot putters who have thrown over 51 feet. So it's not unreasonable to think BC High could have 35 points from three events.

Andover also has fairly reliable points. They have the state's best sprinter in Chris Mcconnell, who should win the 55, and lead them to victory in the 4x200. They also have the state's second-ranked 4x400 team, 6-2 high jumper Andrew Osborne, and Rob Martin, who has run 1:24.75 in the 600. I think they will be very close to their projected 35 points, although the high jump is always a crap shoot.

But the team I think could win is St. John's Prep. The prep has projected scorers in only four events, but that includes Jared Kadich, the top seed in the 300 (35.82), Mike Massee, the top seed in the 1000, and the top team in the 4x400 relay. They also should have a good 4x800 team, which could score points, and a chance in the high jump and 600. My instinct here is that SJP always seems to over-perform at these big meets, and a score in the mid-30s might be enough to win this year.

Two dark horse teams are Lawrence and Newton South. Lawrence has upside in the 55 and 300, but not enough scorers overall to get above the mid-20s even if everything goes their way. Newton South has upside in the 1000, the mile, and 4x800 relay, and I think they might get an individual victory from Ross McDonald in the long jump.

And what of Sam Arsenault and Ben Kiley? Arsenault has sat out the last few meets with a foot injury, but is entered in the hurdles and long jump. Will he be able to compete at his usual high-level? Ben Kiley has been getting better and better as the season has gone on. He is entered in the 55 (seeded 8th) and the long jump (seeded 11th), and with a good day, could conceivably score in either or both. North also has the fifth seed in the 4x400 relay.

Other than watching Corey Thomas go after 7-feet in the high jump, other events of special interest include the 1000, where Weymouth's Steve Sallowin has a real chance to become the first sophomore to win the 1000 in a long, long time.

In the 2M, Phil Galebach looks like the favorite... haven't heard much from him since he went to Footlocker Nationals in XC. Newton North's Dan Hamilton is seeded 9th and will likely need to run a PR to be in the top six.

The oldest Div I meet record on the books is Ray Auger's 61-3.75 in the shot put, which dates back to 1972. Falmouth junior Sam Bombough has thrown 57-2.75, so not completely out of reach -- if not this year then perhaps next.