Jacob Piland has posted just one 800m result this season, but it was a biggie. He ran 2:06.80 on Apr 22 at the Federal League: North Canton MS v. Jackson MS meet, and now leads Ohio middle school boys in the event. The Mas. Jackson 8th grader from Massillon ran cross country last fall, winning the Sandy Valley Invitational MS and finished sixth at the OHSAA 7th & 8th Grade Cross Country Post Season Invitational. His track season started just a few weeks ago and he's already looking like he's made a jump from the fall. 

Joey Krumpak of McDonald JH sits second at 2:07.03, after his showing at the Spartan Early Bird Junior High Invitational on Apr 4. Krumpak also runs the 400m, where he sits at 53.74 this season. Trey Strole of Loveland MS is third at 2:08.31 from the Loveland/Princeton MS All Run on Apr 9. Strole competed at New Balance Nationals Indoor in both the 800m and 400m in March and has been chopping his outdoor 1600m times down as well - he went from 5:02.74 on Apr 7 to 4:55.14 on Apr 20.

The top three on the Ohio board are separated by only 1.51 seconds. Lucas Thomas of Cleveland Youth Running is fourth at 2:10.62. Seth Shroyer of Tippecanoe MS ran 2:10.92 at the Miami East Middle School Invitational on Apr 23 for fifth. Levi Geletka currently ranks seventh at 2:11.01.

Nationally the 8th grade 800m is at a different level. Cashton Martinez of Hillwood MS in Texas leads the country at 1:55.89. Chase Davis of Clark Intermediate MS in California ran a 2:01.69, which ranks second. Koda Nedley of Baird MS (also in California) is third at 2:03.18. Josef Duddera of Chamblee MS in Georgia has run 2:03.72 and Ivory Sheffield of Pieper Ranch MS has gone 2:04.30.