Joe Kirtner (Center ) - Photo by Jonathan Grooms
Joseph Kirtner, a senior at Winfield High School, placed seventh in the High School Boys 1600 Meter Run in a time of 4:14.12 at the Eastern Relays on April 28, 2012 at University of Louisville in Louisville, KY.
The 27th Annual Eastern Relays Track Meet draws strong teams and individuals from KY, IN, OH, TN, WV, and IL. Some of the nation’s top high school runners came to compete at the University of Louisville Cardinal Park for a great meet.
The High School Boys 1600 Meter Run had eighty-three boys in all to compete, with ten boys breaking 4:18. There were also eighteen high school boys whose performances in the 1600 meter run met the national silver standard.
Brandon Kidder, a senior at Lancaster, OH closed his final lap in fifty-seven seconds to win with a US#5 performance in a time of 4:09.33. Tsefaye Hiluf a senior at Reynoldsburg, OH and Jacob Thompson a junior at Holy Cross, KY were 2nd and 3rd in PRs of 4:10.27 and 4:10.69 (Both runners ran the 3200m run the night before with the best eight lap race in Kentucky history. Jacob Thompson won in 8:58.62 to outkick Tsefaye Hiluf who ran 9:00.20). Nick Vogele, a senior at Anderson, OH was fourth in 4:12.72. Adrian Ross, a senior at Unioto, OH was fifth in 4:12.91. Willy Fink, a senior at Maumee, OH was sixth in 4:14.05. Joseph Kirtner, a senior at Winfield, WV was seventh in 4:14.12. Patrick Gregory, a sophomore at Butler was eighth in 4:15.06, Connor Sorrells, a junior at Barr Reeve, IN was ninth in 4:16.75, and rounding out the top ten was Luke Weishaar, a senior at Oldham County, KY in a time of 4:17.77.
Joe Kirtner (L) - Photo by Jonathan Grooms
Kirtner’s run of 4:14.12 ranks him nationally at US#37 on the High School Boys 1600 meter run performance list. He is the current WV#2 behind Jacob Burcham, a junior at Cabell Midland High School, who is the US#11/WV#1 ranked runner with a time of 4:11.49. This past Friday, Burcham ran a new season best time of 4:09.49 in the Mile at The Penn Relays Carnival, which converts to 4:03.07 in the 1600m. Kirtner now ranks among the top West Virginia runners of all time in the 1600 meter run.
I thought this was interesting, Joseph Kirtner placed third at last year’s WV State Track Meet in the 1600 meter run. His 4:19.81 was 11.01 seconds off Burcham’s 4:08.80. With both runners improving this track season, Kirtner’s 4:14.12 is 11.05 seconds off Burcham’s converted 1600m of 4:03.07. Wow!!! I didn’t see that one coming.
One thing is for sure, fans are anticipating another record breaking performance in the 1600 meter run at this year’s WV State Track Meet.
Kirtner’s 1600-meter splits: 400 meters – 64.4; 800 meters – 2:09.47 (65.07); 1200 meters – 3:12.17 (62.70); 1600 meters – 4:14.12 (61.95).
Personal Bests:
400 Meter Dash - 52.85
800 Meter Run - 1:57.98
1500 Meter Run - 4:13.17
1600 Meter Run - 4:14.12
One Mile Run - 4:20.17
3200 Meter Run - 9:27.93
5000 Meter Run - 15:47.20
