The State Class AA Boys 800 Meter Final: In Video, Photos, and Numbers

We're still marvelling over the Class AA Boys 800m final at the MSHSL State Championships last weekend. It certainly lived up to all the hype we gave it last week. Zach Mellon of Buffalo defended his title with an all-time State Meet record of 1:49.69.

Behind Mellon, Fridley sophomore Harun Abda ran 1:50.74 and Irondale's Andy Richardson ran 1:51.06 for second and third. Fourth place finisher Obai Hussein ran 1:52.09 less than 45 minutes after winning the Class AA 400m title, a feat vital to Rosemount's five point Class AA team victory over Irondale.

We found must-see YouTube video of the race HERE.

We also offer these Gene Niemi photos from the race ...

Setting the Stage: (l-r) Nick Hutton, Travis Burkstrand, Obai Hussein, Charlie Laphem (obscured), Mitch Lorenz (obscured), Zach Mellon, Harun Abda, Dominick Rosario, and Andy Richardson on the homestretch in Lap 1.

400m Later: Mellon racing to the finish line, Abda and Richardson battling for second place.

Mellon stops the clock.


A spent Andy Richardson.


Mellon reacts to his 1:49.69 State Meet record.


Mellon & Richardson: The names synonymous with Minnesota prep half-miling in recent years.

After it was all said and done, here's what less than two minutes of running on Saturday wrought upon the Minnesota record books ...

-- A new Class AA and State Meet Record: Mellon 1:49.69

-- A new all-time Minnesota best for juniors: Mellon, eclipsing Richardson's 1:51.61 from last year.

-- A new sophomore all-time best: Harun Abda's 1:50.74 which eclipses Jason Owen's 1:51.41 from 1994.

-- And, a thoroughly rewritten all-time Minnesota performance list in the event ...

1:49.13 Jason Owen, Stewartville 1996
1:49.30 Trent Riter, Mounds View 2001
1:49.69 Zach Mellon, Buffalo 2008
1:50.56 Steve Holman, Richfield 1988
1:50.74 Harun Abda, Fridley 2008
1:51.o6 Andy Richardson, Irondale 2008
1:51.0 Tim Turnbull, Hopkins 1966 (1:51.7y)
1:51.75 Ryan Ford, St Cloud Apollo 2000
1:51.82 Tom Schmidt, Faribault 2001
1:52.07 Carson Hoeft, Armstrong 1985
1:52.09 Obai Hussein, Rosemount 2008

Photos by Gene Niemi.

All-time records and list information courtesy of Bill and Tim Miles.