With some great 800's taking place tonight and tomorrow in the Lone Star State, we got to thinking … who is going to be the 800 King of Texas?!

 

The 4A and 5A races are both extremely competitive, with a 1:51 and 1:52 runner in each field. Can someone break 1:50? Here are your favorites to do so, although as we all know … anything can happen in the 800!Watch both races LIVE here on Flotrack!

4A  - Ramon Garcia outduels Danny Tarango!
 

Watch more video of 2011 UIL Texas State Track and Field Championships on flotrack.org

Round one lived up to the hype, as Ramon Garcia was just able to pass Danny Tarango in the final meters to win in 1:52.56. Tarango finished a close second in 1:52.80. Josh Hernandez and Nick Rollo were 4th and 5th, as 4 guys were 1:53.30 or better!

While the race wasn't taken out fast enough for a 1:50 attempt, Garcia closed in around 27 flat to notch the victory and capture his first State title!

Daniel Tarango - El Paso Burges - #3 US

Tarango comes into State with a 1:51.09 season's best, almost a second ahead of the rest of the field. He kicked well at the UIL Texas State Championships last year, passing two runners in the last 100 meters to finish 3rd in 1:54.70. This year, Tarango could very well be looking to break 1:51 (or even 1:50) with the right race.

 

Ramon Garcia - El Paso Austin - #15 US

In that same race last year, Garcia's kick was even more lethal than Tarango's. The two battled each other the final 40 meters, with Garcia able to pull away slightly, at 1:54.54. Garcia just ran out of real estate to catch the winner, Johnny Camacho. This year, Garcia has clocked a 1:52.18. With both his and Tarango's improvements, it could be a showdown between these two for a State title!

5A Showdown - 6:15 Saturday

Kyle Thompson - Killeen Harker Heights - #5 US

Thompson ran an unbelievable race last year at State, and flirted with breaking 1:50. Thompson ran a tactically perfect 2010 race, waiting until 120 meters to kick home and take the win in 1:50.80. With great competition expected, he could very well break the barrier this year. We saw Kyle run great indoors at the Brook PR Invite, clocking a 1:52.69. This season, Kyle has run 1:51.45 and looks to be rounding into perfect form coming into State.

 

Sean Canavin - Lewisville Marcus - #13 US

Canavin popped a huge PR of 1:52.28 May 3rd at the Region 1 Championships to propel himself into the State title talk. The teammate of nationally renowned distance runner, Craig Lutz, may be a race away from gaining his own National fame. Canavin wasn't in the 800 final last year at State. Can the senior make his last race one to remember?

Thompson's 2010 State victory: