Photos by Robin Campbell
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It was a familiar site at Chaptico Park on Wednesday afternoon: Hayley Jackson crossing the line in first place. She extended her Maryland cross country winning streak that has gone well over a calendar year by defending her 2015 SMAC Championship. Jackson finished 38 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Northern's Molly Barrick, for her largest margin of victory on the season.
Speaking of Barrick, she led the Northern-Calvert girls to yet another win. After taking the passenger's seat to Abby Sweeney at the Glory Days Invitational Barrick re-emerged as the Patriot's top runner, putting nearly 20 seconds between herself and the defending 3A state champion, Great Mills' Annie Imhof. The aforementioned Sweeney finished fourth, and the top five Northern girls all finished in the top 11 to seal the win.
Over on the boys' side it was a showdown between Calvert sophomore Justin Diehl and Westlake junior Jay Hall. This time Diehl had the advantage, winning by 15 seconds, and showing that he is one of the top contenders for this year's 2A state title, even as a sophomore. Northern's Charlie Sweeney and Greg Oldham finished third and fourth.
However, none of the previously mentioned teams went home with the team title. That honor belonged to the Leonardtown boys and a 25-second scoring spread; they put their top six runners, led by junior Parker McDowell, between eighth and 14th place to pick up the victory.