3A South
Photo by Marleen Van Den Neste
Meet Page - Boys Preview - Girls Preview
Results - Photos
The Northern boys came into the 3A South Regionals on Thursday with one of the longer active regional championship winning streaks - they had not lost since 2007. Charlie Sweeney and Greg Oldham went 1-2, both crossing the line in 17:01, more than 30 seconds ahead of the next-fastest runner. They put four runners total in the top 15. And yet, 2016 was the first time in a decade that someone other than Northern took home the 3A South team title.
That's because the Wheaton boys, led by senior Jason Scott, had one of the smallest 1-5 spreads and were able to edge Northern, 49-55. Fellow senior Alexis Fuentes turned in a huge fifth-place performance for the Knights, lowering his personal best by 17 seconds despite the unforgiving nature of Watkins Mills' cross country course.
Great Mills, Huntingtown, Blake and Magruder rounded out the state qualifying teams. Watkins Mill missed a trip to Hereford by a mere single point, but Zachary Pepperl and Tyrese Hibbert both qualified as individuals. Rockville's Howard Kirk also advanced with an eighth-place performance.
In the girls race Northern had no problem in winning their third straight 3A South title. Led by Molly Barrick they put three runners in the top four and their entire team in the top 15. They will be looking to avenge their runner-up finish at the state championships last season on Saturday at Hereford.
Meanwhile Great Mills senior Annie Imhof returned to the top after finishing third at the SMAC Championships a week prior. The defending 3A state champion outdueled Barrick, finishing in 19:25 - over 20 seconds faster than she ran at last year's regional meet. Imhof's younger sister Emily finished fifth and the sisters led Great Mills to second place.
Huntingtown and Wheaton grabbed the final two spots for the state meet; Wheaton for the first time since 2002. Magruder missed the final spot by just three points but junior Kathy Pena-Molina did advance with an eighth-place effort.