MDRUNNERS.COM First Team All-State 2006 - Countdown to Runner of the Year: Nos. 5, 4 & 3

The No. 5, No. 4 and No. 3 picks for First Team All-State are listed below.

First Team All-State; Pick No. 5

Morgane Gay, Junior
Walt Whitman
Championships: Montgomery County -- #1 | 4A West -- #2 | 4A State -- #2
Morgane Gay, now frequently considered to be one of the most underrated athletes in the state, scored a surprise win at the Montgomery County Championships that launched an ideal championship campaign. The county win came after regular season losses to county athletes like Cara Harrison (Quince Orchard) and Emma Eckerstrom (Northwest) - both of whom she soundly defeated at all three championship meets. Gay is one of just two First Team All-State members that are not graudating seniors.

First Team All-State; Pick No. 4

Katie Hursey, Senior
North Carroll
Championships: MVAL Chesapeake -- #1 | Carroll County -- #1 | 3A West -- #1 | 3A State -- #2
Hursey's only in-state loss this year came at the very conclusion of the season, when a cunning race by season-long competitor Liz McCarter (Mount Hebron) caught Hursey off guard, preventing her from capturing her second state title. Overall the athlete had a sucessful season, one that included four season wins over Liz McCarter.

First Team All-State; Pick No. 3

Marika Walker, Senior
Eleanor Roosevelt
Championships: Prince George's County -- #1 | 4A State -- #1
The two-year state champion executed a (though well-expected) flawless performance at the state final, despite a season that isolated her from the bullk of her competition. Walker lost only once to a Maryland runner this season - to Atholton's Alison Smith at the Manhattan Invitational. Marika Walker's state championship time of 19:14.60 was the fastest of the day.

FIRST-TEAM ALL STATERunner of the Year"Runner-Up" of the YearNo. 3No. 4No. 5No. 6No. 7
Athlete??????
Marika Walker, Senior
Eleanor Roosevelt
Katie Hursey, Senior
North Carroll
Morgane Gay, Junior
Walt Whitman
Elizabeth McCarter, Senior
Mount Hebron
Cara Harrison, Senior
Quince Orchard
Revealed:Tuesday November 21Monday

First Team All-State; Pick No. 5

Christopher Moen, Junior
Walter Johnson
Championships: Montgomery County -- #1 | 4A West -- #1 | 4A State -- #4
This break-through athlete, despite a discouraging state performance, logged several impressive performances this season, including a win over Atholton's Andrew Revelle and the Howard County Invite and a county title in Montgomery County. Christopher Moen will be the top returning athlete in the state next season, a favorite to become Matthew Centrowitz's successor.

First Team All-State; Pick No. 4

Erik Anderson, Senior
Archibishop Curley
Championships: MIAA -- #2 | DC/MD Private -- #3 |
An effective season that interwove competition against public schools with that against private schools secured Anderson's name as one of the top runners in the state. He clocked the third fastest time of the day at the Bull Run Invitational and won the Bobcat Invite - prior to his runner-up performance in the MIAA Championships (second to Archibishop Spalding's Robert Wetzel). Anderson ran a PR of 15:46 this season.

First Team All-State; Pick No. 3

Andrew Revelle, Senior
Atholton
Championships: Howard County -- #1 | 2A South -- #1 | 2A State -- #1
Andrew Revelle, arguably the state's toughest competitor, became a three-time state champion on November 11, while managing a 16:16.24 that was the stand-alone second fastest time of the day. This phenomenal showing was the culmination of an already successful championship season in which Revelle secured a third title in Howard County and Region 2A South. Revelle also had an outstanding regular season, which included his winning time of 15:26 at the Harford Invite an a second place finish at the Bull Run Invitational with a time of 16:23. Revelle leaves a huge mark on Maryland Cross Country as he graduates this year.

FIRST-TEAM ALL STATERunner of the Year"Runner-Up" of the YearNo. 3No. 4No. 5No. 6No. 7
Athlete??????
Andrew Revelle, Senior
Atholton
Erik Anderson, Senior
Archibishop Curley
Christopher Moen, Junior
Walter Johnson
Dwight Parker, Senior
Woodlawn
Kelli Thibou, Senior
Eleanor Roosevelt
Revealed:Tuesday November 21Monday