Baltimore County Indoor Season Preview: McNeil Owns 5/8 Double

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Since her indoor freshman season back in 2015 Nyjari McNeil has been one of the top mid-distance runners in the entire state. The indoor 500/800 double is not always an easy one to pull off but she has done it with regularity over the first two years of her high school career. She has won both events at the indoor county championships each of the past two years, last year setting the indoor county meet record at 2:21.61 (in the Baltimore Armory) in the 800. She will be looking to break the 3A state meet records in both events this February. Along with Sydney Gilbert (1:17.39 500) and Jenae Dorsey (41.91 300) the Franklin girls will have one of the best mid-distance cores in the state for the next two years.

Eastern Tech's Taylor Baranoski flashed his potential at last year's 2A indoor state championships where he finished second in the 1600. He would do one better in the spring, winning the 2A 1600 with a personal best time of 4:23.99. Baranoski picked up his second state title this fall at Hereford High School and is primed to be one of the top distance runners in the county this season after Eric Walz and the Dulaney class of 2016 boys dominated the events last season.

Jonathan Johnson and the Milford Mill boys have been one of the top sprinting groups in the state for the past few years and will have a strong core of seniors to lead them heading into the 2017 season. Johnson finished third at last year's 3A indoor state championships and owns the top returning times in both the 300 and the 500 among Baltimore County boys. Along with Dana Jackson (6.64 55) and Kennard Goins (37.76 300) Milford Mill will have a chance to rack up some points at this year's indoor county championship meet.

The Hereford girls have a couple standouts who will be instrumental in their attempt to win their 11th straight indoor county team title. Kelly Wesolowski found indoor success as a freshman back in 2014 when she clocked a 3200 season best of 10:52.53 but had not been at 100% at any point until this fall when she decided to run cross country for the first time. The decision paid off spectacularly as she finished second at the 2A state championships and led Hereford to a team title. She could be the top runner in the county in both the 1600 and 3200 this season. Joining Wesolowski is fellow senior Alexandra Butz who captured her first state championship in the pole vault last outdoor season. She is the top returner in the county in the pole vault, high jump and triple jump (which is not contested at the Baltimore County indoor championships).

Important Meet Dates:

December 6th - Baltimore County League Meet #1

December 8th - Baltimore County League Meet #2

December 13th - Baltimore County League Meet #3

December 19th - BCPS/AACPS Challenge #1

December 20th - BCPS/AACPS Challenge #2

December 22nd - BCPS/AACPS Challenge #3

January 24th - Baltimore County Varsity Championships

January 26th - Baltimore County Freshman/Sophomore Meet

Boys Top Returnees By Event

Girls Top Returnees By Event