4x200 Meter Relay
The Clarksburg boys surprised everybody by winning the 4x200 at the 4A West Regionals from a slow heat. Can they challenge the Wise boys in the fast heat at the state meet? (Photo by Brandon Miles)
| Team | Season Best | Regional Performance |
| Henry A. Wise | 1:30.16 (Virginia Showcase) | 1:31.66 (1st, 4AE*) |
| Howard | 1:32.14 (HoCo Champs) | 1:38.95 (1st, 4AC) |
| Paint Branch | 1:32.63 (Virginia Showcase) | 1:39.38 (2nd, 4AW) |
| Eleanor Roosevelt | 1:32.89 (Hispanic Games) | 1:33.28 (3rd, 4AE*) |
| Bowie | 1:33.27 (4A East Regionals) | 1:33.27 (2nd, 4AE*) |
| Northwest | 1:33.93 (MoCo Invite) | 1:39.51 (3rd, 4AW) |
| Springbrook | 1:34.54 (MoCo Invite) | 1:40.10 (4th, 4AW) |
| Clarksburg | 1:35.51 (MoCo Champs) | 1:38.99 (1st, 4AW) |
The Henry A. Wise boys have developed a sprint juggernaut this season, one that could possibly lead them to a very strong showing in the team scores at the state meet. Their season-best time of 1:30.16 from the Virginia Showcase is the third-fastest time in the state so far, and the best by a public school by over half a second. The last time they lost a race in the state of Maryland was back at the Ed Bowie Invitational on December 21.
Chasing the Pumas will be a deep group of teams, among whom the Howard boys may be the strongest. Their 1:32.14 time, second-fastest in 4A this year, came on a flat track at the Howard County Championships (as opposed to the other two teams that ran under 1:33 on banked tracks). Bowie and Roosevelt both finished within two seconds of Wise at the 4A East Regionals in what was a very close race.
Perhaps the most interesting group of teams is the quartet of Montgomery County teams. Paint Branch has the fastest season time and won the county meet, edging out Northwest with Springbrook right on their heels. The same scenario played out at the 4A West Regionals - except the Clarksburg boys actually ran faster from a slower heat.
No matter how things shake up behind the favorites, it looks like the Wise boys are strong favorites to take home at least one (if not two) state titles in the relays this year.