The Lackey girls racked up enough points in the sprint events and relays to knock off the defending 1A indoor state champions from Boonsboro. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
The
Lackey girls had finished in the top three at the 2A indoor state championships
in each of the past two seasons. After this year's reclassification, Lackey was
moved to 1A, where the Boonsboro girls had won the last two state titles. Two
powerhouses, one trophy: something was going to have to give.
The
Chargers entered last Monday's state meet with one of the best group of
sprinters in the state. Their strength showed up in a big way, as three
different girls won the 55, 300 and 55 hurdles; they also won the 4x200 and
4x400 meter relays. In the end, it was too much for the Warriors to overcome,
as Lackey won with 85 points to Boonsboro's 68.
Top
Performers
Boonsboro's Camryn Harper did her best Wonder Woman impression for Boonsboro on Monday, scoring big points in four different events. (Photo by John Roemer)
Camryn
Harper, Boonsboro: Harper did everything she could to try and help Boonsboro
keep up with Lackey in the team scores. She won the 500 - for the third
consecutive year - and finished second in the 800, while running legs on the
victorious 4x800 and runner-up 4x400. All in all, she contributed to 36 of
Boonsboro's 68 points.
Courtney Hawkins, Henry E. Lackey: After four top-three state meet performances in the shot put over the past two seasons, Courtney Hawkins finally broke through as a senior. She has had a nearly perfect senior indoor season, with her only loss in the event being a still-impressive fourth-place finish at the Virginia Showcase.
Malia Watkins, Frederick Douglass-PG: She has been one of the top sprinters in Prince George's County ever since her freshman season, but as a junior she added another event to her expanding repertoire: the high jump. In addition to finishing second in the 300 and third in the 55, Watkins also finished third in the high jump, clearing 5'1.
Taylor
Williams, Henry E. Lackey: After her older siser, Sydney, won
four state titles in the hurdles, Taylor won her first, setting a new personal best of 8.54 in the finals of the 55 meter hurdles. Williams was also a key leg on the Chargers' victorious 4x200 and 4x400 relays, helping to contribute 30 points to their team effort.
Top Freshman
Sparrows Point freshman Macy Gerbes shares an emotional moment with her coach after winning the 1A 3200 on Monday. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
Macy Gerbes, Sparrows Point: Gerbes enjoyed immediate success on the course in the fall, winning the 1A North Regionals and then finishing 13th at the state meet. She carried that success onto the track this winter, culminating in a state title in the 3200 as she ran a 25-second personal best en route to a 17-second victory.
Top Surprise Performance
Carver A&T senior Diana Liepinya was a surprise second-place finisher in the 1A 3200 on Monday. (Photo by John Roemer)
Diana Liepinya, Carver A&T: She entered the state meet on Monday with a 3200 personal best of 13:14.93 and was coming off of a fourth-place race at the 1A Central Regionals. However, the decision to focus only on the 3200 paid off in a big way, as she cut nearly 40 seconds off her personal best and finished as the runner-up.
Top Relay Effort
The McDonough girls didn't seem to mind running from the middle section of the 4x200 on Monday, as they turned in what was easily a season-best time. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
M.J. McDonough 4x200: The McDonough girls cut nearly two seconds off of their season best in the 4x200, finishing third overall from the second (out of three) heats. Their time of 1:49.06 is the fastest indoor 4x200 by a McDonough squad in MileSplit's database.
Top Name To Know
Friendly's Victoria Costen capped a breakout senior season with a second place finish in the 1A 500. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
Victoria Costen, Friendly: Costen has enjoyed a breakout senior season that has seen her set personal bests in the 55, 300, 500 and 55 hurdles. She finished fourth in the 300 and was the runner-up in the 500 on Monday, and could be a state title contender in any number of events come spring.
Broken Records?
1A records
55 dash: Destiny Thompson, Henry E. Lackey - 7.22 (previous record: 7.23)
300 dash: Dominique Jeffery, Henry E. Lackey - 40.45 (previous record: 40.67)
4x200 relay: Henry E. Lackey - 1:44.05; Frederick Douglass-PG - 1:45.08 (previous record: 1:45.72)
