Much like the Hereford girls moved up a classification after winning four straight state titles, the Boonsboro girls - who haven't lost a state meet since 2014 - move up to the 2A classification, along with the boys who also won last year. (Photo by John Roemer)
Every two years the MPSSAA puts out new classification and regional alignments based on school enrollment figures. Next fall there will be changes made to these alignments - and, for the first time, each sport is divided separately, meaning that (for example) some schools may be in 3A in cross country but in 4A in track depending on how many schools have active programs.
Today we'll take a look at the updated cross country realignments in the 1A and 2A divisions. The full lists can be downloaded from the MPSSAA website here. Click on "2019-21 Sport Specific Classifications & Region Alignments."
New 2A Schools: Boonsboro (1A West -> 2A West), Carver A&T (1A North -> 2A North), Chesapeake-BC (1A North -> 2A North), Milford Mill (3A North -> 2A North), Overlea (1A North -> 2A North), Randallstown (1A North -> 2A North), Sparrows Point (1A North -> 2A North), Digital Harbor (3A South -> 2A North), Henry E. Lackey (1A South -> 2A South), Crossland (2A North -> 2A South), Frederick Douglass-PG (1A South -> 2A South), Potomac (3A South -> 2A South)
Regional Changes: Glenelg and Oakland Mills, Howard County's only two 2A schools, move over from the 2A South division to replace Damascus (moved to 3A West) and Williamsport (moved to 1A West). The biggest change is the addition of Boonsboro; the boys won last year's 1A state title and the girls have won four straight dating back to 2015.
2A North has a new look, going from 10 to 13 teams. Carver A&T, Chesapeake-BC, Overlea, Randallstown and Sparrows Point all move in from 1A North. Meanwhile, sprint powerhouses Milford Mill and Digital Harbor join from the 3A classification. Gone are Central, Crossland and Gwynn Park, as well as Hereford, whose boys and girls have dominated the region over the past few years.
2A South sees a mass exodus of Howard County teams that made up half of the region last fall. Henry E. Lackey and Frederick Douglass-PG come up from the 3A classification while Crossland and Potomac move in, giving the region a more sprinter-oriented outlook.
The only change in the 2A East region is the loss of Easton, which moves up to 3A.
New 1A Schools: Williamsport (2A West -> 1A West), Edmondson-Westside (2A North -> 1A North), Central (2A North -> 1A South), Gwynn Park (2A North -> 1A South)
1A West will look a bit different this fall, as Washington County powerhouse Boonsboro swaps out for their in-county rivals from Williamsport. Both the Boonsboro boys and girls were 1A defending champions, but Williamsport should be highly competitive in 1A this year, especially on the boys side.
1A North loses a few schools to the 2A classification (detailed above), and Edmondson-Westside moves down to take their place. PG County schools Central and Gwynn Park move down from the 2A North to 1A South regions.
1A East remains unchanged.