Kyle Lund (right) and Isaiah Schulties (middle) own two of the top three returning times in the state in the outdoor 800. (Photo by John Roemer)
We continue our indoor preview by highlighting some of the top returning girls individuals in the 1A classification.
*Note: outdoor performances are only taken into consideration if the athlete also participated during indoor track.
Sprints
Stephen Cobb (Senior, La Plata) - 36.88 300, 1:07.43 500, 22.74 200, 49.99 400, 2:04.20 800
Cobb won his first career regional title as a junior at the 2A East indoor meet in the 500 meter dash. He finished third in the event at the indoor state meet, and he is also one of just three 2A boys returners to have run under 50 seconds in the 400 last spring.
Miles Gray (Senior, Frederick Douglass (PG)) - 36.40 300, 1:07.28 500, 21.94 200, 48.43 400, 1:59.20 800
Gray showcased some of the best range in the state last year as a junior, running both a sub-22 200 and a sub-2:00 800. After finishing third at the indoor state meet in the 500 he swept the outdoor county, region and state title in the 400. He even ran under 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles at the outdoor state meet, and could be a state meet contender in as many as three individual events at this year's 2A state meet.
Jackson Jones (Senior, Frederick Douglass (PG)) - 6.56 55, 37.16 300, 11.01 100, 22.34 200, 52.15 400
Jones was the top finisher in the 55 prelims at last year's 1A state meet, then finished third in the finals with a 6.56 personal best. It's easily the best returning time by a 2A runner, and his 11.01 personal best in the 100 is also second-fastest behind Calvert's Justin Wallace.
Marquis Miller (Junior, Milford Mill) - 6.78 55, 37.19 300, 1:14.80 500, 11.47 100, 21.95 200, 49.59 400
Photo by Craig Amoss
Miller ranks second among 2A returners in both the 200 and 400 meter dashes (behind Miles Gray). Although he finished just 13th at the indoor state meet in the 55 meter dash, he was the 3A state runner-up in the 400 in May.
Korede Otusajo (Sophomore, Milford Mill) - 1:08.01 500, 50.10 400, 2:03.28 800
As a freshman Otusajo placed sixth at the 3A indoor state meet in the 500 meter dash; his 1:08.01 personal best was second among freshmen. His 50.10 outdoor season best in the 400 was also tied for third-fastest among freshmen.
Owen Welty (Senior, Walkersville) - 1:08.66 500, 5'10 HJ, 2:06.60 800, 4:38.01 1600
Welty specialized in the 500 and high jump last winter, finishing sixth at the 2A state meet in both events. He also ran a 4:38 1600 in the spring and finished 42nd at the cross country state meet earlier this month.
Breez Wigfield (Junior, Milford Mill) - 6.81 55, 37.46 300, 11.09 100, 22.55 200, 52.65 400
Wigfield's personal bests in the 100 and 200 rank sixth and seventh, respectively, among returning 2A sprinters. Last indoor season he qualified for both the 55 and 300 meter dashes at the 3A state championships.
Distance
Kevin Baranoski (Junior, Harford Tech) - 2:06.33 800, 4:29.32, 9:38.95 3200
Photo by Craig Amoss
Baranoski led all sophomores in the state in the 3200 both last winter and last spring. He finished among the top five at both the indoor and outdoor state meets, and also challenged for the 2A state title this past fall, eventually finishing third.
Zane Chalker (Senior, Williamsport) - 2:14.57 800, 4:40.83 1600, 9:47.60 3200
Chalker and the Wildcats are back in the 2A classification this winter, meaning he will get to go back up against the same runners he did as a junior when he finished ninth at the outdoor state meet in the 3200. His 9:47 3200 is fifth-best among 2A returners, but perhaps a dominant cross country season is a sign of even bigger things to come on the track as a senior.
William Christophel (Senior, North Caroline) - 2:06.69 800, 4:27.46 1600, 9:39.17 3200
Along with Kyle Lund and Kevin Baranoski, Christophel is one of just three 2A returners who ran under 9:40 in the 3200 last spring. Christophel finished seventh or better in both of the 1600 and 3200 at the outdoor state meet after not qualifying for the indoor state meet.
Collin Dempsey (Senior, Oakdale) - 2:01.05 800, 4:26.32, 9:40.15 3200
Dempsey is one of two returning 2A boys (along with Kevin Baranoski) who ran under 10 minutes in the 3200 last winter. He also finished no lower than ninth in both the indoor and outdoor 1600 or 3200, and finished seventh at the cross country state meet this fall.
Tyler Dregely (Senior, Century) - 1:09.75 500, 50.63 400, 1:56.49 800
Photo by John Roemer
As a junior Dregely broke out during the indoor season, qualifying for the state championships in both the 500 and 800 (finishing ninth in the former). He was one of the top underclassmen in the 800 last spring as his 1:56.49 personal best is one of the top ten returning times in the state. Among 2A runners only Kyle Lund and Isaiah Schulties have better times in the event.
John Kettula (Senior, South Carroll) - 1:12.27 500, 1:59.45 800, 4:23.36 1600, 10:19.12 3200
A breakout race at last year's 2A indoor state meet, where he broke 4:30 in the 1600 for the first time, launched Kettula into state noteworthiness. He dropped his times during the spring to 1:59 and 4:23 in the 800 and 1600, respectively, and is also coming off his best cross country season (eighth place at the 2A state meet).
Kyle Lund (Senior, Oakdale) - 1:06.73 500, 50.03 400, 1:53.13 800, 4:16.54 800, 9:28.36 3200
The top returning half-miler in the state went undefeated in the event in-state last season, and also finished eighth in the emerging elite section of the event at New Balance Indoor Nationals. Lund also has range beyond the 800; his outdoor 1600 and 3200 times are third-fastest among returners and he is also one of only three boys who return with a sub-1:07 500. He recently won the 2A state cross country title as well.
Isaiah Schulties (Junior, Kent Island) - 38.52 300, 1:08.01 500, 1:55.01 800, 4:38.19 1600
The 800 was Schulties' calling card as a sophomore; he finished as the 2A state runner-up in the event at both the indoor and outdoor state meet. His 1:55.01 personal best from the state meet is tops in the state by a returning junior and third overall, behind only Kyle Lund and Garrett Suhr.
Finn Walsh (Junior, Kent Island) - 2:01.01 800, 4:22.99 1600, 9:48.74 3200
Walsh came within a second of capturing his first state title at the 2A state cross country championships. Could his fortunes change this winter? His 4:22 1600 personal best from the spring is second-best among 2A returners behind only Kyle Lund.
Hurdles/Field
Shawn Getzen (Junior, Digital Harbor) - 8.00 55H, 14.54 110H
The 2019 season was a coming-out party for Getzen. He finished sixth at the 3A indoor state meet in the 55 meter hurdles and fifth at the outdoor state meet in the 110 meter hurdles. As the Rams move down to the 2A classification this year both of his personal bests easily lead all 2A returners.
Dominic Hawkins (Senior, Henry E. Lackey) - 53'6.50 SP
Last year, Hawkins led all underclassmen across the state in both indoor and outdoor shot put marks. Hawkins won the 1A indoor state title in the event for his first state championship, then finished second in both the shot put and discus in the spring.
Jackson Keele (Senior, Middletown) - 13'6 PV
Photo by John Roemer
Keele cleared 11'3 in the pole vault as a sophomore in 2018 but took his game to the next level last year. His junior season included second- and third-place finishes in the event at the indoor and outdoor state meets, respectively; his season culminated with a 13'6 personal best vault at the state meet. It's the second-best returning mark among 2A boys.
Cooper Neal (Senior, Century) - 13'10 PV
Like Keele, Neal came into last winter and made immediate strides in the pole vault (he raised his personal best by three feet in the winter alone). Neal traded second- and third-place finishes with Keele at the indoor and outdoor state meets and the two should be the top individuals in the event this year at the 2A level.
Geoff Point-du-Jour (Junior, Wicomico) - 6'2 HJ
Point-du-Jour's sophomore season came to a close with a third-place finish at the 2A state meet in the high jump. He is the only 2A returner to have cleared the height coming into the winter.
David Strong (Junior, La Plata) - 8.18 55H, 15.39 110H, 20'9 LJ, 42'2 TJ
Photo by Craig Amoss
Strong scored as a sophomore in the hurdles at both the indoor and outdoor state meets. His 8.18 personal best in the 55 meter hurdles is second among 2A returners (only he and Shawn Getzen have run faster than 8.37).
Patrick Tunkel (Senior, South Carroll) - 13'4 PV
Tunkel is one of three 2A returners, behind Neal and Keele, with a pole vault personal best better than 13 feet. Tunkel's personal best in the event actually came two years ago; as a sophomore, he cleared 14'6 in a runner-up effort at the 2A state meet.