4A Girls 4x200
Photo by Craig Amoss
Sometimes, the state championships can be a great place to pit teams against each other that would never have met during the rest of the season. The previous race, between Westlake, Harford Tech and River Hill - all in different counties - is a great example. Sometimes, however, the state meet can serve as the final battle ground between two rivals that have gone head-to-head all year. Take Quince Orchard and Gaithersburg, for example, Montgomery County schools separated by less than five miles. Gaithersburg had won the previous matchup at the 4A West regional, and the Trojans ran neck-and-neck with Suitland heading into the final exchange at the state meet. But sitting on the anchor leg for Quince Orchard was junior Kyra Lyles, who would go on to win the 4A 400 title the next day. Lyles ran down Gaithersburg anchor Michelle Kamara, giving the Cougars their first-ever state title in the event.