4A Boys 4x800
Photo by Craig Amoss
It was hot on Friday evening at the 2019 state championships, conditions that led to some fast sprint performances in the prelims but took a bigger toll on the runners the further up the distance scale. The 4A boys 4x800 field featured plenty of teams that had gone well under the 8-minute mark just a week or two before, but it soon became clear that the teams in the race would not only have to battle each other, but the elements, as well. Severna Park senior Josh Mercado got the stick in first, but Paint Branch senior Joseph Okonofua wasn't going down without a fight. Okonofua worked to close the gap and even the race with 100 meters left, but Mercado had one more gear to hold off the Panthers and lead the Falcons to their second 4x800 state title in school history (and first since 1988).