This weekend's Howard County Winterfest is the first "Mega-Meet" in Maryland for the 22-23 Indoor Track season. With over 70 schools attending it will make for an extremely competitive meet and will most likely produce multiple MD # 1 times and marks. While every event looks to be competitive, check out some of the most competitive events that you don't want to miss.

GIRLS 1600

The girls 1600 will feature a strong group of girls and should shape up to be an exciting race. Hannah Toth (Westminster) has the top seed at 5:05 and is coming off an outstanding XC season in the fall. Evelyn Rogers (Elizabeth Seton) has already run 5:10 this season and should be contending for the win as well. A wildcard in the race is Northerns Ella Meccia. Meccia did not run XC due to soccer but returns to track and was one of the best runners last season finishing second in both the 1600 and 3200 at the 3A State Championships last winter. Other contenders include Alexa Avila (Montgomery Blair), and Hallie Shepard (Catonsville).

GIRLS LONG JUMP

There are 7 girls who are entered with marks of 17 feet or better which should make for a very exciting competition. The field is highlighted by Colgan (VA) sisters Kadynce Taylor and Kalyncia Taylor with marks of 17-05. 

GIRLS 300

The fast heat of the girls 300 will feature some of the fastest girls in the state. Elena Cooper (Bryn Mawr) 41.5, Brooke Cochran (James Hubert Blake) 41.50, Cymia Yourish (St. Johns) 40.50, Cohren Corbin (North Point) 40.63, and Nikyah Williams (Woodlawn) 41.75 all have seed times under 42 seconds and these girls will be eyeing to break that magic 40-second barrier for a girls 300. While these girls are seeded fast, the 4 fastest heats all feature girls who have PR's sub 43 and it should produce very fast times!

GIRLS HIGH JUMP

9 girls are entered at heights of 5 feet or higher. The field is led by Dunbar (DC) standout Ariana Guerrero with a mark of 5-07. Sierra Swangin (James Hubert Blake) is entered at 5-03 and Ruth Smith (Howard) is entered at 5-02 to round out the top 3 seeds. 

BOYS 3200

Hayden Hauser (Colgan) comes in as the top seed running 9:25. The VA runner will look to win this early season race. Henry Hopper (Wilde Lake) makes his Indoor debut in the 3200. The 3A Cross Country champion looks to build on his strong finish in the fall. While Ashton Tolson (C Milton Wright) had an inconsistent Cross Country season, he showed flashes of brilliance, especially during the NXR Southeast XC meet, running 15:35. He will look to run under 9:30 in this early season meet. Other top contenders include Garrett Saboy (Bel Air), Kieran Mischke (Towson), and Dylan Zimmerman (Colgan).

BOYS LONG JUMP

7 boys are entered with marks at 21 feet or better. The field is highlighted by Abdur Hassan (Oakland Mills) at 22-04.75 Joseph Poleate (Frederick) and Nashon McKinney-Spear (Frederick). With so many other jumpers above 20 it should make for an exciting back-and-forth competition. 

BOYS 55M HURDLES

7 Hurdlers come into the Howard County Winterfest with seed times under 8 seconds. If they all run to their potential the finals could produce a truly spectacular finish. Most of these Hurdles have easily won a smaller league or county meet this season and could run significantly faster with such great competition at this meet. The hurdles under 8 seconds are Roman Richardson (St Johns) 7.60, Robert Steward (St Johns) 7.60, Domenion Jacobs (Huntingtown) 7.60, Roberto Terrell (Quince Orchard), J'Marcus Hines (Bowie) Ragiariki Lewis (Northern) 7.89, Justin DeVaughn (Mervo) 7.98

BOYS 4X200 

The fast heat of the 4x200 might produce multiple teams that break the magic 1:30 barrier. Oakland Mills, Henry Wise, and Mervo all come in with very fast seed times and have shown in early-season meets that they have the legs to get it done. Gonzaga and Bowie are also in the fast heat and will be in the mix for the win.