Brody Buffington was once again the star of the show as he led Catoctin to a 1A State team title. Buffington broke the overall (and 1A) state record in the 55m Dash running 6.19 seconds, which is currently tied for the top time in the United States. The previous state record was 6.21 in 2013 by Justin Murdock. Buffington also helped in the 4x200 running a strong lead-off leg. The Cougars were never caught and ran 1:32.79 for the win.
Both Furious Trammel and Alexander Contreras played a huge role in the win for Catoctin. Trammel win the 300m dash in a new PR of 35.37 seconds. In the 500, which may have been the race of the meet, he took second, barely losing to Smithsburg Cameron Rejonis. Rejonis ran 1:06.12 and Trammel ran 1:06.29. Both athletes ran under the previous state record of 1:06.32
Contraeas shined in the distance events as he won both the 1600 running 4:36 and the 3200 running 10:26. He also was a leg on the 4x400 team.
Together these 3 athletes, including relay points combined for 63 of Catoctin's 79 points.
While Buffington put up the most impressive performance of the night, the most competitive race of the meet was the boy's 500m dash between Cameron Rejonis (Smithsburg) and Furious Trammel (Catoctin). Both runners came into the race with the same exact PR and close to the meet record. When the gun went off Rejonis took the lead with Trammel a few meters behind. It stayed that way till the last 100 meters when Trammel kept creeping closer and closer. However, Rejonis held on to the finish as both runners ran 1:06 breaking the state record.
(Watch Rejonis and Trammel both go under the 1A State Record in the 500)
On the girl's side, it was all Smithsburg. The Leopards scored 90 points, 40.5 points ahead of runner-up Largo. Smithsburg scored in 11 of the 13 events. Grace Ellis shined in the sprint events as she won the 500, running 1:19.15, placed second in the 800, running 2:25.57, and also placed 5th in the 300, running 43.63. Cora Gentzel added 14 team points she placed 2nd in the 3200 and 3rd in the 1600m. They also shined in the relays as they won the 4x200 and 4x800, and placed 3rd in the 4x400.
Largo placed second and was led by standout sprinters Ayniah and Lialah Fersner. Ayniah won the 55m Hurdlers and placed second in both the 55m dash and the 300m dash. Her sister, Lialah placed 2nd in the 500m run and 4th in the 300m dash. The duo teamed up in the 4x400 to place second.
Mary Delaney left no doubt who the best 1A distance runner in the state is. She won both 1600 (running 5:20) and set a new 1A record in the 800, running 2:17.3, almost 3 seconds faster than the previous record of 2:20 set by Sharon Dorsey from Western STES in 2013.
(Watch Mary Delaney break the 1A State 800m Record)