McDonogh Steps Up To Grab Team Title At MIAA Championships, Thomas Snags Three Titles

After not finishing higher than third in any of the MIAA Group Meets during the regular season, seventh-ranked McDonogh stepped up to the head of the class, Friday evening at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex, and edged Archbishop Curley, the MIAA Group Meet Champion, 109-107, to capture the team title at the 2005 MIAA Indoor Track Championships.

As has been the case during most of McDonogh's track victories over the last few years, senior Tristam Thomas was an important ingredient in the winning formula. Arguably the greatest long distance runner in MIAA history, Thomas single-handedly scored 30-points for the Eagles as he came away with individual titles in the 800 (2:4.52), 1,600 (4:28.39) and 3,200 (10:01.36).

Senior Darrius Heyward-Bey displayed the speed that made him one of the nation's most highly recruited wide receivers during his days with the McDonogh football team, when he sprinted to the 55 meters title in a time of 6.35. Heyward-Bey then teamed with Travon Hill- Chadwick, Keith Brown and Javon Gross to win the 4x200 relay in a meet record time 1:32.05. That relay victory proved to be the difference in the team title, as Curley finished second in 1:33.94, a time which also eclipsed the previous meet record.