Excitement Returns to Baltimore County Cross Country
Dulaney defends titles but not without a tough fight & home field advantage
October 30, 2005
Yesterday at Dulaney High School, excitement was an added element to the Baltimore County Cross Country Championships; along with tough winds and freezing cold. While Dulaney High School defended both the girl's and boy's team titles, for once in a long while it was exciting to wait for the announcement of the results to see who was victorious.
This writer has been to every level of cross country meets for 20 years: from high school league meets to the Kinney Footlocker Championships (for those who remember its origins), from college invitationals and dual meets to conference championships, from the NCAA Championships to the USA Cross Country Championships (Pat Porter winning 9 straight titles). After running around the course like a madman trying to get a quick (and I mean quick) view of the leaders and maybe 2-3 members of the favorite team; the culmination of all your hard work, dedication to the sport and perseverance against the elements was hearing the final results announced and discovering if your prediction was correct. While the runners are walking around in a daze after the race trying to figure out why they do this to themselves week after week; those brave souls who come to support and watch have one reward……..to see if their team had won or lost.
Since 1989, the Baltimore County championship titles have never really been in question. Dulaney has an excellent and storied XC program equal to Eleanor Roosevelt's T&F program or NY's Saratoga Springs XC program. Year after year they have quality runners up front, much needed depth and creditable coaching. The Lady Lion Girl's team has won 16 consecutive titles while the Boy's team has won 7 of the last 8 team titles. Thus, those who came to see those meets were cheated of their reward because after seeing Dulaney's five scorers place in the top 15, there was no build up or excitement before the results announcements. In fairness to Dulaney, Perry Hall High School has also been responsible for cheating faithful XC fans for at least 10 years. Perry Hall dominated Baltimore County XC, indoor & outdoor T&F for that long even winning the triple crown several times. Before 1998, Perry Hall's Boys team had a long streak of consecutive XC titles but then came controversy.
In 1998, Perry Hall was bidding for another XC title. Dulaney was in hot pursuit. Held at Hereford, the top 3 finishers containing PH's top two runners were disqualified for "not running around a cone". Despite the disqualification, Perry Hall only lost the team title to Dulaney by less than 3 points. Some people believe it is because of this incident that Perry Hall's longtime coach Jerry Martin retired from coaching. In 1999, the county championships held high drama as Perry Hall was determined to right the wrong that had been done to them in 98 and win one last title for their beloved coach. Standing there waiting for the final results was one of the most exciting moments I have enjoyed in supporting Baltimore County XC. I can still hear the screams & cheers of elation and triumph as Dulaney was announced as placing 2nd and Perry Hall realizing they had accomplished their goal. Once again that announcement held us all at bay. And without knowing it, an new era had begun as Dulaney has won every XC boys' county team title since then.
While there remains the unknown excitement of not knowing who will win the individual title (though recently Woodlawn's Dwight Parker is ruining that too); the true essence of cross country is TEAM. One person can not win a team title and that's why the teams line up to race.
Dulaney's boys squad avoided an upset bid by Towson in winning its sixth straight title and seventh in the past eight years. But you couldn't figure that out from watching the race. While Dulaney's top runners did their jobs, their 3rd, 4th and 5th men did nothing to ease their coaches' anxiety. Towson did a great job of pack running by placing their top 5 in front Dulaney's 5th man. If he wasn't the meet director, Towson coach Ed Faya could have almost enjoyed that fact for a few minutes. Hereford's team also ran great as they too put their 5 scorers in before Dulaney's 5th man. In fact, during the last 400 meters in the race, Hereford's 3, 4 & 5th men were directly in front of Dulaney's 3rd man John Clasing. I only wish I could have been next to Dulaney Coach Chad Boyle as Clasing summoned a tremendous effort to catch 2 of the 3 Hereford runners. This seesaw battle was great to see and something the fans, parents & supporters all came to see. Once again the announcement of the results held some excitement and anticipation.
Special shout outs to Dulaney's five scorers: Vince Walsh (second, 16:40.5), Matthew Bond (fourth, 17:00.3), John Clasing (19th, 17:57.7), Ben Wolfe (21st, 17:58.8) and Alex Vasquez (34th, 18:23.1). I know these young men didn't want their team's winning streak to be stopped on their watch and ran yesterday with a lot of heart. But this meet speaks volumes for the state of cross country in Baltimore County. The top 3 teams were only separated by 11 points. Towson and Hereford's places could have easily been reversed with 1 place. The difference of :3 seconds only separated the two team's average times. Perry Hall's team also ran well fending off both Catonsville and Woodlawn.
The girl's team title race was even better. Dulaney placed 3 in the top 10 as well as Hereford placing their top 3 in the top 10. Thus, the title was decided by their 4th & 5th runners. What better way to decide the best "team" then to have it determined by those who don't get their names mentioned very often? Well, hats off to Dulaney's Kate Askine (11th, 20:03) and Julie Krammer (22nd, 21:03) as well as Hereford's Sarah Randall (15th, 20:19) and Erica Stegman (18th, 20:37). Only six points separated the Lady Lions from being upset by a very good Hereford team. As the top 10 overall finishers lined up for their awards, you had to wonder "Who won?" I just wished the PA system had failed when the meet director was announcing the 2nd place team score. It would have made for more drama.
But that's not that best part of yesterday's meet. Hereford's team consists of only one senior as the majority of their team is sophomores and freshmen. So, we have two more years of a great battle between the two rivals. Dulaney too has only two seniors. And let us not forget the sigh of relief heard by Franklin's Michelle Donadio who finally won one. Though people may not agree with her "run till I die" strategy, it worked for her this time. Congratulations Michelle and Dwight Parker for their victories.
In a sport that doesn't get a lot of media attention or coverage, Baltimore County is doing its part to keep the interest alive. A special thanks to all those coaches who give their time & effort as a labor of love. Because that is what you have to have, love for this sport that is unforgiving and unglamorous.
By T.S. Garp