DyeStat

Western Maryland Prospects
at State Indoor Meets February 18-20

Western Maryland high schools have excellent prospects going into the state indoor track and field championships in Baltimore February 18-19-20. This article gives highlights on team and individual rankings.

Since fewer schools compete in indoor track, there are three divisions instead of four. Class 1A combines with 2A the same as before. In a change this year, however, the larger 2A schools move up to 3A and the larger 3A schools move up to 4A. This article refers to the three divisions as 2A, 3A, and 4A. See 1997 Indoor Classifications.

Listed below are capsule summaries of Western Maryland team prospects, along with individual athletes with the best chance to win gold medals based on their regional performances. An asterisk beside an event means a Western Maryland athlete is top ranked.

OK, we know that coaches will quickly say there are differences between surfaces at the regional meets, and some kids were or weren't pushed to qualify for the state meet. But the numbers from the tape and the timer are the only objective evidence we have for comparisons. So here we go.

2A Boys, 2A Girls, 3A Boys, 3A Girls, 4A Boys, 4A Girls

2A Boys

Team

Walkersville, Middletown, and Fort Hill will fight it out for the state championship, just as they did in the West region meet at Hagerstown February 7, but they will be joined by Atholton in a close four-way competition. DyeStat projected scoring of regional results gives Walkersville 51 points, Atholton 47.5, Middletown 47, and Fort Hill 43.5.

Individual

55 - Randy Hoffman (Sr-Smithsburg), 6.5, second ranked, one-tenth behind the top seed.
300 – Matt Covati (Sr-Middletown), 37.9, second ranked, 0.4 behind the top seed; Hoffman, 38.2.
500 – Chris Willis (Sr-Walkersville), 1:09.6, second ranked.
* 800 – Chris Willis, 2:04.1, top ranked; Bobby High (Sr-Fort Hill), 2:04.3, second.
* 1600 – Bobby High, 4:38.0, top ranked; John Normoyle (Sr-Middletown), 4:40.7, second; Oates (Sr-Boonsboro), 4:42.7, third.
* 3200 – Tim Mason (Jr-Clear Spring), 10:18.0, top ranked; Marty Hamilton (Sr-Middletown), 10:24.8, fourth.
55 Hurdles – Rick Orchard (Sr-Walkersville), 8.1, second ranked, 0.1 behind the leader.
* 800 Relay – Fort Hill, 1:36.8, top ranked; Smithsburg, 1:37.0, second.
* 1600 Relay – Middletown, 3:42.1, top ranked; Walkersville, 3:44.4, second.
* 3200 Relay – Walkersville, 8:33.8, top ranked; Fort Hill, 8:34.4, second.
High Jump – Derek Dye (Jr-Middletown), 6-3, second ranked, 1 inch behind the leader.
Pole Vault – Damian Kolbay, (Sr-Middletown), 12-6, third ranked.
Shot Put – Suter (Boonsboro), 46-8, second ranked.

2A Girls

Team

West region champion Catoctin has a good shot at the state championship but will have to catch East region winner Central, which has a 57-55 point lead in DyeStat projected scoring of regional results. Head to head battles in the sprints, hurdles, and relays will tell the tale.

Individual

55 – Kathy Messner (Jr-Catoctin), 7.3, third ranked, but only 0.1 behind the leader; Lori Primous (Fr-Smithsburg), 7.4, fifth ranked.
* 300 – Kathy Messner, 41.6, top ranked; Heather Jenkins (So-Smithsburg), 42.2, second.
800 – Liz Lowrie (So-Urbana), 2:29.4, second ranked; Kris Olsen (Sr-Catoctin), third.
1600 – Liz Lowrie, 5:25.9, second ranked, 1.6 behind the leader.
* 3200 – Liz Lowrie, 11:59.4, top ranked.
55 Hurdles – Erica McCann (Jr-South Hagerstown), 8.8, second ranked, 0.2 behind the leader; Jana Romlein (Sr-Catoctin), 8.9, fourth.
800 Relay – Smithsburg, 1:50.6, second ranked, 0.2 behind the leader; South Hagerstown, 1:52.1, third; Catoctin, 1:53.2, fourth.
1600 Relay – Smithsburg, 4:26.5, second ranked, 1.0 behind the leader; Catoctin, 4:30.3, fourth; Boonsboro, 4:30.6, fifth.
* 3200 Relay – Catoctin, 10:28.1, top ranked.
High Jump – Kathy Messner, 5-6, top ranked.
Pole Vault – Natalie Dye, (So-Middletown), 7-6, sixth ranked.
Shot Put – Joli Snyder (Sr-Fort Hill), 33-9.5, second ranked; Cheri Toms (Sr-Middletown), 33-1.5, third; Megan Marcantonio (Jr-Middletown), 32-7, fourth.

3A Boys

Team

Thomas Johnson is third ranked with 37.4 points in DyeStat projected scoring behind first ranked Centennial, 49.3 points, and Walter Johnson, 40. TJ, of Frederick, would be stronger if it had its 1600 meter relay team, which won the West region race, but was disqualified for running out of a lane. Linganore is fifth with 29.

Individual

500 – Justin Griffee (Sr-Thomas Johnson), 1:10.0, top ranked; Erik Necciai (Jr-Linganore), 1:10.4, second.
* 800 – Erik Necciai, 2:03.2, top ranked; Jason Stick (Sr-Thomas Johnson), 2:03.7, second.
1600 – Larry O’Hara (Sr-Thomas Johnson), 4:35.9, third, 3.1 behind the leader.
55 Hurdles – Hunter Cross (Jr-North Hagerstown), 7.9, second ranked, 0.3 behind the leader.
* 3200 Relay – Linganore, 8:29.0, top ranked.

3A Girls

Team

Thomas Johnson is second ranked in DyeStat projected scoring with 46 points, 11 behind the projected winner Damascus and just ahead of Wilde Lake’s 42.3. TJ may have trouble improving in the state because most of its points are coming from Lisa Lushbaugh and Jen Ford who are 1-2 in four events.

Individual

* 300 – Lisa Lushbaugh (So-Thomas Johnson), 42.2, top ranked; Amber Standifer (Jr-Linganore), 42.5, third.
500 – Lisa Lushbaugh, 1:22.9, second ranked.
800 – M Gotch (Linganore), 2:28.7, second ranked, 0.9 behind the leader.
* 1600 – Jen Ford (Sr-Thomas Johnson), 5:24.7, top ranked.
3200 – Jen Ford, 11:37.2, second ranked.
800 Relay – Linganore, 1:52.8, second ranked, 0.5 behind the leader.
* 1600 Relay – Thomas Johnson, 4:22.8, top ranked; Linganore, 4:24.4, third.
Shot Put – Nicole Roby (So-North Hagerstown), 34-1.25, second ranked, 1.75 inch behind the leader; Meagan Verdeyen (So-North Hagerstown), 32-6.25, fourth.

4A Boys

Team

Frederick, the only Western Maryland team in 4A, is 13^th ranked in DyeStat projected scoring.

Individual

* Shot Put – Alton McCallum (Sr-Frederick), 48-11.5, top ranked.

4A Girls

Team

Frederick’s West region champions are in a pack of six teams that figure to fight for second place behind perennial Prince George County power Eleanor Roosevelt, state winner in DyeStat projected scoring with 74 points. Oxon Hill is second with 42 points, followed by Old Mill 32.4, Dulaney 26, Frederick 25, Quince Orchard 24, and Western 22.5.

Individual

55 – Michelle Higginbottom (Sr-Frederick), 7.2, five-way tie for top rank.
300 – Michelle Higginbottom, 41.6, fourth, 1.6 behind the leader.
500 – Michelle Higginbottom, 1:20.9, fifth.
55 Hurdles – Mardy Przywarty, (Jr-Frederick), 8.6, second ranked, 0.1 behind the leader.
800 Relay – Frederick, 1:49.1, third ranked. -->

This Web site is maintained by DyeStat Track and Field
John Dye [email protected]
301-293-2601 (voice or fax), 11117 Church Hill Rd., Myersville MD 21773
Material Copyright 1998-1999