In the world of Maryland high school cross country, Anne Arundel County is looking great again.
The Broadneck boys and the Severna Park girls won state titles last year, and both should challenge again this fall. Broadneck boasts defending state champion Matt Centrowitz, who ran a record-setting 16:01 at states in the Class 4A race last year, and sophomore Kelsey Hill is back for Severna Park. South River?s boys, led by Chris Moody, could challenge Broadneck, while the Broadneck girls, led by Tait Woodward, will be hot on Severna Park?s heels.
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In Howard County, the Atholton boys, led by all-state performer Andrew Revelle, the two-time reigning 2A state champion, will look to supplant Wilde Lake, the defending 3A state champions. The Wildecats will be without 2006 graduate Travis Boccher, another all-state first-team selection in 2005, but they have more than enough talent to contend, including J.P. Allera , who took fourth at states last year.
On the girls side, sophomore Katie Harman, who placed second at last year?s 3A state meet, leads a solid River Hill squad that placed second to Severna Park in the 3A a year ago. Atholton senior Alison Smith is looking to become a four-year county champion. Smith, who joined River Hill?s Lee McDuff as the only female runners to capture three county titles, raced her way to a second straight 2A state crown in 2005.
The Dulaney boys and girls squads look poised to sweep the Baltimore County titles again this fall. The girls, in particular, are chock-full of talent, including Emma Larkin. Dulaney?s main competition will come from Towson and Hereford, which came up five points short last year and boasts Kristen Milloy, a returning regional champion who grabbed third at the 2A state meet.
Woodlawn?s Dwight Parker is the boys runner to beat in Baltimore County and perhaps the state. He won county and regional titles in 2005 but missed states because of a family vacation.
In Carroll County, converted soccer player Katie Hursey of North Carroll returns to defend her county, regional and 3A state titles. She set a state record in 19:13 at states. Jared Welsh of Francis Scott Key returns as the county?s defending boys champion. Liberty, the two-time defending boys team champs, however, have perhaps the county?s best overall team.
The same can be said for the C. Milton Wright girls, who have the depth to win the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference. Junior Sara Bailey, the reigning 4A North Region champion, will pace that effort.
In Baltimore City, the Digital Harbor girls team placed second at the 2005 1A state meet and should be the top city team again.
In the private sector, Ryan Stasiowski returns to lead Loyola to a second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title. Brittany Furst will anchor a run by John Carroll for the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland crown. She won the individual title a year ago.
