After winning the 2A-1A West boys? regional title Feb. 3, the Liberty High School indoor track squad has had to sit back and wait.
Winter weather has played havoc on other regional meets, including the 4A-3A event. But the Lions are using the break to their advantage, looking to avenge a second-place finish to Forestville in the 2006 state meet.
“I don?t think it hurt us,” Liberty coach Bob Ward said. Many of the Lions runners e-mailed Ward during last week?s string of winter weather-forced cancellations to keep him up to par with their training.
The drive behind that effort is the team?s desire to go out on top.
“I think the guys are really coming together well right now,” Ward said. “They?re healthy, they?re strong, and I think the regional championship reassured them that they can go after a state title. They?re more pumped than they were last year.”
Standing in the way of a Liberty state 2A-1A title will be Digital Harbor and Frederick Douglass of Prince George?s County.
Digital Harbor swept the 2A-1A Central region boys and girls titles earlier this month.
“Digital Harbor is one of the teams we?re watching,” Ward said. “We?ll see what happens, I think it?s between us, Digital Harbor and Douglass.”
Ward had a feeling that Digital Harbor and Douglass may be fighting for similar points in some of the middle-distance races. The fact that both schools are unfamiliar with the Lions may bode well for Ward?s group. While the Liberty veterans look to get the bad taste out of their mouths from a year ago, a number of runners will be going into the state meet for the first time, hoping to make a splash of their own.
Elsewhere, Marriotts Ridge could be in position for a good showing, after taking third in both at the 2A-1A East region meet.
In the 3A-2A meet, Annapolis, Hereford, Fallston and Mervo could make some noise.
The weather-postponed 3A-2A West regional meet will start today at 11 a.m. and the 4A-3A West and Central regional will start Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
STATE TRACK MEET
At Prince George?s Sports and Learning Complex
2A-1A » Today, 11 a.m.
4A-3A » Thursday, 4 p.m.
3A-2A » Friday, 4 p.m.
