For a runner as talented as Broadneck High senior Matt Centrowitz, competition often comes from only one person: himself.
On Saturday during the Maryland state cross-country championships at Hereford High, Centrowitz jumped out to a commanding lead in the Class 4A boys race to win his third straight state title. But to him, it wasn?t enough. Centrowitz had his sights sent on breaking the three-mile course record of 16:00.
“Aside from winning states as an individual team, that was a goal,” said Centrowitz, who was one second off the state record with his run last year.
On Saturday, he slipped coming around the final turn with 100 yards to go, the first time he had taken a spill on the challenging Hereford course. In the final 25 yards, he could see the clock ticking away, but he kept charging despite knowing that his slip cost him the state record. As a team, Broadneck finished 11th. “I tried staying positive throughout,” Centrowitz said.
He finished the race in 16:02 ? good for a fourth-place tie on the course record list. He now owns two of the top five times at Hereford.
Now, he?s bound for the University of Oregon, where his father was an All-American for a Ducks program that boasted Olympian and running legend Steve Prefontaine.
“He didn?t put any influence on my decision,” Centrowitz said of his father. “But when I went to Oregon, he was quacking it up with me.”
While Centrowitz?s performance highlighted the boys races, the 3A girls championship was a heated battle. Mount Hebron?s Liz McCarter avenged previous losses to North Carroll?s Katie Hursey, taking the title in 19:49.
McCarter fell about 20 yards from the finish and climbed back upon her visibly exhausted legs to stumble across the finish, just ahead of Hursey.
Wilde Lake?s boys won the 3A title with 36 points, the best score in any classification, boys or girls.
In the 2A, Francis Scott Key?s boys won with 51 points, while Howard?s girls won with 45. Both 2A individual champs came from Atholton ? seniors Andrew Revelle (16:16) and Alison Smith (19:30).
2006 State XC champs
1A
Boys » Clear Spring
Girls » Smithsburg
2A
Boys » Francis Scott Key
Girls » Howard
3A
Boys » Wilde Lake
Girls » Severna Park
4A
Boys » Quince Orchard
Girls » Eleanor Roosevelt
