MARYLAND STATE MEET

Walter Johnson Girls Edge Frederick By 1 Point For Class 4A Title; Einstein Wins Boys Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

At Hereford High, Thomas Johnson senior James Partlow continued his strong season, winning the 3-mile race at the Maryland state cross country championships Class 4A race in 15 minutes 39.3 seconds. His time was more than a minute faster than a year ago where he finished 11th.

Second place went to Tsedeke Jakovics of Old Mill was second in 15:45. 

In the girls 4A race, Frederick’s Caroline Gregory won the final in 18:30.71, holding off Leonardtown’s Elena Blodnikar (18:31.05). 

Partlow and Gregory produced the fastest times of the day for any classification.  

Both 4A team races came down to the wire. The Albert Einstein boys finished with 121 points to beat Winston Churchill (126 points). In girls 4A it was even closer, with Walter Johnson edging Frederick, 70-71.  

Towson repeated as the boys 3A state champs as senior Kieran Mischke led the way with a first-place finish in 15:50.10. Towson had five runners in the top 30. 

After winning the 4A title a year ago, the Severna Park girls dropped down to 3A where they easily won the title with 66 points, placing five runners in the top 27. Individually, Great Mills’ Carter Brotherton won in a blazing time of 18:33.65.

The 2A race for the team titles — boys and girls — came down to the wire. In the girls race, defending champion Hereford went 2-3 and had five in the top 25 to finish with 65 points and hold off Centennial (67 points). Taylor Colson of Century won the girls title in 18:51.54. 

In the boys race, Centennial scored 64 points to win, while Wilde lake was second (71 points). Junior Eric Penkala of Southern won the race in 15:47.80. 

Junior Gregory Schellberg led Liberty to a 1A team title as he won the race in 16:35. Liberty finished with four in the top seven. 

Smithsburg’s Cora Gentzel (19:43.05) and Michaela Gross (20:16.96) went 1-2 to lead Smithsburg to a 1A title. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 4A: Albert Einstein boys 121 points; Walter Johnson girls 70 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Towson boys 72 points; Severna Park girls 66 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Centennial boys 64 points; Hereford girls 65 points - RESULTS

Class 1A: Liberty boys 28 points; Smithsburg girls 69 points - RESULTS