Cross country dazzles

Paterick Fitzgerald, Sports editor
November 17, 2016

It was by the slimmest of margins that the boys cross country team captured their second straight 4A state title.
The Lions, led by a sixth-place finish by junior Matt Owens in 16:34.65, defeated Severna Park by one point with a score of 97 at Hereford’s hilly course Nov. 12.
“People try to sprint up the hills. If you let them waste their energy, you can work that to your advantage,” Owens said.
The win comes after the team lost five top runners to graduation last year.
“Our win shows a great deal about the strength of our program,” head coach Chad Boyle said.
Severna Park was initially named the winner due to timing malfunctions. After the coaches worked with MD Timing LLC to correct the results, the Lions were declared state champions.
The other runners that scored were juniors Brian McCullough (ninth) and Connor Martin (21st), freshman Ethan Samels (27th) and sophomore Drew Dailey (34th). McCullough and Dailey both joined the team after playing soccer last fall.
“If you didn’t bring in other pieces from other areas, I think the team wouldn’t have been as good as it was this year,” McCullough said.
Senior Jessica Meek led the girls team to a fourth place finish with her time of 19:47.10.
“You have to learn how to race, but you also have to really learn how to run with pain,” Meek said.
Next, both squads prepare for Nike Cross Regionals Southeast Nov. 26 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.