Calvert Hall indoor track three-peats for the second time since 2019
Mount St. Joseph edges Gilman for second-place at championship meet
by Nelson Coffin
A third-place finish during the regular indoor track and field season was in no way indicative of what Calvert Hall would unleash at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex on Friday in a successful bid to earn its second MIAA team three-peat since 2019.
The Cardinals (166.5 points) finished well ahead of runner-up Mount St. Joseph (99) and Gilman (86) to claim the program’s sixth title in the previous seven seasons under coach Scott Baker. McDonogh (57), Archbishop Curley (28), Archbishop Spalding (28), Annapolis Area Christian School (26), St. Paul’s (21), Loyola Blakefield (17) and Glenelg Country School (15) rounded out the top 10.
Baker said that his team “was a lot of fun,” while it was “weaker in some events than usual and stronger in some other events than usual.”
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Calvert Hall earned a slew of points in the middle and distance individual events by placing three runners in the top-five finishers in the 800, 1600 and 3200 after junior Max Miller claimed the 500 for the Cardinals. Lucas Archer (2nd), Kai Watkins (3rd) and Marco Carver (5th), made hay in the 800, Archer, JD Hughes and Ben Ghahhari went one, two, three in the 1600 and Hughes (1st), Kaden Omopariola (2nd) and Aidan Heinbaugh (5th) produced in the 3200.
The Cardinals also prevailed in the 4x400 (Arden Bell, Julian Kurlander, Leon Bryant IV and Miller) and 4x800 (Blake Larichiuta, Oliver Cobo, Blake Wancowicz and Jack Walsh) relays while nabbing second to McDonogh in the 4x200.
Senior Joshua Reeves (pole vault) and freshman Cardell Beck (shot put) were the other Calvert Hall individual champs.
Mount St. Joe’s top performers were sophomores Demitrius Jackson (55 hurdles) and Trevor White (high jump) while seniors Kyle Rollins (55) and Austin McNair (triple jump) and sophomore CJ Davis (300) scored individual wins for McDonogh. Rollins joined CJ Davis, JA Stephens and Basil Oshegbo in winning the 4x200 for the Eagles.
The other individual running champ was Glenelg Country School junior Markus Thomas in the 800.
Loyola Blakefield senior Daniel McCormick prevailed in the long jump for the Dons.
Baker alluded to some challenges during the regular season that his team ultimately overcame.
“We had a lot happen throughout the year,” he said. “But the boys got better and better every week.
Baker added that his emphasis on being adequately prepared for the championship meet is key to the Cardinals’ success.
“It’s important to our team and coaches that our best performances are during the championship season and not wasted during the regular season,” he said.
Dominating in strong events and scoring in weaker ones helped Calvert Hall take another title by a handsome margin.
“This whole team approach makes us tough to beat, year in and year out, with a great group of guys and an even better great group of coaches,” Baker concluded.
Team Scores
1. Calvert Hall - 166.5
2. Mount St. Joseph - 99
3. Gilman - 85
4. McDonogh - 57
5t. Archbishop Curley - 28
5t. Archbishop Spalding - 28
7. Annapolis Area Christian - 26
8. St. Paul's - 21
9. Loyola Blakefield - 17
10. Glenelg Country - 15
11. John Carroll - 12
13. St. Frances - 7
14. St. Vincent Pallotti - 6
15. St. Mary's - 4.5