2022 Top 3 Teams:Â Severna Park, Churchill, Whitman
2022 Top 5 Individuals: Ty Dailey (Dulaney), Frederick Alfonso-Frank (Blair), Noah Fisher (RM), Chris Nunn (Sev Park), Nikhil Manickam (Dulaney)
2021 Top 3 Teams: Sev Park, Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill
2021 Top 5 Individuals:Â Luke Coffin (Annapolis), Tucker Sangster (Arundel), Andrew Schell (WJ), James Glebocki (Sev Park), Ty Dailey (Dulaney)
The Course
The State Meet course is run on the infamous Bull Run Course. The dip defines the course and it’s universally known throughout the running community. The course is certainly challenging, but it rewards toughness and durability. Depending upon one’s definition of a hill, there are at least eleven hills on the course-some more challenging than others. The second mile is by far the most challenging mile in the course with two steep, challenging hills. The second hill after the soccer field, which demarcates the half way point, is arguably the most challenging part of the course.
One is advised to commit to the race early on, but to be advised a faster than average first mile will result in a very long second mile. The final mile is actually a net downhill with a set of rolling hills on the back side of the course. This leads to the return to the dip.
One factor with racing this course in November versus September is that the weather is significantly different. One doesn’t need to contend with a scorching sun, but precipitation may not evaporate, which can lead to certain areas being slick, in particular the ninety degree turn leading to the return to the dip. Another nuance in the change of seasons is that one can see up the dip from a distance away, and one can also see the runners make their way to the dip following the second mile.
A full course preview is below.
The Teams
The 4A Battle seems to be wide open. There are quite a few teams looking to make a podium spot, but this is wide open enough that one team on one day might be fifth and the next day first. Both Whitman and Churchill have been on the podium the past two years, and both hope this is their year.
Urbana has had a strong season. The Hawks have been consistent all season from their opener at Hood all the way to the post season. They had a very convincing win at Frederick County championships, and they snuck out a win at 4A West, the deepest region in the state. Looking to Saturday their head coach Jackie Suarez says, “For this Saturday, we are going in with the same goals we’ve had all season “run for each other with all our hearts and ‘hold the rope’ to the very end.†If we can do that, then let the chips fall where they may – you never know what can happen. It’s the first time we’ve made it to states as a team since switching back to 4A in 2017, so no matter the result this weekend, our boys have done something special this year and I am so proud of them.”
Another team in contention is Churchill. They have also had a consistent season, being near the top. They were fourth at Barnhart and fifth at MDXC. In the post-season, in a large field, they were third at MOCO champs; however, at regions, they finished a close second to Urbana and beat out one of their top competitors in Whitman.
Whitman is another team looking to take home a state title. The Vikings have been moving up this season. They were fourth at top of the hill invite, ninth at Barnhart, and ninth at MDXC, but they have closed the gap to their closest competitors. Whitman was second at MOCO champs, and they were third at regionals, both of which were tight battles with their 4A antagonists. On Whitman’s expectations for Saturday, coach Ben Thoms says, “We expect our boys to go out there and compete. If they do what we know they can do, we should be in contention for a team title. We also understand that there are probably 6-8 teams capable of winning, so we need to bring our A game if we want to place well.”
Other teams that should not be overlooked include: Northwood (4A South Champs), Crofton (4A East Region Champs), and Leonardtown (2nd 4A East). Einstein and Blair could put themselves in the mix on the right day.
The Individuals
James Partlow (TJ), Alejandro Berrio (Seneca Valley), Mateo-Gross Slovinsky (WW), Alex Risso (Blair), Kieran White (parkdale), Henry Nichols (Northwood)
2022 State Meet Video
Course Preview
https://chasingthestandard.com/2023/09/bull-run-course-preview-2/