Baltimore County Girls Outdoor Track and Field Preview-2024
By:Â Joey Young jayou2@yahoo.com
The History:
2023 Championships – Hereford Girls continued their Baltimore County dominance last year with an 11.5 point victory over second place Western Tech. The Bulls only won 2 of the 18 events contested, but they exhibited exceptional depth to secure the title and continue their championship streak.
2023 Championship Top 5 Teams – Hereford (99.5), Western Tech (88), Overlea (66), Woodlawn (60), New Town (57)
2023 Individual State Champions –
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Girls 2A
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1600m Run – Temi Ariyo (Overlea)
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3200m Run – Temi Ariyo (Overlea)
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Girls 3A
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400m Dash – Nikiyah Williams (Woodlawn)
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Teams To Watch:
Hereford – The Hereford girls saw their indoor county championship streak end this year at the hands of Woodlawn. The Lady Bulls will certainly be prepared to defend their outdoor county streak. After sweeping the postseason in Cross Country (County, Region, State titles), Hereford overcame the county hiccup indoor to secure Region and State titles. Rebekka Hillier and Sylvia Snider will lead the strongest distance group in the county, while Isabella DeSantis and Eliza Fox lead a strong field event group. Senior Scarlett Seitz will be key in continuing the Bulls reign as she can score in the 400, 800 and High Jump.
New Town - The Titans look to build off a successful indoor season and are ready to challenge for the county title. Senior Kaylyn Johnson begins her final season with high expectations. A threat to win any sprint from 100m to 400m, she will need a big season for New Town to realize their potential. Junior Alyssia Quick remains a factor in the hurdles and high jump with a personal best of 5 feet 4 inches. Senior Nialah Mingo and transfer Olivia Fox will provide leadership and quality depth in the long sprints for the Titans. Looking to take the next step in their development are sophomores Summer Lane and Nuduro Davis and Seniors Kayla Turner, Cianne Mitchell.
Western Tech - The Wolverines finished runner up last outdoor to Hereford on their way to winning the 1A region and state title. They are back to add a county championship to their impressive resume. A unique program with no home track, Western Tech continues to produce scorers across all event groups. Senior Tamunobelema Olungwe and Junior Ogechi Uzoukwu lead the Wolverines on the track as they are threats to win the 200m, 400m, hurdles and horizontal jumps. In the field, Fiyinfoluwa Popoola and Olivia Onwubuariri will be favorites to go 1-2 in the Shot Put and Discus. Popoola is the reigning Discus champion.
Woodlawn - The Warriors had a successful indoor season sweeping the postseason as county, region, and state champions, the first in program history. They are positioned to contend for the outdoor title, but must show they can adjust to the addition of five events from the indoor slate. Woodlawn must continue to build quality depth in order to be as successful outdoors. They will be led by seniors Nikiyah Williams and Arayana Ladson. The versatile duo combined for 3 state titles last spring (100m, 200m, 400m). Significant contributions will be expected from juniors Kenya Merritt and Kennedi Green as well as sophomores Destiny Coleman and Anjela Fitzhugh.
Athletes to Watch:
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Zion Brown – Overlea
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Brown finished 2nd overall in the 100m dash at counties. She added hurdling to her repertoire during the indoor season and will be a factor in all sprint and hurdle races.
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Destiny Coleman – Woodlawn
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The sophomore hurdler returns after winning the county championship in the 300m hurdles last spring. She dominated the 55m hurdles indoor setting new county and state records.
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Anjela Fitzhugh – Woodlawn
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Last spring, Fitzhugh finished 3rd at counties in the 100m and finished with the #2 overall time in the county. A key member of the Warriors sprint relays, expect Fitzhugh to push for significant points in 100m, 200m and 100m hurdles.
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Rebekka Hillier – Hereford
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The Towson University bound senior will look to finish an amazing career with the Bulls on top. Expect Hillier, the 1600m and 3200m indoor state champion, to continue her dominance along with teammate Snider.
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Kaylyn Johnson – New Town
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The Alabama A&M bound senior secured her first state championship indoors in the 300m dash. She returns at the top of the list of long sprinters in Baltimore County and will be the favorite to add 200m and 400m state championships to her resume.
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Arayana Ladson – Woodlawn
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The Florida A&M University bound senior had a successful indoor season, her first in Baltimore County. She won the 55m dash at counties, breaking the county record. Ladson’s versatility will make her the favorite in any race she competes in. With PR’s of 11.87 (100m), 24.40 (200m), 14.28 (100m Hurdles) and 18-3.75 (Long Jump) keep an eye out for Ladson.
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Kenya Merritt – Woodlawn
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Merritt, another top sprinter for the Warriors, has the ability to win any event she competes in. She finished indoor ranked #3 in 300m and #4 in 55m in the county. Expect Merritt to display her range in all sprinting events this spring.
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Tamunobelema Olungwe – Western Tech
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The Western Tech senior came on strong last Outdoor Season. Will be a key contributor for the deep Wolverines in the 200m, 400m and relays.
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Alyssia Quick – New Town
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The only girl in Baltimore County to clear 5 feet 4 inches in the girls High Jump last year, Quick is poised to soar to new heights. If New Town is to challenge for the title, Quick will need to display her diversity in the 100m and 300m hurdles as she is a favorite to medal in both.
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Mariam Sanni – Overlea
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Sanni took a back seat to All-State teammate Temi Ariyo last year, but not due to her performances. Expect her to be a factor in a deep 400m and 800m field this season.
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Fiyinfoluwa Popoola – Western Tech
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The reigning county champion in the Discus, look for Popoola to lead Western Tech’s field event efforts as they position themselves for the title.
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Scarlett Seitz – Hereford
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Seitz looks to continue to show her versatility for the Bulls. She will be a factor in the 400, 800, High Jump and relays for Hereford.
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Sylvia Snider – Hereford
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Snider, who led the Bulls to a Cross Country Championship sweep (counties, regions, states), will look to do the same for the Bulls on the track this season. She is the top returner in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m runs from last year’s county championships.
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Ogechi Uzoukwu – Western Tech
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Uzoukwu, a junior, exhibited great versatility for the Wolverines last year. She placed 2nd in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and 3rd and in the 100m Hurdles at last year’s championships. She will be heavily relied upon by Western Tech and compete with anyone in Maryland in these events.
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Nikiyah Williams – Woodlawn
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Williams enters her senior campaign as the reigning Maryland State Champion in the 400m and second runner-up in the 200m. She was tied as the highest scoring individual at counties last year with 30 points, and looks to contribute at a high level to lead her team on their quest to follow up their indoor title with an outdoor trophy.
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Others Considered:
Hannah Aledakoba – Milford Mill
Kim Cahill – Randallstown
Catherine Campbell – Dulaney
Nadira Cantey – Carver A&T
Isabella DeSantis – Hereford
Sophia Edington – Owings Mills
Olivia Fox – New Town
Taylor Garrett – Randallstown
Kailey Jamerson – Milford Mill
Ridley Lentz – Hereford
Aubree Lilly – Carver A&T
Alexandra Lohse – Towson
Oluwatunmishe Olunuga – Western Tech
Danielle Perez – Randallstown
Cecelia Van Lierop – Towson
Olivia Virago – Catonsville
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