OLD MILL BOYS TAKE CLASS 4A CENTRAL REGION INDOOR TRACK TITLE

by Aaron Gray

Before the indoor track season started, Old Mill High School coach Janet Limatta wondered who would lead her boys track team back to glory. It had been two years since the Patriots had won a title but she had a hunch who could spark the resurgence.

Senior Johnathan Watts filled that role at the Class 4A Central Region indoor track meet at the Baltimore Armory on Thursday. Watts won the 55-meter sprint in a time of 6.89 seconds and was a member of Old Mill's winning 4x200 relay team.

The Patriots finished first in the 14-team meet with 63 points followed by Arundel (54.75), Chesapeake (50), Severna Park (47) and Dulaney (44.75). The top four individual finishers in each event will advance to the Class 4A state meet on Feb. 16 at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center.

"I think he's been due," Limatta said about Watts. "I told him that he doesn't have to run against (Justin) Murdock this time so he was happy about that. He ran a relaxed 55 and he was smooth on the 4x200. He knew this was his opportunity."

Murdock, who runs for Class 3A Meade, took home top honors at last week's county championship. The Class 3A region meets will start Monday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center.

"I just wanted to come out here and help my team," said Watts, who pulled his groin muscle during the county championship finals and couldn't train until a few days before Thursday's meet. "It's been a while since Old Mill has won anything so we're coming back. I'm happy I won but I'm more excited about our team's overall performance."

Watts was the only individual winner Thursday but Shane Cox (55 dash), Malcolm Queen (300 dash), Matt Dell (800 run), Andrew Norwalt (1600 run) and Matt Crowe (1600 run) each qualified for the state meet. Along with the winning 4x200 relay team, the Patriots' 4x400 and 4x800 each finished fourth.

Severna Park's Andrew Finlayson was one of only two double winners at the meet. The cross-country standout took top honors in the 800 and 1600.

"For the mile, coach (Josh Alcombright) told me to cruise the first six laps," said Finlayson, who finished in a time of 4:48.30 and led the entire race. "They followed me for the first six and then I took off for the last two. It's been the same strategy all season."

During a grueling 800 race, Finlayson was pushed by Dulaney's Corey Hancock, who jumped out to an early lead.

"He passed me again on the last lap and I didn't know he was there but I had a good push at the end," said Finlayson, who crossed the finish line just ahead of Hancock in 2:09.70.

Arundel's Michael Phillips also had a standout performance with first-place finishes in the 500 run (1:14.46) and the 300 dash (39.17). Phillips' contribution along with Steve Pascals' second-place showing in the 500 run and a third- and fourth-place finish from Marcus Davis and Andrew Huddleston in the high jump paced the Wildcats' second-place team finish.

Arundel's 4x400 relay team also edged Parkville to take home top honors in a time of 3:49.30.

Freshman Matt Phipps was the lone winner for Chesapeake. He battled South River's John Brungot for a victory in the 3200 run (10:30.70). The pair swapped the lead several times but Phipps opened up his stride on the last lap and held off a late push from Brungot.

"I expected it to be back and forth because we never really got to race each other during the season," Phipps said. "The big strides at the end is just something I do. Everyone on the team always says I should be a sprinter. I couldn't tell if he was close so I just wanted to go hard until the end."

It was only the second time Phipps and most of the other runners from the county had competed at the Armory, known for slow times. He took a shared approach into his race.

"The Armory is so weird with times," Phipps said. "The important thing is to finish first and then worry about your time later. It's all about what place you finish."

Phipps was supported by Ron Goldstraw and Sean Kshimetski, who finished 2-3 in the pole vault. Goldstraw cleared 11 feet, 6 inches while Kshimetski tied Arundel's James Rush at 11 feet.

Chesapeake's Chris Galanakis  threw the shotput 40 feet and finished fourth, the highest placing for a county athlete in the event. The Cougars' 4x800 relay team took first while Kyle Fairchild (800 run) and William Neal (1600 run) each finished third in their respective races.

Brungot's second-place showing in the 3200 was the top finish for South River (19.75 points), which finished ninth. Andre Miller, of Glen Burnie, took fourth in the 500 run (1:18.83) and was the lone state qualifier for Glen Burnie (four points).

Check out Running Maryland for complete meet results.