WJ meet: PRs and a prom proposal

By Emily Young

Word Problem: A track is 400 meters in circumference. Coach Young has entered you into the 1600 meter run. How fast can you run each lap without dying before you cross the finish line? Be sure to account for such variables as wind speed, what you ate for lunch, the caliber of your competition, and how much sleep you got the night before last.

Suddenly the term mathlete has a whole new meaning.

Whether it's the 300 hurdles or the 2 mile, racing can be as challenging mentally as it is physically. Many of our new runners have recently and unexpectedly found themselves confronted with this unpleasant reality. Not only are they learning how to pace themselves, they're also learning to compete with the runners around them and to train their minds to ignore and overcome the pain taking over their bodies.

"One of the best things you can do as a young runner is to reflect on each race and think about what went well and what you could do better or differently next time," commented Coach Chad Young.

Like many of her fellow track rookies, Freshman Nora McUmber did just that.

"I think I could have run faster in the second lap of my 800, but I didn't know until after. I wasn't sure during the race, but now I know I could have," she reflected.

A number of new and experienced runners were able to translate their past racing lessons into success on Tuesday.

Sophomores Nolan Ebner and Peter Horton both ran their way to PRs against some tough WJ competition. Ebner finished third in the 800 in 2:06.9, almost 5 seconds faster than his previous best time of 2:11.62.

"A 5 second PR is huge in the 800," noted Young.

Horton also recorded an impressive PR in a hard-fought 3200 meter battle. Horton dropped his PR from 10:17.52 to 10:09.1 on his way to a third place finish in the event.

"Both Peter and Nolan are learning what they're capable of in a race, and they're running with a lot more confidence as a result. They're not afraid to put themselves up with the front pack, and they're hanging with guys who are some of the best runners in the state," said Young.

The girls 4x8 team of Helen Webster, Ava Farrell, Laura Nakasaka, and Brittney Wade also drew on their past races as they attempted to run a qualifying time for Penn Relays. Their time of 9:41.8 is the fastest 4x8 time run by a B-CC girls team this year, but it remains to be seen if it will be fast enough to qualify them for Penn Relays. They will have another chance to improve on that time this weekend at the Cougar Relays.

Freshman Caroline Beakes repeated the racing strategy she utilized at last week's home meet as she again sat behind her competitor before overtaking her with a little over a lap to go. Beakes won the event in 11:49.9.

One of the most exciting races of the day was the boys 4x200 meter relay. Junior Max Braganza, Sophomore Carl Zambard, and Senior Luidgi Morton each ran strong 200 meter legs to maintain contact with the WJ team. Senior Weyimni Dorsu, the Baron's anchor, finished what his teammates started, surpassing his competitor on the home stretch as the boisterous crowd urged him along.

In the field events, particularly the throws, a mix of newcomers and returners made quite an impression.

Freshman Olea Rugumayo won the discus with a throw of 59' 3" in her first time ever competing in the event, and Freshman Haley Callicottt threw over 20 feet in the shot put in her second meet as a thrower.

"Our new throwers have so much natural talent and potential, and they're so into it and eager to work hard to improve," reported an enthused Coach Goidell.

Also throwing his way to a victory for B-CC was Senior Mike Nyarko who hurled the shot an impressive 37' 7".

Although neither Baron's team came away with a win, Junior Nick McGreivy triumphed in his effort to find a prom date. During a break in the races, McGreivy procured the microphone from the WJ coach and, in front of everyone

at the meet, asked Senior Ava Farrell to accompany him to (her) prom. Luckily for McGreivy, Farrell happily accepted his request.

"Flowers and Georgetown Cupcakes are always the way to a girl's heart," advised McGreivy, who presented Farrell with both as he posed the question.

A small Barons contingent will compete at the Couger Relays on Saturday at Northwest High School. All who are in town are invited to come show your support for the team. The meet begins at 9 AM.

First outdoor meet yields many top performances

By Emily Young

Wednesday's home meet, the first and only one this year, began with a brief senior recognition ceremony involving gifts, reminiscing, laughter, and a few tears from proud parents.

As the festivities wrapped up, the merriment quickly faded to nervous anticipation as the Barons prepared to face the small army of Churchill and Gaithersburg runners that had descended on the grounds of the B-CC athletic complex. Focused and determined, the Barons laced up their spikes and ran into battle.

Junior Eugenia Wilson claimed the first victory for the Lady Barons in the first event of the day, the 100 hurdles. Wilson attacked the hurdles and blazed past her competitors in a time of 17.1 seconds. She showed the same strength, coordination, and desire to win as she dominated the 300 hurdles later in the afternoon, winning in 51.1 seconds.

The 4x8 picked up where Wilson left off. Sophomore lacrosse player emeritus Helen Webster opened up a sizeable lead on the field with a 2:25 lead-off leg, and her teammates Senior Hallie Jester and Juniors Caroline Leuba and Laura Nakasaka followed suit, maintaining their hefty margin all the way to the finish line. Jester, Leuba, and Nakasaka would later team with Junior Brittney Wade to win the last event of the day, the 4x4 relay.

In addition to her shared 4x4 victory, Wade, the reigning Maryland State Indoor Champion in the 800 meters, also notched individual wins in the 400 and the 800 and finished second in the 200 to Gaithersburg's Alexia Mitchell.

Senior Ava Farrell also added to the team's tally with a first place finish in the mile. Sour memories of indoor states still lingering in her mind, Farrell showed no mercy as she fought for redemption and bested Churchill standout Lucy Srour to win the race in a time of 5:21.

Perhaps the most surprising win of the day came in the two mile where Freshman Caroline Beakes dropped an exciting and unexpected kick on Srour in the last 250 meters, shocking both the crowd and her competition. It turns out that the soft-spoken, innocent "Baby Beakes" is actually a fierce and calculating competitor, one who stealthily stalks her unsuspecting victims before launching a surprise attack to the finish line. Should she become a cross country convert in the fall, she will undoubtedly establish herself as a vital member of the Barons' squad.

The Lady Barons also picked up points in the field events. New B-CC coach Geoff Goidell has formed a cadre of promising throwers led by returner Ruth Orevba. Orevba, a junior, competed Thursday with her fellow throwers at Churchill due to a lack of adequate B-CC facilities. She launched the discus 63' 7" to earn fourth place in the event.

In the triple jump, mid-distance Sophomore Angie Peterson successfully executed the complex hop, skip, jump progression in her first competition as a jumper. Her mark of 27' 8" was good for third place.

The Lady Baron's efforts on the track and in the field events combined for team victories against both Churchill and Gaithersburng, bringing their divisional record to 2-0.

On the boys side, a number of solid performances suggested a promising future for the Barons.

The 4x1 relay of Sophomore Isaiah Bennett, Juniors Max Braganza and Marquel Lee, and Senior Luidgi Morton finished second to Gaithersburg and "showed more potential than any B-CC 4x1 has shown in years," according to Coach Gray.

The best individual performance in the sprints came from Senior Weyimni Dorsu who ran 11.5 seconds on his way to a second place finish.

The Horton brothers also showed exciting signs of things to come this season. Thomas, the elder Horton, delivered breakout performances in both the mile and the 800, recording PRs of 4:53 and 2:08 respectively after a frustrating year and a half injury-induced hiatus from competition. Young Peter Horton also ran personal bests in the mile (4:36) and the 800 (2:06), finishing second in both events.

Other notable performances for the distance and mid-distance squads included Senior Aidan Hennessey running under 5 minutes for the first time in the mile and the boys 4x8 finishing second to Churchill with impressive legs from Sophomores Nolan Ebner and Peter Horton.

In the field events, experienced triple jumpers Kenneth Norris and Max Braganza earned 3rd and 4th place finishes with jumps of 35' and 32' 11" respectively, and Junior distance runner Nick McGreivy showed his versatility by clearing 5' 2" and finishing third in his first meet as a high jumper.

Senior Mike Nyarko represented the Baron's in the throws on Thursday at Churchill. Under Goidell's tutelage, Nyarko sent the discus flying 115' 10" in a near-personal best throw.

Although the Barons' efforts were not enough to earn them a win against either team, they came away from the meet excited to improve and fulfill the potential that they showed glimpses of throughout the two days of competition.

The coaches and the team would like to thank all of the parents who volunteered at the meet. Your help with timing, field events, and snacks was invaluable to the meet's success. Thank you also to those athletes who worked field events and hurdle crew. It was truly a team effort by all involved, and we greatly appreciate your help.

We hope to see you Tuesday at Walter Johnson as we take on the Wildcats. Competition begins at 3:30.