2007 All-Metro Boys Cross Country Team

Sun Staff

December 12, 2007

Runner of the Year: Joey Thompson, Howard

The junior excelled in his first year running cross country. Thompson helped Howard win back-to-back state titles in outdoor track last year and quickly grew into one of the state's top distance runners. He became a strong cross country runner this year, hitting his stride in the postseason when he beat county rival Graham Bazell in the Howard County and Class 3A state championship meets with strong performances on tough-weather days. Bazell had beaten Thompson three times in the regular season and once more in the regionals, but Thompson came up big in the state meet, beating the Atholton star by 38 seconds. Bazell finished third.

First Team

Kyle Andrews, Oakland Mills

Andrews had a strong ending to the season and his Oakland Mills career. He finished third, behind Howard's Joey Thompson and Graham Bazell of Atholton, at the Howard County meet. After that, Andrews won the Class 2A South regional crown and then won the state meet in an impressive time of 16 minutes, 33 seconds.

The senior also ran well earlier in the year, finishing fifth in the Bull Run.

Graham Bazell, Atholton
Bazell won several big races (Bull Run,Howard County Invitational,Doc Jones Invitational) before losing to Joey Thompson at the Howard County title meet. Bazell, however, rebounded to beat Thompson the next week at the Class 3A East regional.

The junior concluded his season with a third-place finish at the state meet.

Mike Glassman, Loch Raven
He played a large role in helping Loch Raven pull off a surprise victory in the Baltimore County championship meet. Glassman ran well throughout the season and fared even better in the postseason. That's when the junior took second in the county meet, first in the Class 2A North regionals -- which Loch Raven won -- and second in the state meet in 17:07.

Glassman's consistent running gave the Raiders a spark throughout the season.

Sumanth Kuppali, Perry Hall
Kuppali ran well last year before injuries slowed him at the end. But he broke through in a big way this fall. Kuppali won the Baltimore County and Class 4A North regionals before taking fifth in the tough 4A state race.

The senior was consistent throughout the season after previously showing flashes of talent.

Arthur Leathers, Francis Scott Key
Leathers was one of the area's most consistent runners this fall.He won a number of big races (Run from the Lions' Den, Monocacy Valley Athletic League, Westminster Invitational and Carroll County championship) and then captured the Class 2A West regionals.

The senior took third in the state meet, as the Eagles finished second overall, just missing a second straight title.

Craig Morgan, River Hill
He was the top runner for River Hill, which captured the Class 2A state title. Morgan ran well in a number of tough races, closing out with a string of impressive performances in the Howard County (fifth), Class 2A South (second) and the state meets (second).

The junior's strong running anchored a River Hill team that relied heavily on competing as a pack.

Anthony Rowe, Calvert Hall
He was the backbone for the top-ranked Calvert Hall team. Running at No. 1, Rowe kept coming up big for the Cardinals. He took third in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship race and the private schools state meet. Rowe also finished second in the Spiked Shoe Invitational.

The senior's consistent performances were a big reason Calvert Hall proved to be unbeatable this season.

Jonathan Sham, Wilde Lake
Sham ran well for the Wildecats, who came on strong late in the season to win the Howard County and Class 3A East regional championships. Sham finished fourth in both the county and regional meets before taking sixth place in the state meet.

The junior helped Wilde Lake bounce back from a slow start to end the season on a good note and take second in the state meet.

Zach Sullivan, Archbishop Spalding
He ran well in a number of big races this season but saved his best performance for the MIAA championships. There, Sullivan pulled away at the end to win his biggest race of the fall.

The junior also had standout performances in the St. John's Prep Classic (second), Knights Invitational (third) and the private schools state championships (fifth), among others.

Second Team

Name, School, Year

John Brungot South River Senior
Andrew Finlayson Severna Park Junior
Zach Holz F.S. Key Senior
Pete Houlihan C.M. Wright Senior
Grisha Iventichev Friends Senior
Sean Kirby River Hill Junior
Derek Lange Wilde Lake Senior
Christian Smooth Annapolis Junior
Chris Swisko Calvert Hall Junior
Jordan White F.S. Key Senior

Honorable mention: Rico Borrero, Northeast; Mason Campbell, Towson; Teddy Carney, Oakland Mills; Danny Generette, Chesapeake-BC; Chris Mills, Western Tech; Brandon Ropiski, Bel Air; Brandon Sweeney, Loch Raven; Jay Thierer, Towson; Zach Weinstein, Mount Hebron; Jake Zamostny, South Carroll.

Note: Teams selected by Jeff Seidel after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches

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2007 All-Metro Boys Cross Country Team

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2007 All-Metro Boys Cross Country Team

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