Amanda White squared off yesterday against the only opponent that has given her much competition in three seasons of cross country: the clock.
She won, as usual. The Dulaney senior set a record in claiming her third straight individual title in the state cross country championships in Westminster.
White raced over the 3-mile course at Western Maryland College in 17 minutes, 18 seconds to better by 7 seconds the state meet record she set last year.
It was a fitting climax for White's career, which is probably the most distinguished in the 41 years the MPSSAA cross country competition has been held.
Not only did she win in record time -- by what may be the largest victory margin on record -- she also led her Dulaney girls to the Class 4A championship.
"That was really special for me and all of us," she said of the team accomplishment. "My first priority was the win, to help my team, not to get the record. Our main goal of the season was to win state."
Finishing second was teammate Kristen Friz, who crossed the line 1:37 after White.
The Lions, who returned the top five runners from last year's team that finished a close fourth in Class 3A, won the title easily.
zTC With Friz in second, Dishina Davis in 16th, Ashley Dorr in 20th and Patti Zahner in 26th, Dulaney scored 49 points and beat Quince Orchard by 60 points.
More than 850 runners, who had qualified in regional races a week earlier, competed yesterday. White was the only runner from Baltimore to claim an individual title.
Mike Mamo of Milford Mill, a state champion two years ago, endured a re-run of last year's race in finishing second in Class 1A.
The 5-foot-10 senior, who was idled for a month with shin splints and stress fractures, lost when unheralded Bobby Simmons of Joppatowne sprinted to a 16-second victory in 16:29.
Hereford came up with the top team finish in boys competition, second place in Class 2A. Paced by Bruce Lentz in fourth (16:58), the Bulls scored 98 points to finish eight behind Oakland Mills.
Towson, behind freshman Becky Foster, was third among 2A girls. Foster finished third in 20:34, and teammates Julie Caler and Meghan Stringer took eighth and 10th, respectively. Catonsville's Bridget Olp ran 19:41 in the 3A race to place fifth. Her team took 11th place.
In 4A, the Perry Hall boys had six finishers within a 45-second span to take third place. Chris Drumgoole was first among the Gators and 10th overall in 16:47.
Sophomore Megan Makowski placed fifth to lead the Perry Hall girls to 10th among 16 complete teams.
The meet was the first MPSSAA appearance for two Baltimore City schools, Western and Carver.
The Western girls finished eighth in 4A with Michelle Burrell leading the team in 14th place.
Carver, missing two of its top five runners, did not fare as well, finishing 17th among 20 teams.