Oakland Mills is favored to win its third straight county boys indoor track and field championship with Howard, Centennial and Atholton battling for second place.
Howard, Centennial and defending champion Hammond are expected to fight for the girls title.
Atholton Raiders
Here is a preview of each of the county teams: Boys coach Pat Saunderson hopes that excellent depth will make the Raiders one of the top teams. Last season Atholton finished third in the county, region and state meets.
Juniors Max Clifford and Jared Howard head the sprinters. Juniors Zach Tropf and Anthony Flegg lead the distance runners. Senior pole vaulter Ed Lebard and senior shot putter Adrian Valdes are other top performers on the 84-man squad.
The girls team, coached by Earl Lauer, figures to finish in the middle of the pack despite a strong turnout of 60.
"We have a lot of youth but should be pretty good in the relays," Lauer said. "We have more speed than usual for an Atholton team."
The top girls include: senior Kathryn Glasgow (middle distance), who was fourth in the county 800 meters last season; freshman Shonte Wicks (55 and 300 meters); senior Ammera El Sawi (high jump, hurdles, middle distance) and junior Janine Dauberman (middle distance).
Centennial Eagles
The boys team, coached by Al Dodds, finished second in the county, first in the region and third in the state last season, but has graduated three high jumpers, four distance runners, two sprinters and two shot putters.
But Dodds still has a flock of good middle- and long-distance runners, including junior Mike French, junior Brian Higgens, senior Luke Thomas and freshman Garick Hill.
He has a high jumper in Tom O'Connor whose best effort is 5 feet, 10 inches. Other top performers are senior pole vaulters Matt Helfrich and Peter Hawkes, sophomore hurdler Ben Cosgrove, and three sprinters -- seniors Peter Hawkes and Matt Imbach, and sophomore Dave Johnson.
"We'll finish in the top half of the teams," said Dodds. "Our middle distance is our strong point. Hopefully our sprint crew will be competitive."
The girls team, coached by Dale Huting, finished fourth in the county and third in the region and returns three strong performers.
Seniors Kari Fisher and Emily Ward will be tough in the sprints and junior Kris Meyer in middle distance.
"We have a good turnout of young distance and middle-distance runners and should be competitive but not overpowering," Huting said. "We need our sprinters to come through."
Glenelg Gladiators
Boys coach Roger Volrath has a young team with good possibilities in the relays.
Top performers include middle-distance runners Chris Selmer and Paul Bourg (senior) and junior pole vaulter Pat Tvarkunas, who has cleared 12 feet.
Girls coach Steve Ruckert has only two seniors but has a lot of young talent. The Gladiator girls finished second in the county last season.
His point scorers should include senior Lindsey Rupp (55 meters), freshman Beth Santilli (1,600), sophomore Carolyn Flowers (3,200), sophomore Katie Wise (shot put), sophomore Meghan Brown (500), junior Tori Ballantine (shot put), junior Tricia Leggett (800) and sophomore Stephanie Willet (500).
"We have a good turnout, so I'm cautiously optimistic," said Ruckert.
Hammond Golden Bears
Boys coach Pete DiMarco has a young team that is struggling with depth.
Top performers are senior Jason Lappen (high jump, 55 hurdles), junior Peter Lanisto (distance), senior Joe Filteau (distance) and sophomore John Wallace (800, 1,600). Lappen finished third in the state high jump last season.
Despite graduating state sprinting champion Kisha Jett, girls coach Pete Hughes thinks his team will do well again after winning county and state championships last season.
It was the Bears' first state title and third county title.
Senior Monica Stevens leads the way after finishing second in the county, region and state in the 55 hurdles, and fourth in the county 300. She'll also run the 55 sprint.
Senior Tiffany Murray finished third in the county 300 and runs sprints and relays.
Junior Becky Bays was county champ in the shot put.
Hughes thinks that freshman Jessica Shamoo "looks great" in the 1,600 and 800.
Others who can score points are sophomore Raquel Seda (hurdles), Thema Napier (sprints), sophomore Lindsey Kolesar (500), freshman Cindy Maxfield (800 and 1,600) and high jumpers Sonia Bows (junior), Rebecca Zingman (sophomore) and Allison Pflugrad (junior).
Howard Lions
First-year boys team coach Rich Jenkins thinks the Lions will finish in he middle of the pack because of their youth.
Sprints are Howard's strength with seniors Jason Stephens and Turrae Jones. Senior Shane Saunders (hurdles), sophomore Carroll Burley (shot) and junior Craig Calton (500) should be Howard's top performers.
The Lions girls team is one of the favorites along with Hammond and Centennial.
Girls coach Martin Goode, assisted by sprint coach Tony Holland, said the Lions look good in the sprints with seniors Kim Morehouse and Karmon Daniels, and juniors Tominka Howard and Alyssa Gamaldo.
Tominka Howard is a transfer from Wilde Lake and an outdoor Class 1A state champion in the 100 two years ago.
Melissa Williamson (high jump) is another strong performer. She has finished in the top three at states and has jumped 5-4.
The Lions, who have 45 girls, need to produce something in the distance events -- Goode's area of coaching expertise.
Mount Hebron Vikings
For the first time, boys coach Craig Chasse has senior Leonard Frieson, the team's best outdoor performer.
"He's points in the bank in the hurdles and high jumps," Chasse said.
Other potential scorers are junior Matt Sasser (pole vault), sophomore Robbie Graham (300) and senior Mike Tittsworth (sprints and shot put).
Girls coach Mark Agnew is pleased that the turnout is up from seven to 30 this season. He's optimistic about his 400 and 800 relays that will feature seniors Dana Jones, Danita Jones, Monica Dorsey and sophomore Jessica Kiracofe. That group set outdoor records in both events last spring.
Promising distance runners include junior Kathy Emerich and freshmen Casey McCormick and Carey Zinkand.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
Sam Singleton's boys team won its second straight county, region and state championships last season and is the preseason county favorite.
The Scorpions won't be as strong in sprints, but are solid in middle and long distance with state cross country champ Greg Curtis, junior Steve Petro and senior Bryan Drake.
Junior Kyle Walker is their top sprinter. Junior Kevin Rondon is favored to win the shot put. And junior Chris Franey should do well in the pole vault. Freshman Dan McGinnis should help in middle distance.
"We should have a lot of firsts but not as much depth," Singleton said.
The girls team, coached by Brian Winfield, is young but should be competitive.
The top performers are senior Victoria Moore (300, relays) and sophomores Ellyse Sams (sprinter), Lauren Drake (distance) and Dawn Strait (distance).
Wilde Lake Wildecats
Boys coach Erik Henlon has junior standout Faisal Hasan in middle and long distances, sophomore Mike Cunningham in sprints, senior captain Luke Watson in sprints and junior Ryan Goding in the 300.
Girls coach Charlie Shoemaker is pleased that senior Adelle Chenier has decided to run track instead of play basketball. Chenier is a sprinter and the state outdoor 200 champ.
Sophomore Nyjla Littlejohn also is a good sprinter and finished second in the state in the 300 hurdles outdoor.
Sophomore Brooke James, another former basketball player, is strong in the 800 and 1,600. She finished third in the state outdoor 800. "She's one to reckon with," Shoemaker said.