Dulaney, Perry Hall and Woodlawn often have reigned as the indoor track powers in Baltimore County. And that should be the case once more this season, but not without an argument.
The three Class 4A schools should be strong once more in both boys and girls competition, but they likely will face challenges from the Catonsville girls and the Parkville boys.
Among the boys, defending county champion Perry Hall will use several members of its strong cross country team to help again. The Gators should pile up lots of points in the long- and middle-distance events.
Seniors Joe Leilich and Chris Marye, along with juniors Ryan Alessi and Chris Horodowicz and sophomore Jason Harle, will handle the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs for coach Jerry Martin.
Seniors Shawn Kelly and Drew Glorioso are set to run the 400, 500 and 800, along with juniors Charles Fisher and Omar Knight.
Returning state champion Dave Russell (senior) should give the Gators consistent 14-foot performances in the pole vault. Russell came in second outdoors last season.
Jason Wancowicz (senior) and junior Chaz DeGallford will be the shot putters, and senior Jason Johnson is penciled in at the high jump.
A lack of hurdlers and sprinters may hurt Perry Hall, and the big question remains whether the Gators have enough balance otherwise to overcome that.
Woodlawn seems much like Perry Hall -- strong in most areas but shaky in one. The Warriors, second in the county last year, look tough in the short and long sprints as well as some of the distance events, but field events are another story.
Coach Gerald Russell can use any one of a number of strong sprinters. The Warriors should pile up points in almost all of the --es.
Seniors Troy Thomas, Anthony Reid, Tyrone Capers and Micah Ramsuer plus junior Craig Thompson should carry much of the load. Woodlawn's prospects appear bright from the 55 all the way to the 500, and even in the 800.
Russell said he also has a group of juniors that can do the job in the short events. Albert Boyd and John Tucker will give the first group some help, as should senior Donta Bisbon.
The biggest concern for Russell is the team's weakness in the field events. The Warriors are painfully thin there. And so, as with Perry Hall, the team must wait and see if it has enough talent in other places to make up for its soft spots.
Dulaney will rely heavily on its strength in the distance events. Seniors Dave Carpenter (3,200) and Shawn Meehan (1,600), both in their fourth year on the team, also should help in the relays.
They'll receive help from junior Vince Sield (500), sophomore Tim Mechlinski (800) and freshman Shawn Sullivan (3,200). Each also will run on the 3,200 relay team.
The middle distances should be weaker, but sprints look better. Junior Dustin Smither and senior Ron Lucas will help with the 55 -- and 800 relay. Mark Iwanowski (high jump, 800 and 1,600 relays) and Wesley Leong (pole vault) also should give the Lions some points for coach John Britt.
Parkville is expected to rely on its tough cross country team for success this winter. The Knights won the county, took second in the region and fourth in the state meet.
Joe Smith should lead the way for Parkville. The junior, who won the county and region titles in cross country, will get help from senior Jeff Jenkins, juniors John Runner and Rob Gilman (a transfer from Calvert Hall) and two promising freshmen, Kevin Christopher and Jonathan Francis.
Junior Marcello Salles should lend a hand in the 300, 500 and 800. The depth will give the Knights a bunch of strong combinations for the relays.
Field events also help the Knights. Coach Don Wann should get some points from shot putter Dave Keller, a county champion last year.
On the girls side, in addition to the big three, Catonsville likely will cause trouble. Coach Jeff McDaniel is more than a little optimistic about the Comets' chances.
"We're a lot stronger this year," said McDaniel. "This may be one of the best teams I've ever coached."
And it starts with distance running. Sophomore Brigid O'Connell, who keeps getting better and better, took second in the state in cross country and fourth in the 3,200 last winter.
Senior Ann Giardina finished second in the state in the 800 and 1,600 and won the 800 at the county meet.
Sophomore Gina Panella should help. She finished 10th in the state in cross country, and McDaniel said she's coming into her own.
The middle-distance events also looks good as Carrie Hunt, who set a school record last week in the 300 (43.9), has recovered from the knee problems that plagued her last year. Sophomore Eden Rellihan and senior Keri Jacobs both should help with the sprints and middle distances.
Depth appears to be a strength for Catonsville, and the Comets should be in the fight for the Class 2A state crown. The Comets' biggest problem is defending champion Fairmont Heights.
Strong distance runners should pace Perry Hall. Led by Krissy Jost, this fall's state champion, the Gators will get distance help from senior Megan Makowski and junior Heather Edwards.
In the middle distances, junior Joanna Helm and seniors Jill Heckendorf and Kelly Williamson should have strong seasons.
Helm will run in the 300, 500, 800 and compete in the high jump. She broke the school record in the 300 last week. Heckendorf and Williamson are expected to go in both the 400 and 800.
In the sprints, juniors Dottie Hudson and Lisa Goddard should lead the way. Hudson also looks ready to help in the high jump for coach Pat Sokolski.
The Gators' biggest problem is the same as with the boys team -- a lack of proven sprinters. They'll need to overcome that to go very far.
Dulaney, much like Catonsville and Perry Hall, will lean heavily on the distance crew for success. The Lions are young -- with only four seniors -- but talented.
Sophomore Meghan White leads the Lions. She'll run the long distances and help out in the relays. Senior Erin Cecil, junior Suzanne Sclafani, freshman Marjorie Bollinger, sophomore Melissa Wilson and Bianca Jay also will help there.
Sprints are expected to be the biggest plus for Woodlawn. The Warriors should benefit from lots of experience there. Seniors Denise Horne, Treese Boyce and Erica Brice, along with junior Raquel Mable, should do well in the --es and some middle-distance events.
Senior Angela Simonson should give the Warriors points in the 800 and 1,600.
In the field events, Woodlawn hopes some of its freshmen develop quickly. Senior shot putter Tiffany Vandervall should help. She also will run in the 55 and 300.