Boys Coach of the Year

Brian Brown, Southern-Harwood: In just three years, Brown has transformed Southern's track program from a perennial Anne Arundel County doormat into a contender. Under his direction, Southern's boys muscled to second place in the county meet, holding off Class 4A powers Old Mill, Annapolis and Meade to claim second to North County. The Bulldogs were second in their Class 2A region and second again at states. "Three years ago, we would just show up at meets and try to improve our times," said Brown, a 1978 Annapolis High graduate. "This year, they knew what they were doing, and the kids were confident. They worked hard, and when they came up to me with aches and pains, I told them to work out anyway."

Performer of the Year

Joel Brown, Woodlawn, junior: Southern-Harwood coach Brian Brown paid Joel (no relation) the greatest compliment when he said: "I'd like to have tape of him running the hurdles so I can show my kids the way it is done." Brown's form is picture-perfect and his performance this spring was equally impressive. Brown went undefeated in both the 110-meter high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles, setting two state records and a Baltimore County mark. Brown's best effort in the 100 hurdles came in the Duke Invitational, in which he covered the distance in 13.9 seconds. His best time in the intermediate hurdles came while winning at states in 37.3 seconds. "He is a true student of the sport," said coach Mike Sye. "He studies the sport, knows it, and does everything you tell him."

The boys team

Joe Brent, Mount St. Joseph, senior: Brent was selected most valuable athlete at the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships after winning the triple jump (46-5 1/4 ) and the long jump (22-7 1/4 ). A consistent 6-2 high jumper, Brent set a meet record in the long jump at the Knights Invite after clearing 23-1 1/2 and broke a 14-year-old school triple jump record with a mark of 45-8 1/4 at Private School championships at McDonogh. The honor student will attempt to walk on next fall at North Carolina State.

Richard Bright, Hammond, senior: Bright won three gold medals at the state Class 1A meet, capturing titles in the 110 hurdles (15.93), 300 hurdles (41.29) and 800 relay (1: 33.5). At the Howard County meet, he was third in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 110 hurdles. He'll attend UMBC.

Wayne Brown, Archbishop Curley, senior: No runner in the MIAA has beaten Brown in the 100-meter dash in the last three years. This spring, he defended his 100 and 200 dash titles and added the 110 hurdles title to his repertory. He was named the MIAA's Most Outstanding Track Athlete for second consecutive season. also competed in the long and triple jumps for the Friars. Brown may attend Rutgers or St. Francis (Pa.) College.

Kyle Farmer, Oakland Mills, freshman: He was the only Howard County boys performer to win four gold medals at the state championships, taking titles in the 100 (11.3), 200 (22.4), 400 (49.56) and 1,600 relay (3: 31.57) to spur his team to the Class 1A title. At the county meet he finished second in the 100 (10.9).

Andrew Long, Oakland Mills, senior: He won state shot put and discus titles for the second straight season to lead his team to a state Class 1A championship. His state shot put (54-1 3/4 ) was the best overall in any classification, and his discus (154-8) was second-best overall. He's the only Oakland Mills athlete ever to win a state title in either event. Long broke his own county-meet discus record with a toss of 158-9, his third straight Howard County discus title, and also won his second straight county shot put title (52-4 3/4 ). During a tri-meet, he established new county records in the shot (57-7) and discus (161-1). The Eagle Scout holds the state indoor shot put record of 55-10, set last winter. He'll attend Maryland,

Eddie Mackell, North County, junior: This transfer student from Perry Hall broke into the Anne Arundel County spotlight at the Knights Invite by tying the record in the 100 dash (10.7) and broke records in the 200 (21.9) and 400 (48.5). He had a "down day" at counties, bowing to teammate Tyrone Powers in the 100 and 200 dashes. He rebounded to win both events at region before taking second in 100 and third in the 400 at states. "Eddie is a threat to win three titles next year," said coach Ed Harte.

Jeff McKelvin, Randallstown, senior: McKelvin, who is headed to VMI, emerged as state champion in the 110 hurdles, an event he had been focusing on all season. He took home three gold medals from his region meet, participating in the high hurdles, 200 dash and 400 relay. At the Baltimore County championships, he bowed only to Joel Brown of Woodlawn.

Demond Mullen, Southern-AA, senior: Mullen, who has received an academic scholarship to Dayton (Ohio) University, edged North County speedster Eddie Mackell to become Anne Arundel champ in the 400 and then won the same event at regions and states. He also ran the anchor leg of the Bulldogs' state champion 1,600 relay, shifting gears down the stretch to help hold off a runner from Surrattsville.

Eric Newby, Mervo, senior: Newby's best performance came at the Baltimore City championships, where he long jumped 24 feet, 4 inches and triple jumped 46-1 -- to win gold. Newby, who signed a national letter of intent with defending NCAA champion Arkansas, won the long jump and was second in the triple jump at regions and, despite being hampered by a hamstring injury, was second in the long jump at states.

Ryan Olkowski, Calvert Hall, senior: Olkowski turned in the metro area's best performance in the high jump this season, clearing 6-10 at the Maryland Private Schools championships. The 6-foot-3, 150-pound senior placed second in the triple and the long jumps as the Cardinals captured team titles at both the private school and MIAA championship meets. He cleared 6-9 to win the Mount St. Joseph Invitational and cleared 6-8 in a runner-up effort at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va.

Tony Pesce, Atholton, junior: He won the state Class 2A pole vault championship (13-6) with the second-best jump in any classification. He also captured the Howard County title by clearing 12-8.

Tyrone Powers, North County, senior: Powers surprised nearly everyone at the Anne Arundel County meet as he held off teammate Eddie Mackell to win the 100 and 200 dashes and finished third in the 400. The two reversed the order in the region meet with Mackell winning both events and Powers claiming the silver. At states, Powers took third in the 200 and settled for fifth in the 100 after one of his blocks slipped on his take-off. He was a huge reason why the Knights were able to win their second straight county title and first region crown.

Jon Shields, Randallstown, senior: Shields, a three-time region champ in the long jump, took home four gold medals from the region meet after winning the long jump, 400 dash, intermediate hurdles and running a leg of the Rams' winning 1,600 relay. The Coppin-bound senior captured a state title, the 300 hurdles.

Chris Smith, Long Reach: This repeat All-County performer won state titles in the long and triple jumps for the second straight season. Only this time, he broke a 17-year-old state record in the long jump by flying 24 feet, 4 inches. He recorded an excellent 46-8 3/4 in the state Class 2A triple jump. He also finished third in the state 100 (11.27), the fastest time by a Howard County runner in any classification. At the county meet he set a meet record in the long jump (22-8 1/4 ), won the triple jump (44-2 1/2 ), finished third in the 100 (11.0), anchored the first-place 400 relay (45.7) and won the meet's top award, The Iron Man. He was also The Sun's Howard County Player of the Year in basketball and a first-team All-County receiver in football. He will attend Maryland.

Derrick Stanfield, Milford Mill, junior: Stanfield closed out an already successful outdoor season by winning state and region titles in the 200 and 400 dashes and running a leg of the Millers' state champion 1,600 relay. "He was in third when he got the baton and first at the finish line," said Milford Mill coach Joe

Sargent. At the Baltimore County Championships, the junior won the 400 dash and was runner-up in the 200. His winning time of 47.86 in the 400 finals at UMBC was a Class 3A state record.

Jonathan Streat, Woodlawn, senior: Streat went undefeated this season in the 800 run, winning Baltimore County, region and state titles along the way. The Morgan State-bound middle distance runner also ran the anchor leg of the Warriors' third-place 3,200 relay at states and anchored the 1,600 relay unit that claimed second at states. "He always steps up for the big meet," said Coach Sye.

Victor Thillet, Old Mill, sophomore: Thillet, who plays soccer in the fall, proved once again this spring that he is one of the most talented distance runners around. The 5-foot-3, 112-pounder went undefeated at 3,200 meters, both indoors and out. In addition to winning the 3,200 at states, Thillet was third in the 1,600. At the Knights Invite, he won the 1,500 and 3,000 and broke the meet record in the 3,000. At the Meade Stampede, the sophomore won the 5,000-meter run by 40 seconds. "He does everything you ask, and then he goes out in competition and just keeps those legs pumping," said Old Mill coach Leon Walter. "He doesn't have a classic running style, but I haven't tried to fool with it because I am a great believer in the saying that 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' "

Seamus Whelton, Gilman, senior: This Princeton-bound harrier emerged as MIAA champ in both the 800 and 1,600 runs and ran a leg of the Greyhounds' winning 1,600 relay. At the Private School championships, Whelton won the 3,200 and ran a 50.9 second split on the winning 1,600 relay. "He had a foot injury all season, but he just kept going," said coach Johnnie Foreman. "He ran through the pain."

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1998 All-Metro track and field teams were were selected by the staff after consulting with area coaches.

Pub Date: 6/04/98