Coach of Year
Jim Shank, Westminster: Who better to name as the county's top coach than the man most instrumental in the return of indoor track to county schools? The sport had been a county staple until 1981, when injuries and a shortage of coaches forced its removal from the slate. For years, Carroll was the only area county without the winter sport. Finally, last year, hoping to give his teams better preparation for their spring season, as well as provide another choice for athletes not cut out for basketball or wrestling, Shank pushed for the sport's reinstatement and was granted permission from school and county officials to start a pilot program. "I sort of planted a seed in their heads, and they got behind the idea," said Shank, who had high praise for the effort of Westminster's administration. Once county officially approved the return of indoor track last fall, other county schools quickly followed joined the mix, this winter competing in their first season in nearly two decades. Oh, by the way, Shank's boys and girls teams both were strong, winning Central Maryland Conference titles and finishing among the top 10 at the Class 3A-4A state meet.
Boys Top Performer
Jason Santucci, senior, Westminster: Santucci, the two-time defending All-Metro Runner of the Year in cross country, continued his reign as the county's premier distance standout, winning Central Maryland Conference (4 minutes 29 seconds) and Class 3A-4A East region (4: 39.5) titles in the 1,600 meters and winning a region crown in the 3,200 (10: 08.6). He was runner-up in both the 1,600 at the Class 3A-4A state meet (4: 34.9), and 3,200 at the CMC meet (10: 03.4) and won both events at the Carroll Indoor Invitational. Among his other credits this season were fifth-place finishes in the state 3,200 (10: 14.2) and Dickinson Invitational 1,600 (4: 37.61), and legs on the Owls' second-place 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams at the CMC meet.
The boys team
Troy Borneman, sophomore, Westminster: He established himself as one of the area's premier high jumpers this winter. After winning the Central Maryland Conference championship (5 feet 10 inches), he went on to take fifth at the Class 3A-4A East regional (6-0) and ninth at the Class 3A-4A state meet (5-8), helping the Owls to a fifth-place team finish.
Jared Craig, junior, Westminster: He was the county's top sprinter and hurdler, capturing Central Maryland Conference championships in both the 55 (6.8 seconds) and high hurdles (7.7) and winning both events at the Carroll Indoor Invitational. He took runner-up in both the CMC high jump (5-10) and Class 3A-4A East region hurdles.
Matt Doarnberger, senior, North Carroll: He excelled in the high jump in his first and last indoor season, finishing as Class 3A-2A Central regional runner-up (5-6) before tying for seventh place at the Class 3A-2A state championships (5-6).
Jim Garrett, senior, Westminster: As long sprinters go, Garrett was one of the area's best this winter. He took third at the Central Maryland Conference meet in the 300 (38.5) before placing 15th in the Class 3A-4A East regional (41.0). He ran the 300 in 38.0 earlier in the season.
Andy Kuchera, sophomore, Westminster: Kuchera was one of the area's premier pole vaulters, finishing third at the Central Maryland Conference meet (10-6) and fourth at both the Class 3A-4A East regional (10-6) and Class 3A-4A state meet (11-0), helping the Owls to a fifth-place finish.
Chris McDonald, senior, South Carroll: This senior was a middle-distance standout for the Cavaliers. He finished third in the Class 2A-3A Central regional 800 (2: 11.7) before taking 11th in the 800 at the Class 2A-3A state championships (2: 09.9).
Bobby Mead, sophomore, South Carroll: Mead recovered from nagging injuries suffered during cross country last fall to have a stellar sophomore season. After running a 4: 38 mile at the Central Maryland Conference meet, he went on to take fourth in the 1,600 at the Class 2A-3A Central (4: 52.1) and ninth in that event at the Class 2A-3A state meet (4: 49.7).
Ken Miller, senior, Francis Scott Key: One of the area's premier shot putters, Miller's second-place heave of 43-9 at the Class 1A-2A West regional was the longest by any county competitor this season. The senior also won the Monocacy Valley Athletic League championship (40-11.5), took second at the Carroll Indoor Invitational and took fifth at the Class 1A-2A state meet (41-7.5).
Jesse O'Connell, junior, Westminster: O'Connell stood out in three events for the Owls, winning a Class 3A-4A state championship in the 800 (2: 03.6) after winning Central Maryland Conference titles in the 500 (1: 00.5) and 800 (2: 03.8) and winning the 1,600 at the Carroll Indoor Invitational. He also took fifth and seventh, respectively, at the Class 3A-4A East region 500 (1: 11.7) and 800 (2: 07.9).
Kevin Pool, sophomore, Westminster: The sophomore served as a nice compliment to boys top performer Jason Santucci in the 3,200. He finished fourth in the event at the Class 3A-4A East regional (10: 38.6) and ninth at the Class 3A-4A championships (10: 38.6).
Mike Replogle, senior, Francis Scott Key: The senior stepped into the lead role for the Eagles this winter, winning a championship in the 800 at the Monocacy Valley Athletic League (2: 07.1) before taking fourth at the Class 1A-2A West regional (2: 11.5) and fifth at the Class 1A-2A state championships (2: 07.9).
Girls Top Performer
Kiara Adams, junior, Westminster: Few in Carroll County have ever dominated an event more than Adams, who has shown the potential to be one of the top shot putters not just in Maryland, but in the nation. She won championships at the Carroll Indoor Invitational, Central Maryland Conference, Class 3A-4A East regional (37 feet, 6 1/2 inches) and Class 3A-4A state (36-1) meets, and was second in the Dickinson Invitational (37-11). She improved her throws an average of 2-to-3 feet from last season after taking up the sport of Olympic weight lifting and has hit 40 feet in practice. Adams should continue to improve, and will be hard to beat come spring.
The girls team
Tara Callegary, freshman, Westminster: She showed loads of potential in her rookie indoor season, making her mark at 3,200 meters. After racing to a runner-up finish at the Central Maryland Conference meet (12 minutes, 19.1 seconds), she placed third at the Class 3A-4A East regional (12: 30.9) and ninth at the Class 3A-4A state championships (12: 19.8).
Gwen Gilmore, senior, Liberty: One of the area's top distance runners, she continued her standout career with the Lions this winter. She placed sixth in the 800 at the Class 2A-3A Central regional (2: 46.6) before finishing 11th in the 1,600 (5: 57.6) and 14th in the 800 (2: 40.7) at the Class 2A-3A state championships.
Emily Hester, junior, Westminster: The second half of the Owls' powerful one-two punch in the shot put, along with Kiara Adams, Hester took second at the Central Maryland Conference meet (34-4 1/2), fourth at the Class 3A-4A East regional (33-9) and third at the Class 3A-4A state championships (33-11).
Mandy Komar, junior, Westminster: A standout distance runner, Komar won the 800 at the Carroll Indoor Invitational before taking third in that event in the Central Maryland Conference (2: 33.2) and seventh at the Class 3A-4A East regional. She also excelled in the 1,600, finishing third in the CMC before being runner-up in the regional (5: 32.7).
Anna Korovina, junior, North Carroll: In her first season of shot putting, Korovina was one of the county's best, improving each meet before finishing third at the Central Maryland Conference meet, first in the Class 2A-3A Central regional (11-3 1/2) and fifth at the Class 2A-3A state championships (33-6). She showed her versatility in the regional by also placing fourth in the 55 hurdles (9.5 seconds).
Jackie Kram, junior, Francis Scott Key: Competing in the unusual combination of sprinting and shot putting, Kram excelled. In the 55, she took second at the Monocacy Valley Athletic League meet (7.8) before winning a Class 1A-2A West region title (7.4) an taking sixth at the Class 1A-2A state meet. In the shot, she took sixth in the MVAL (30-6 1/2), fourth in the region and eighth in the state.
Becky Kuchera, senior, Westminster: The versatile senior excelled in two events. She captured a Central Maryland Conference championship in the high jump (5-0) and went on to finish tied for fifth in the Class 3A-4A East regional and ninth at the Class 3A-4A state meet. She also was a standout pole vaulter, tying for fifth in the region and tying for seventh in the state (7-6).
Colleen Lawson, sophomore, North Carroll: roll: Lawson played a key role as the Panthers claimed the Class 2A-3A Central region championship, winning the 1,600 (5: 42.5) and 3,200 (12: 46.5), and taking fifth in the 800 (2: 44.4). She was also Central Maryland Conference champion in the 3,200 (12: 10.7) and finished third in that event at the Class 2A-3A state meet.
Katie Riley, freshman, North Carroll: She may be just a freshman, but Riley is already one of the area's premier sprinters. At the Central Maryland Conference meet, she took second in the 55 hurdles (9.8) and third in both the 55 (7.6) and high jump (4-8). She then went on to second- and seventh-place finishes, respectively, in the Class 2A-3A Central region hurdles (9.0) and high jump (4-4). She was fourth in the 55 at the Dickinson Invitational (7.58).
Jody Sharpe, senior, South Carroll: Sharpe was one of the area's premier hurdlers for the Cavaliers this winter. After winning the Central Maryland Conference title in the 55 hurdles (9.1), the same time earned third at regionals.
Final track polls
Boys top 10
(Final three-way tie)
1. Old Mill
Mount St. Joseph
Woodlawn
4. Oakland Mills
5. River Hill
6. Westminster
7. Arundel
8. Mervo
9. Meade
10. Dulaney
Other teams considered: North County, Annapolis, Calvert Hall, Broadneck, Milford Mill.
Girls top 10
(Final two-way tie)
1. (tie) Dulaney
Western
3. Annapolis
4. Westminster
5. Long Reach
6. Glen Burnie
7. River Hall
8. Glenelg
9. Arundel
10. Archbishop Spalding
Other teams considered: Perry Hall, North Carroll, Catholic, Mount Hebron, Old Mill.
How the poll was conducted: The Baltimore Sun poll was compiled weekly by the sports staff after observing events and consulting with coaches.
Team Selection
The Baltimore Sun 1998-99 All-Carroll County boys and girls indoor track and field teams were selected by Rich Scherr after consulting with The Sun staff and area coaches.
Pub Date: 3/09/99