Co-Performers of the Year
Shane Stroup
River Hill
Stroup finished first in every event he entered at the county, region and state level. A junior, he earned 40 of the Hawks' 48 points, more than enough to earn the Class 3A-2A team championship. He set state Class 3A records in winning the 500 meters (1:06.6), 800 (1:58.1) and 1,600 (4:21.5), and the 3,200 relay team set a record (8:14.0) regardless of classification. Stroup was one of nine runners invited to participate in the high school mile at the Millrose Games in New York. He finished eighth (4:24.18). He also ran at the Virginia Tech Invitational and had personal-best times in the 1,600 (4:16.62) and 500 (1:05.8). He recently finished fifth in the mile (4:18.56) at the Nike Indoor Classic at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.
Kyle Farmer
Oakland Mills
One of the top sprinters in the country, Farmer is headed to the University of Florida on scholarship and hopes to be running in Athens, Greece for the 2004 Olympics. After earning county and region titles in the 55-meter dash and 300 - and helping the Scorpions' 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams to victory - Farmer earned Class 2A-1A state titles in the 55 (6.38) and 300 (33.90), in times recognized as among the best in the country. At the New Balance Track and Field Indoor Championships in New York two weekends ago, Farmer was third in both the 60 (6.87) and 200 (21.61). He was named Howard County's top performer three straight years, and earned the Iron Man award at the Howard County championships four consecutive times.
Sam Singleton
Oakland Mills
Since taking over the boys team in 1993, Oakland Mills has won five indoor state titles (as well as seven outdoor state championships). He has been honored as Howard County's indoor Coach of the year three straight seasons. Singleton's magic is that he gets the most out of his athletes in a relaxed way. His message is simple: work hard in practice and have fun at the meets. The Scorpions finished No. 1 in the Sun poll.
Patrick Bailey
C. Milton Wright
A first-team All-Metro cross country runner, the sophomore made everyone take notice when he won the 3,200 meters at the Class 4A-3A state championship with a personal-best time of 9:36.90. Bailey, who also runs on the 3,200 relay team, was just about unbeatable this season.
Gary Bates
Randallstown
A senior high jumper, Bates cleared a personal-best 6 feet 10 at the West Side Invitational, and also earned county and regional titles before wining the Class 3A-2A state championship at 6-6. Bates also won at the Pangaea Invitational.
Andy Kuchera
Westminster
The senior pole vaulter was named top performer in Carroll County after earning county, region and Central Maryland Conference titles before finishing second (12 feet) at the state meet. He also won at the Pangaea Invitational and the Carroll Indoor Invitational. He cleared a personal-best 13-3 at the regionals.
Jeremy Moore
Broadneck
After winning shot put titles at the Anne Arundel County (55 feet 10 3/4 ) and regional (51-3 3/4 ) meets, the 6-foot-1, 295- pound Hawaii native finished second in the 4A-3A state competition with a toss of 56-7. A senior, Moore won three straight Anne Arundel county titles.
Antonio Thomas
Woodlawn
Despite an injured hamstring, Thomas still managed to take fourth in the 300 meters and fifth in the 500 at the Class 4A-3A state championships. A senior, Thomas won the 500 (1:06.68) at the Pangaea Invitational, and Baltimore County titles in the 300 and 500. At regionals, Thomas won the 300 and was second in the 500.
Matt Waranius
Chesapeake-AA
Waranius was the only individual state champion from Anne Arundel County, winning the Class 4A-3A high jump title at 6 feet 8. Named Performer of the Year in Anne Arundel County, Waranius, a senior, set a county meet record at 6-6 and also won the regional title.
Chris Wright
Mount St. Joseph
Wright earned MIAA championships in the mile (4:36.6) and two-mile (MIAA record 9:54.3) and was second in the 3,000 meters at the Pangaea Invitational. A junior, Wright, who was named co-top performer for All-Baltimore City/County along with his teammate, Nick Wright, took second in the 1,600 meters (4:43) at the Dickinson Invitational.
Nick Wright
Mount St. Joseph
A senior hurdler and high jumper, Wright won high jump titles at the Dickinson Invitational and MIAA championships. Named co-Performer of the Year for All-Baltimore City/County with Chris Wright (no relation), Wright ran a season-best 7.5 seconds before winning titles at the MIAA championships and both versions of the Dickinson Invitational.