BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Tristram Thomas
McDonogh
The sophomore broke two streaks when he won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship earlier this month. First, by crossing the finish line at Oregon Ridge Park in 16 minutes, 38 seconds, Thomas became the first Eagles runner to win the MIAA/Maryland Scholastic Association crown since Mike Robinson claimed the MSA title in 1983. Secondly, and on a more personal level, Thomas broke a four-meet losing streak to J.J. Wetzel of Archbishop Spalding. Thomas, an All-Conference selection, never finished lower than sixth. Thomas' success is even more rewarding after missing the latter half of last season to have his appendix removed. He also suffering a knee injury that bothered him during the summer. "We had a young group," coach Andy Gill said. "The guys looked up to him because he was so good, so early on."
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR
Gene Hoffman
Archbishop Curley
For the first time in a long while, Hoffman was able to enjoy the season. Hoffman, who has been coaching the Friars for the past 26 years, fidgeted under the weight of last season's 2-5 dual-meet record and fifth-place finish at the MIAA championships, but he also figured that the following year would be a different story. Hoffman was right. No. 2 Archbishop Curley capped a perfect 7-0 dual-meet campaign by capturing the program's first title since 1990 when the school was a member of the MSA, a conglomerate of private and Baltimore City public schools. Hoffman credits a renewed focus on training during the summer for the reversal of fortunes. "They saw that last year it would only take a little bit more, and we would be right there," he said. "They were motivated from the start."
BOYS TEAM
Emil Bojanov
Dulaney
The senior endured a brief scare at the beginning of the season when he thought he tore the meniscus in his right knee. Fortunately for Bojanov, the pain was just a soft tissue strain that did not prevent him from taking off. Bojanov's best race was at the Class 3A North region meet, where he won in 16:51.
Andy Carmer
Dulaney
After a couple of years toiling in the shadows of Billy Duffy and Will Knox, the senior was itching to forge his own reputation. Carmer proved that he could carry a team as he was the Lions' No. 1 runner for the entire season. Carmer won the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational in 17:23.
Robbie Dauses
Loch Raven
Losing the Class 1A state individual crown didn't tear at the senior. In fact, Dauses was more than happy to trade that opportunity for the Raiders' first state title since 1990. Dauses defined consistency as he never finished out of the top 10 in seven major meets. His two wins came at the Baltimore County and Class 1A East region championships.
Chas Eby
Loyola
The senior had a rookie campaign he won't soon forget. In just his first year of cross country, Eby worked his way from the No. 4 position to a No. 1 role that he frequently traded with teammate Chris Chaulk. Eby placed in the top 20 in all five major meets that included the Dons.
Eric Hanson
Archbishop Curley
Hoffman said he had three No. 1 runners this season, but that the senior was his most reliable. Hanson, who has spent three years on the varsity level, continued to improve on his bursts to race past his competitors. He placed in the top 20 in all five of the team's meets.
Quintin Holiday
Mervo
The senior etched his name in the Mustangs' history books when he became the program's first runner to capture the Class 4A North region crown in 17:13. Holiday, who did not run in last year's regional meet and therefore did not qualify for the state championships, placed 12th at this month's state meet. Holiday, who transferred from Poly several years ago, also won the Baltimore City title in 16:06.
Jason Jura
Dulaney
An offseason of conditioning and training brought about substantial gains for the junior. Jura, who was often the No. 5 runner on the Lions last year, made double-digit placement upgrades in all but one race this fall. Last season, he was 13th at the Baltimore County championships, 17th at the regional meet and 20th at the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational. This year, Jura was third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Chris Mantz
Loch Raven
Last season, Mantz was a bystander with a stress fracture in his right leg as the Raiders finished second at the Baltimore County and state championships. This time, the junior took a proactive role as the No. 3 runner. He was third at the East region meet, fifth at the state championships and sixth twice at the county championships and Westminster Invitational.
Tyler Miles
Loch Raven
If the Raiders were going to avenge last year's one-point loss to Oakland Mills at the state championships, the senior would have to show the way. As one of the returning veterans, Miles led by example, registering five top 10 efforts.
GIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Nyam Kagwima
Bryn Mawr
Four seasons, four appearances on the All-City/County team. But this is the senior's first Runner of the Year award. Kagwima would have earned the honor last year, but a pulled calf muscle that lingered for several weeks hampered her, and she finished second at the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland championships to Glenna Sullivan of Maryvale Prep. Figuring that she overexerted herself by swimming five nights a week during the cross country season, Kagwima cut the trips to the pool by half and listened to her body to prevent injuries. The adjustments worked perfectly as Kagwima won all but one major meet this fall. She reclaimed her third IAAM crown in four years with a winning time of 19 minutes, 23 seconds and finished first at the DC-Baltimore Metro Private Schools and Peter Geraghty invitationals. Kagwima powered the Mawrtians to their third IAAM championships in four seasons -- an accomplishment that means as much to her as the individual medals. "There's nothing like having both," she said. "This is the perfect way to end my senior year."
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
Randy Fowler
Mercy
When Fowler was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps for 12 years, he remembered a motto that still has meaning for him today: "Race for each other." In the five seasons Fowler has coached the Magic, this year's squad is the first to take the saying to heart. Possessing a team that does not boast a standout runner, Fowler took three sophomores, a freshman and a senior who had never run cross country and molded a program into the area's No. 6 squad that placed second to top-ranked Bryn Mawr at the IAAM championships. "I told them that it's one thing to look good on paper, and it's another thing to prove your worth," Fowler said. "I think that added the fuel to the fire."
GIRLS TEAM
Natalie Bond
Dulaney
After serving as an understudy for Tenke Zoltani and Christine Myers, Bond became the team's top runner. The junior didn't miss a beat as she won three major meets and never finished worse than sixth in two others. She won the Baltimore County and Class 3A North region championships and the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational.
Ashley Campbell
Bryn Mawr
As remarkable as Kagwima's run in the IAAM is, Campbell also has an impressive streak. The senior has placed in the IAAM top 10 all four years, and she has been the team's No. 3 runner. Campbell was third at the DC-Baltimore Metro Private Schools and in the small schools division at the Doc Jones Anne Arundel County invitationals.
Laura Drossner
Bryn Mawr
The junior is following in Kagwima's footsteps. Selected to her third straight All-City/County team, Drossner could be the No. 1 runner on many other area squads. In four major meets, she didn't drop below sixth place. Drossner was a runner-up at the DC-Baltimore Metro Private Schools and Peter Geraghty invitationals.
Ellett George
Bryn Mawr
Coach Jason George can only dream about what his Mawrtians would have done if George had tried out earlier for the team. In her first season of cross country, the senior was the team's No. 4 who slipped out of the top 10 only once this year. George was fourth at the Doc Jones Anne Arundel County and DC-Baltimore Metro Private Schools invitationals.
Amy Morlock
Perry Hall
The freshman's inclusion on the All-City/County team is the Gators' first since Laura Brazil earned the honor in 1999. But Morlock has stood out on her own by consistently posting nice showings. She grabbed the Class 4A North region crown in 21:00 and was a runner-up to Bond at the Baltimore County championships.
Sarah Randall
Hereford
The freshman stunned many observers, including her own coach, Elena Basignani. Randall, who showed brief flashes of stardom at the beginning of the season, turned it up just in time for the Baltimore County, Class 2A North region and state championships. She finished third in the county, second in the region and fourth at the state meet.
Glenna Sullivan
Maryvale Prep
There would be no surprises from the sophomore this year. A season removed from sneaking up on the competition to capture the IAAM crown, Sullivan became the runner to beat. She posted only one victory at the St. John's at Prospect Hall Invitational. But her fourth-place finish at the IAAM championships and a fifth-place outing at the Mid-Atlantic Classic proved that she continues to be a solid presence for the Lions.
Kelly Sullivan
Maryvale Prep
It's like that Michael Jordan-Mia Hamm commercial. The sophomore assumed the No. 1 role from her twin sister Glenna and matched her two wins from last season. Sullivan brought home the gold from the Mid-Atlantic Classic and the B division race at the William & Mary Invitational.
Latosha Wallace
Western
After finishing sixth at both the Baltimore City and Class 4A North region championships last year, Wallace figured to be the Doves' No. 2 runner behind Alicia Williams. But the senior traded the No. 1 role with Williams throughout the fall and grabbed the city championship in a winning time of 22:12.
Team selection
The Sun's 2002 All-Baltimore City/County cross country teams were selected by Edward Lee after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.