GIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Centrowitz

Broadneck

To understand Centrowitz's competitive fire, all you have to know is that hours after the junior had captured her first Class 4A state championship, she stood in the parking lot at Hereford High - the site of the state meet - and pledged to repeat.

Such a goal isn't far-fetched for Centrowitz, who won the Anne Arundel County and Class 4A East region crowns for the second consecutive season. Centrowitz won every single multi-team invitational in which she participated this fall. She was first in the elite race at Bull Run and first at the Knights Invite.

Her performance carried the second-ranked Bruins to their first state title and their first county championship in more than two decades. Centrowitz also ran the seeded race at the Foot Locker Northeast regional in 18:59.28 - the best mark by a Maryland runner.

This is Centrowitz's second straight appearance on the All-Metro team.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

Randy Fowler

Mercy

In the five seasons that Fowler had coached the Magic, the program had never beaten Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference powerhouses like Mount de Sales and Notre Dame Prep. That all changed this fall when Fowler guided Mercy to a second-place finish in the IAAM championships behind top-ranked Bryn Mawr.

It was a far leap from the program's previous best finish of fourth in 2000, but Fowler & Co. exceeded expectations with their gritty performances on the course. Mercy captured the team title at the Spiked Shoe Invitational by a convincing 46 points and placed third in the small schools division at Bull Run.

What's in store for next season? Four of the team's top five runners and five of the top seven could return and make the Magic a powerhouse in its own right in the IAAM.

THE GIRLS TEAM

Natalie Bond

Dulaney

Graduating the likes of Tenke Zoltani and Christine Myers wasn't such a great loss when the Lions reloaded with Bond. The junior came into her own this fall as she finished no worse than sixth in five multi-team invitationals. Bond claimed individual titles at the Class 3A North region meet, the Baltimore County championships and the Barnhardt Memorial Invitational.

Kelli Buck

C. Milton Wright

The Mustangs nearly caught Broadneck at the state championships, and Buck was a major factor. The sophomore was second to Centrowitz at the state meet and at the Class 4A East region championships. In addition to placing in the top 10 in six major invitationals, Buck captured the Harford County title and the gold medal at the Harford Invitational.

Laura Drossner

Bryn Mawr

As the top-ranked Mawrtians have claimed two straight IAAM A Conference crowns, Dross- ner has earned back-to-back appearances on the All-Metro team. The junior finished no worse than sixth in four major meets. She was second twice at the Peter Geraghty Invitational and the D.C.-Baltimore Metro Private Schools Invitational and third at the IAAM championships.

Rachel Hawes

Century

Another year, similar results for Hawes. The sophomore was named the Carroll County Runner of the Year for winning her second county title. The two-time All-Metro choice placed in the top five in all six invitationals, including two third-place finishes at Bull Run (small schools) and the Howard County Striders Invitational. As the Knights moved up to Class 2A from 1A, Hawes was second at the state meet.

Nyam Kagwima

Bryn Mawr

Four in a row. That's how many times Kagwima has been selected to the All-Metro team. The senior sealed her appearance this season by winning three of the four major meets in which she competed. In addition to grabbing the Peter Geraghty and D.C.-Baltimore Metro Private Schools invitationals, Kagwima reclaimed her third IAAM A Conference title. Her only loss was to Centrowitz at Bull Run (elite division).

Britta Nelson

Havre de Grace

Obscurity could hide Nelson for only so long. Despite being tucked away in northern Harford County, the senior registered one of the area's best campaigns by finishing no worse than sixth in six major invitationals. Nelson captured winning honors at the Class 1A East region and Spiked Shoe meets and was second at the state championships and the Harford Invitational.

Stephanie Newton

Severna Park

The Falcons will continue to fly as long as Newton is in the roost. The junior was a steady presence on the course, showing up in the top 10 in five of six major meets. Some of Newton's best efforts included a second-place outing at the Class 3A East region championships, a third-place performance at the Anne Arundel County meet, and a fourth-place finish at the state meet.

Glenna Sullivan

Maryvale Prep

Sophomore slump? Not to Sullivan, who was a formidable runner despite a nagging leg injury. The two-time All-Metro pick never finished worse than fifth in four major meets. Sullivan won the St. John's at Prospect Hall Invitational, placed fourth at the IAAM A Conference championships and the Lake Forest (Del.) Invitational, and fifth at the Mid-Atlantic Classic.

Kelly Sullivan

Maryvale Prep

No, you're not seeing double. Paired with her twin sister, Glenna, Kelly Sullivan provided Maryvale Prep with a potent one-two punch. The sophomore was either first or second in every major meet. Second to Kagwima at the IAAM championships, Sullivan won the William and Mary Invitational (B division) and the Mid-Atlantic Classic.