Leg problems slowed Matthew Kane going all the way back to cross country season. The Century senior finally returned to 100 percent a few weeks ago and led the Knights to a state championship in the title meet Saturday at Morgan State.
Kane won the 3,200 meters and ran on the victorious 3,200 relay Thursday. On Saturday, he captured the 1,600 and finished fourth in the 800 to help Century to a second Class 2A state title in three years.
The UMBC-bound senior took the 1,600 thanks to a strong late move. Kane sat in second at the start of the bell lap, but began sprinting with just over 100 meters left and ran away from the pack.
"I'm happy with how I did," Kane said. "I knew I just had to run smart, and I'd be fine in [every race]."
Kane added his fourth-place finish in the 800 later in the meet. Nick Neral won the pole vault Thursday, and Noah Wolcott helped with 12 points thanks to a to second-place finish in the 300 hurdles plus a fifth in the 110 hurdles.
The Century boys have battled through injuries all season, but everything finally came together recently as the Knights won the Carroll County and Class 2A West region titles. They finished with 85.5 points to beat out Douglass-PG (75) in the state meet.
"For us, it's been a patient journey," Century coach Tony Griner said. "We have the depth, but we had to get past some injuries from early … and now we're healthy."
The Milford Mill girls were the only other local team champion, scoring 62 points to beat Urbana (55) in Class 3A for their first title since 1991.
Yinka Alabi (UMBC in the fall) led the Millers with wins in the 100 and 300 hurdles as well as running on the victorious 800 and 1,600 relays. Aliya Sharp (Temple) ran on the same two first-place relay teams and won the 400.
"We've been trying for three or four years," Milford Mill coach James Simms said. "We finally got it as the girls showed up today, and I couldn't be much prouder."
Also for the girls, Manchester Valley finished second in Class 1A. Smithsburg edged the Mavericks, 103-99, as Manchester Valley relied on a strong performance from Katie Leisher.
The senior (headed for Temple), won the 3,200 on Thursday and took the 800 and 1,600 on Saturday. She also ran on the third-place 3,200 relay team Thursday.
"It's very nice," Leisher said. "The past two years have been really bad for me. Just to be able to do all four events is a big accomplishment for me."
The Mount Hebron and Milford Mill boys both came close in Class 3A. Westlake won the team title with 62.5 points, just ahead of Mount Hebron (62) and Milford Mill (58).
Darnell Pratt paced Mount Hebron with wins in the 200 and 400 plus a third in the 100. He also ran on the second-place 1,600 relay. For the Millers, Jordan Leon scored victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and ran on the first-place 1,600 relay.
The Northwestern boys also just missed. They finished with 60 points in Class 1A but couldn't catch first-place Fort Hill (65).
Jen Bleakney of Atholton turned in a strong performance, winning the Class 3A 800 and 1,600 titles. She also ran on the first-place 3,200 relay team Friday.
Micah Meekins also won three girls' events Saturday. The Marriotts Ridge junior took the Class 2A 100, 200 and 400 crowns.
City's Robert Miller won the Class 3A 110 hurdles and was on the winning 800 relay team. He also took second in the 300 hurdles and 100 open.
Jamal Cody from Hereford won both the 110 and 300 hurdles in Class 2A. Franklin's Amanda Murphy won the Class 3A discus on the first day, but came back to take first in the shot put on Saturday for her second victory.