Justin Gross and Kristen Brown are two of the area's most versatile track and field athletes. They can do it all, and their talents helped McDonogh win two championships Friday night.
The two seniors played a big role in McDonogh sweeping the team titles at the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland indoor title meets at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.
Gross won the 55-meter hurdles (7.65 seconds), long jump (21 feet, 8.5 inches) and triple jump (46-0), and took second in the shot put. He scored 38 of the team's 259 points as McDonogh beat top-ranked Gilman (218.33), which defeated the Eagles in two of three regular-season meets.
"I felt like, all week, we were really zeroed in our goal, which was to beat Gilman," Gross said. "I was hoping for three golds and to get a second in the shot, and [that happened]."
Brown was almost as effective as she took first in the 55-meter hurdles (8.14) and long jump (17-6.25), third in the 55 meters and ran on the victorious 800 relay team. She helped with 36 of the team's 202.5 points as top-ranked McDonogh easily won a second straight IAAM title, routing Maryvale (108.5).
"To have two kids that outstanding on the same team, in the same grade, who are both pretty low-key, humble and very talented is, I don't know, incredible, fortuitous, almost ridiculous," McDonogh coach Jeff Sanborn said.
For the boys, McDonogh's victory ended a five-year Mount St. Joseph winning streak. The Gaels won 12 of the 13 team MIAA team titles, their only loss coming when McDonogh swept in 2004. Mount St. Joseph finished fourth (152.17) in this meet.
Gross' only loss came when teammate Isaac Jorgensen (49-7) beat him in the shot put. McDonogh's Jasmine Robinson - who took the 300 meters - beat Brown and won the 55 meters. Teammate Madeline Dulac also won twice (meet record of 5:09.76 in 1,600, and 3,200 meters).
Archbishop Curley's George Chambers (55, 300) and Matt Jablonski of Loyola (1,600, 3,200) each won two individual events. In addition, Jablonski ran on the winning 3,200 relay team.