Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for Poly at Wednesday's Baltimore City Indoor championship meet.
The Poly boys and girls each brought just 13 athletes to the title meet at the Fifth Regiment Armory, but that proved to be enough, as the Engineers' boys and girls won team championships -- completing what's believed to be the school's first sweep at this meet.
Poly's boys finished with 99 points, edging City (94) for its second title in the last three years. Digital Harbor was third with 73 points.
The Poly girls had 128 points, outlasting defending champion Digital Harbor (119.50). Last year, the Rams pulled off their own sweep.
Sophomores Ijeoma Ike-Amaechi (1,600, 3,200) and Aneesa Abdul-Rahim (high jump, 800) both won twice to give the Poly girls 40 crucial points. Twelve of the 13 Engineer girls were underclassmen, and coach Latoya Johnson loved the whole team's efforts – especially considering they didn't have a lot of depth and are young.
"I'm so proud of them," Johnson said. "I said that everyone had to pull together if we wanted to win. This is the meet where we needed to do our best."
The Engineers did just that, beating the teams that have controlled this meet going back into the 1980s. Western had won 21 of the last 23 meets for the girls with Digital Harbor taking the other two. This time, the Engineers vaulted over everyone into first.
For the Poly boys, Steven Thomas (shot put) scored the lone individual win, ahead of teammate Daryl Thomas in second. Poly placed someone in the top three in seven of the night's 12 events.
The Engineers lost about one-third of their available athletes to injuries in recent days, and coach Rashi Pinckney made sure everyone realized they had to help.
"For us, it was next man up tonight," he said. "Everyone contributed for us, and we were able to complete our mission."
Poly's only other victory came in the 3,200 relay with the team of Malik Wilson, Odell Richardson, Marquise Stewart and Mekhi Closson. William Henderson also gave the Engineers a great individual effort, finishing second in the 55 dash, 55 hurdles and tied for second in the high jump.
City's Robert Miller helped his team to second place with a solid individual effort that showed why he is one of the area's most versatile track athletes, indoors or outdoors.
The junior scored victories in the 300, 55 hurdles and the 55 meters — the same three events he won last year. Miller also tied for second in the high jump to complete his personal 37-point effort and give the Knights a big lift.
Miller hasn't lost an individual race yet this season, running mainly in the three events he won at this meet. But he started doing the high jump in recent days in an effort to help City gain some points.
"I like trying different events," Miller said. "I just love track. That's the main thing."