James Beacham
Westminster, senior
• Ran consistently throughout season but turned it on in bigger races
• Swept Carroll County and Class 4A North Region titles
One of few local runners to fare well at states, finishing sixth in 16:43
• Took second at tough South Carroll Invitational and third at Barnhart Invitational
Ben Bemis
Hereford, senior
• Strong fall overshadowed a bit by teammate Mason Rivera's victories, but Bemis was one of area's best
• Consistent running gave Hereford depth needed to win Baltimore County, Class 3A North Region and Class 3A state titles
• Finished second in Baltimore County and region meets, and fourth in Class 3A state meet
• No. 2 runner at Hereford behind Rivera, but would have been top runner almost anywhere else
Robby Creese
Glenelg, senior
• Bounced back from tough loss at Howard County championships to win Class 2A South Region and Class 2A state meets
• Battled problems with asthma at some big meets, including county and state, but still turned in strong performances
• Won Class 2A state meet in 16:46, outdueling Century's Nick Pezza by six seconds
Victory at state meet helped Gladiators finish second as a team
Scott Heydrick
River Hill, senior
• Capped season with seventh-place finish at Class 3A state meet
• Beat fellow first-team pick Eric Schuler of Reservoir at state meet, after losing to him at Class 3A East Region and Howard County meets
• Defeated first-team pick Creese at county meet, finishing second to Schuler that day
• Finished second at Class 3A East Region meet
Nick Pezza
Century, senior
• Remained one of area's top runners throughout season, battling through tough schedule
• Finished fourth at Carroll County and Class2A West Region, second at state meet
• Ran 16:52 on tough Hereford course at state meet, just six seconds behind winner Creese
• Helped Century to fourth-place team finish at states, beating three runners who bested him at region meet
Mason Rivera
Hereford, senior
• Played big role in Hereford's impressive sweep of Baltimore County, Class 3A North Region and state titles
• Won all three races as Bulls got perfect score at county meet, nearly did same at region and won by 70 at state
• Beat Runner of the Year Matt Jablonski in head-to-head duel at Bull Run race, taking second to Jablonski's fourth
• Stayed consistent and won most of his races this season
Eric Schuler
Reservoir, senior
Had a solid fall season, especially in tough races
• Handed Creese his only Howard County loss this season by beating him at county title meet
• Won Class 3A East Region meet, beating Heydrick by almost 13seconds
• Took 10th in tough Class 3A state meet
Cody Vernon
Old Mill, senior
• Won Anne Arundel County and Class 4A East region titles
• Used late sprint to beat Shane O'Donnell of Annapolis by 5.2 seconds in county race
• Defeated O'Donnell, his friend and training partner, by 10 seconds at region meet
• Slipped to 14th at state meet in difficult Class 4A race