Latoya Johnson has worked hard at building a solid girls track and field program throughout her five years at Poly. She's getting results.
The Engineers won the Baltimore City title meet and then took the Class 3A North Region championship before finishing second to Urbana at the state meet. This is the fourth time in Johnson's five years that Poly has won the city title, and she is very happy with her team.
"These girls really worked hard this year," Johnson said. "These kids trust me and do whatever I ask them to do."
Johnson said her goal this year was for Poly to win a regional championship, and when the Engineers did, it was their first under her. Much of the success this year was due to how well first-team All-Metro performers Nadia Hackett and Deja Stevenson fared.
Those two led the way, and the loss of Stevenson is going to hurt them next year as the senior will head off to run at North Carolina Central. But Hackett returns, and Poly brings back a bunch of younger runners to keep things going.
"Every year we're trying to make it grow," Johnson said. "Every year I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do better for the following year."