Baltimore Sun Media Group reporter Matt Owings picks the girls track and field performers who ought to make some noise this season.
Yinka Alabi
Milford Mill, sprints-hurdles, senior
Alabi returns as one of the top hurdlers in the Baltimore region. During her junior outdoor campaign, she finished in the top four at every meet in which she entered the 100-meter hurdles, and she's the defending Class 3A state champion in the 300 hurdles. She was a member of the Millers' state championship-winning 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams.
Jen Bleakney
Atholton, distance, senior
She never lost in the 1,600-meter run during her junior outdoor season and collected a state title in the 800 (2 minutes, 18.37 seconds). Last year, she was the anchor on the Raiders' 4x800-meter relay team that never lost a race and won the 3A state championship. This winter, she won a state title in the 800 with a personal-record 2:18.90.
Olivia Gruver
Franklin, pole vault, senior
It's hard to point to any athlete who has had more success than Gruver. Her 13-foot-4 vault to win the 3A state championship was the highest in Maryland during the indoor season. Between indoor and outdoor, it marked her third state title in the event.
Lakin Hatcher
McDonogh, sprints-field, senior
An indoor Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland champion in the 55-meter dash (7.37 seconds) and long jump (18 feet), the senior should be hard to beat during her final outdoor season. She also finished second in the indoor conference championship in the 300. Look for her to be a major player during the sprinting events this season, along with a select few field events.
Katie Leisher
Manchester Valley, distance, senior
She cruised to Class 1A championship victories in the 1,600 (5:23.48) and the 3,200 (11:40.40), helping the Mavericks to a team championship this winter. In the fall, she won a cross country state title. Last spring, she finished second in the 3,200 at the 1A final.
Nyjari McNeil
Franklin, sprints, freshman
She ran the fastest 500-meter dash of the season (75.29) as a freshman, signaling that there are big things ahead in her career. McNeil won the 500 at the Class 3A state indoor championship meet, and the Baltimore County and Central Region meets as well. She finished second in the 800 with a personal-best 2:20.37.
Taylor Scaife
Howard, shot put, senior
In all six events Scaife entered in shot put during the indoor season, she finished first — even squeezing out the state's top mark of 41-7.50 at the Class 4A championship. Last year's outdoor season yielded nearly the same results, though she finished third at the state meet. She's looking for her first outdoor state crown.
Reilly Wagner
South River, sprints-field, senior
During her indoor season, Wagner finished fifth in the 55-meter hurdles (8.82), seventh in the 500 (80.42) and eighth in the 800 (2:28.52) at Class 4A states to go along with her 5-foot-4 high jump victory. She is a two-time defending 4A outdoor champion in high jump.
Maja Wichhart
Catonsville, hurdles-field, senior
As a junior last year, Wichhart was a top-five finisher all season in the 100-meter hurdles. She finished third in Baltimore County, second at the Class 4A North Region meet and fourth at states with a personal-record 15.23. She's also a threat in the long jump and triple jump, for which she finished third in the state with a 37-4.50.
Taylor Williams
Long Reach, sprints, senior
Her 7.21 55-meter dash time that was the eighth-fastest in the state also earned her third place at the Class 3A state title meet this winter. She was third in the 3A East Region in the event as well. She finished fifth in the 300 at regionals. Two springs ago, she won a pair of bronze medals at the 3A title meet in the 100 and 200.
Others to watch
Carly Albright, Marriotts Ridge
Danika Ani, Francis Scott Key
Hailley Baughman, Manchester Valley
Jamila Brown, Wilde Lake
Lea Carter, South River
Sarah Coffey, Hereford
Maria Coffin, Annapolis
Kayla Geho, Manchester Valley
Natalia Jacobo, Broadneck
Colleen Kernan, Westminster
Brit Lang, Oakland Mills
Liz Leahy, Manchester Valley
Kristin Meek, Dulaney
Amanda Murphy, Franklin
Erin Patrice, Liberty
Kara Patrice, Liberty
Kelsey Ponton, Reservoir
Gabby Rayner, Howard
Kita Robinson, Dulaney
Taylor Selber, Long Reach
Aliya Sharp, Milford Mill
Molly Walsch, North Carroll
Senait Weaver, Pikesville
Allie Zolkiewicz, South Carroll