Players to watch
Alpha Blade, Digital Harbor, senior
Blade was the top sprinter in Baltimore City in the winter, winning indoor titles in the 55 and 300. He went on to win the Class 3A state title in the 300 and finished fourth in the 55.
Charlie Butler, Mount Saint Joseph, junior
Butler is one of the area’s premier distance runners. He won the MIAA A Conference title in the 3,200 in the indoor and outdoor seasons and finished second in the 1,600 last spring.
Ricardo Cooper, Calvert Hall, senior
Cooper was the MIAA indoor champion in the 55 and has since been competing nationally in various sprint events. He won the 200 at the Nike Indoor Nationals earlier this month.
Tyler Dailey, Dulaney, senior
Dailey is coming off an indoor season in which he was unbeaten in the state in both the 800 and 1,600, claiming Class 4A state titles in both. Last spring, he was fourth at the state championships in the 1,600.
Cameron Davis, Calvert Hall, junior
Davis has built a nice friendly rivalry with Butler, whom he beat for the MIAA cross
country title. He finished second in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200 indoors, and is the reigning MIAA outdoor champion in the
1,600. Liam Hagerty, Severna Park, senior
Hagerty was a vital member of Severna Park’s indoor state championship team, winning the Class 4A title in the 3,200 and running on the championship 4x800 relay team.
Trevin McHargh, Oakland Mills, senior
McHargh is coming off a record-setting indoor season, winning the 55 state title in a Class 2A-record time of 6.39 seconds. He ran on the championship 4x100 and 4x200 relays last outdoor season, and was fourth in the 100.
Chimdy Onoh, Dundalk, senior
The Penn State football signee is also one of the state’s best throwers. He won Class 4A state championships in both the shot put and discus last season but didn’t compete indoors while playing basketball.
Jackson Steinbrenner, Winters Mill, junior
Steinbrenner is coming off a strong indoor season in distance events. He won Carroll County titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 after finishing second in the county in the cross country championships.
Darian Tarver Jr., Atholton, senior
Tarver finished second in the 300 and third in the 500 at the Class 3A indoor championships and was county champion in the 300. He was county and state runner-up in the 400 last spring.
PRESEASON TOP 15
1. Oakland Mills
Coach: Chris Brewington
Last season: Class 2A state champion
2. Mount Saint Joseph
Coach: Kyle Reagan
Last season: MIAA A Conference runner-up
3. Calvert Hall
Coach: Scott Baker
Last season: MIAA A Conference champion
4. Severna Park
Coach: Josh Alcombright
Last season: Class 4A state champion
5. Gilman
Coach: Matt Tully
Last season: Third in MIAA A Conference
6. Mervo
Coach: Vaughn DeVaughn
Last season: 14th in Class 4A
7. Dundalk
Coach: Kevin Tran
Last season: Seventh in Class 4A
8. Manchester Valley
Coach: Jim MacDonald
Last season: Tied for fourth in Class 3A
9. Archbishop Spalding
Coach: Jessica Beard
Last season: Sixth in MIAA A Conference
10. Towson
Coach: Gil Stange
Last season: 16th in Class 3A
11. Broadneck
Coach: Josh Webster
Last season: Eighth in Class 4A
12. Liberty
Coach: Trent Rose
Last season: 10th in Class 2A
13. Old Mill
Coach: Justin Murdoc
Last season: Class 4A state runner-up
14. New Town
Coach: Zane Chapman
Last season: Tied for eighth in Class 2A
15. Howard
Coach: Zack Dickerson
Last season: Third in Class 3A
Others considered: Century, Milford Mill, Poly, Westminster, Wilde Lake