Coach of the Year
Joey Young, Woodlawn
Woodlawn had a lot of expectations heading into the 2023-24 season, and Young’s team met every single one of them.
The Warriors mixed a strong returning group with talented new arrivals to create a team that dominated the local public school scene and Class 4A.
“We had a nice core group from last we year that we brought back with Nikiyah [Williams], Destiny [Coleman], Anjela [Fitzhugh] and some of the other runners,” Young said. “With the addition of Arayana [Ladson] and Kenya [Merritt] this year, kind of going into the year we knew if we did the things we knew we were capable of, we would have success.”
At the Class 4A state meet, Woodlawn runners won four state championships and had nine top-four finishes. The Warriors totaled 72 points, 35 more than second-place C.H. Flowers (37).
Young attributes the success to the mindset his athletes came to practice with.
“Girls did a real good job of coming in every day with a positive mindset, ready to work hard, ready to work off each other so they can achieve all their goals,” he said. “Everybody is about the team. Usually in my experience, you get a lot of top-end talent, there’s a lot of ‘Me,’ there’s a lot of individualism. With these girls, everybody came in humble, everybody came in knowing its about the team.”
First team Valerie Ashamu, Oakland Mills, senior, high jump
Ashamu consistently cleared 5 feet, 4 inches in the high jump at several meets, including the 3A state championship in which she earned her first state title after finishing as the runner-up last season.
junior, pole vault
Birdsall was 2 feet better than any other competitor at the IAAM A Conference championship meet. A month later, she cleared 11-8 to finish third at Nike Indoor Nationals.
Carson Boteler, Broadneck, senior, pole vault
Boteler cleared a personal-best 11-9 to win the 4A state pole vault championship, backing up the title she won last spring during the outdoor season.
DestinyColeman,Woodlawn, sophomore, hurdles
Coleman’s 4A state title-winning time of 8.07 seconds in the 55 hurdles was the best performance at any MPSSAA or IAAM championship meet. She went even faster, running 7.95 at Nike Indoor Nationals.
Casey Gish, Broadneck, senior, jumps
Gish was the 4A high jump state champion, clearing 5-3 at states with a 5-4 season best. She also won the Anne Arundel County long jump and triple jump championships.
Rebekkah Hillier, Hereford, senior, distance
Hillier became a two-time state champion, winning 2A titles in the 1,600 (5:13.58) and 3,200 (11:38.7). She also finished sixth in the 800 to
help the Bulls win the state crown.
Kaylyn Johnson, New Town, senior, mid-distance
Johnson fell just short of winning two state titles. She won the 2A 300 championship (40.57) and finished second in the 500 (1:20.57) by less than a second.
Chayse Mitchell, Archbishop Spalding,sophomore,jumps
Mitchell claimed three IAAM A Conference championships, sweeping the jumping events. She won the high jump (5-2), triple jump (36-5
and long jump (18-10
Emma Reaves, Westminster, senior, shot put
Reaves was the top thrower in the area. Her best toss this season was 41-5 to win the 3A West Region championship. She finished second at states with a throw of 40-11
Lauren Virmani, River Hill, sophomore, distance
Virmani posted times that had her among the best distance runners in the area. She earned a pair of 3A state runner-up finishes in the 1,600 (5:05.31) and 3,200 (11:07.93).
Brielle Whitworth, Edgewood, junior, distance
Whitworth claimed her first state championship, taking the 3A title in the 1,600 while running a* personal-best 5:03.46. She also finished sixth in the 800.
NikiyahWilliams,Woodlawn, senior, mid-distance
Williams played a big role in Woodlawn’s 4A state title, winning two individual state championships — the 300 in 40.29 and the 500 in 1:16.46. She also ran on the Warriors’ first-place 4×400 relay team.