NHS, CHS Track And Field Teams Shine On The Big Stage At States

Pasadena was well represented among the state’s top track and field athletes when members of the Northeast and Chesapeake teams competed at the Maryland 4A/3A state championship meet on February 20.

Qualifying for the state meet in any event is itself a tremendous accomplishment, and both schools sent sizable contingents of qualifiers to compete at the meet at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. Northeast had seven boys and one girl compete in the meet, while Chesapeake sent 11 boys and 14 girls to the meet.

Davon Carroll’s banner day for Northeast included a pair of state titles in helping the Eagle boys to a fifth-place finish out of 29 teams. Carroll started his meet by winning the 300 in 35.5 seconds and followed by running a personal-best 6.459 seconds to win the 55-meter dash.

Carroll didn’t get a great start off the block in the 55 but still had enough explosion to take over the race early and zip over the finish line well ahead of Kenwood’s Kelechi Nwankwoala (6.57 seconds).

“I’m happy because I PR’d (personal record) in the 55 finally,” said Carroll. “In the 300, I didn’t PR, so I’m not that happy, but it was still good to win.”

Carroll cited the preparation he does with teammate Demontay Snowden as critical to improving throughout the season and running at peak performance at the state meet. Snowden also had an outstanding state meet, placing third in the 500 and seventh in the 300.

“We practice six days a week and only get one day off, so that’s a lot of work,” said Carroll. “At practice, you just keep going, we battle with each other, me and Demontay, and at the meets we just go and give it our all.”

PHOTO GALLERY: 4A/3A track and field state championship meet, 2.20.18

Robert Mussey was Northeast’s other male individual competitor, and he finished 11th in the 3200 meter.

Carroll, Snowden, Anthony Vallinotti and Zach Bergeron placed fourth in the 4x200 relay. Vallinotti, Bergeron, Daishaun Joyner and Demetrius Jones were 11th in the 4x400 relay.

The Northeast girls had a state placer in Arianna Krcik, who placed sixth in the 500. Krcik accounted for all of the Lady Eagles’ three points as Northeast finished 26th out of 29 teams.

Chesapeake also had a sizable presence at the state meet. On the girls side, the Cougars had a trio of pole-vault placers. Hannah McKeon placed third by clearing eight feet, while Alexis Myers and Elizabeth Beraducci placed seventh and eighth, respectively, by clearing seven feet.

Kexin Wang was 13th in shot put, and Sarah Cuttler was 14th. Nina Greger ran the 3200 meter run and finished 14th. Maryia Hrytsyshyna finished ninth in high jump, and Samantha Leo finished 11th.

The 4x400 relay team of Shelby Bennoit, Samantha Leo, McKeon and Bridgette Tayman finished 10th. The 4x800 team of Bennoit, McKeon, Mason Frechtel and Leah Evans finished 11th.

The Chesapeake boys were led in individual field events by Colton Spangler and Kevin Vazquez. Spangler placed eighth in high jump, clearing 5 feet, 10 inches. Vazquez earned points with a fifth-place finish in pole vault, clearing 10 feet. Brendan Ansted was right behind Vazquez, earning points by clearing 9 feet, 6 inches to place sixth.

Andrew Colebrook, Michael Mulford, Logan Cooper and Spangler placed fifth in the 4x400 relay. Jonathan Adams, Colebrook, Cooper and Spangler ran the 4x200 relay and finished 11th. Garrett Bivens, Samuel Adams, Brennan Penafiel and Austin Samuel finished 13th in the 4x800.

The Chesapeake boys finished 15th as a team. The Chesapeake girls were 19th as a team.

PHOTO GALLERY: 4A/3A track and field state championship meet, 2.20.18