Smithsburg girls roll to 1A West title; Catoctin star Buffington DQ'd

At last year’s Maryland Class 1A West region indoor track and field championships, a young Smithsburg girls team finished in second place, only 3.5 points behind Boonsboro.

Although it stung to get so close and not win, it might have been the best thing to happen to the Leopards.

“That was huge because it fueled so many of these kids to want to do what they’re doing now,” Smithsburg coach Adam Rudy said. “What we’re seeing now is just this culmination of kids that are learning how to be champions and learning what it takes to be really good athletes and learning what it takes to win at a high level. It’s just super fun to watch and experience.”

On Saturday, for the third straight weekend at Hagerstown Community College, the Smithsburg girls celebrated a championship title — this time hoisting the 1A West region crown that eluded them last winter.

It wasn’t close as they racked up 129 points, while South Carroll finished second (72) and Boonsboro placed third (67).

It followed the CMC Gambrill Division championship the Leopards captured on Jan. 27 and the Washington County title they won on Jan. 21.

Next up is the state meet Feb. 20 at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover. The top four finishers in each event Saturday qualified, as did those who met specific advancement standards.

“We’re 3-for-3 so far. States is the big one,” Rudy said. “We did everything we could to position ourselves for a shot at that trophy. We got pretty much every kid through that I thought was going to go. Maybe one or two didn’t, but we’re taking a lot of kids down to the state championship. We have a lot of depth and like where we’re at. I like our chances. We have a team full of competitors and kids who want to do really, really well.

“The girls team has never won an indoor state championship. If they can pull it off, it will be super cool, super awesome.”

The Leopards were led by sophomores Grace Ellis, Jenna Howe and Cora Gentzel.

Ellis placed first in the 500 (1:20.76), second in the 800 (2:25.88, school record) and third in the 300 (44.37), and she teamed with Ella Fisher, Amanda Hawbecker and Taylor King to finish second in the 4x400 relay (4:29.49).

Howe won the 55 dash (7.71), took second in the 300 (44.37) and joined Hawbecker, Alaina Pate and Trenity Green in the first-place 4x200 (1:52.64).

Gentzel placed second in both the 1,600 (5:26.97, school record) and 3,200 (12:10.07) and won the 4x800 (10:58.97) with King, Fisher and Kayla Hawbecker.

“We’re running well at the right time,” Rudy said. “I’m excited for them. They’ve just been a lot of fun to coach. They’ve done everything we could ever ask of them. The kids have bought in, we have a phenomenal coaching staff and great parents, so we stand a shot, and that’s all you can hope for when the state championship rolls around.”

Catoctin superstar Buffington DQ’d

Catoctin senior Brody Buffington, the meet’s main attraction, shined as expected — but not without controversy.

Buffington — the U.S. leader in the boys 55 dash (6.25) — left his competition behind in the 300. However, as he approached the finish line, he threw up his arms and waved his hands in celebration while smiling as he glanced over his shoulder.

That cost him the victory — and a chance to defend his 300 title at states — as he was disqualified for “an action which brings discredit to an individual or their school,” according to head meet official Tim O’Keefe, citing the NFHS rule book.

“The turning around to his opponents and the hand waving all the way down the straightaway is in disagreement with that rule,” O’Keefe said. “The coaches did appeal my ruling and it went before a jury of appeals, and they agreed that he had not run by the rules.”

“I was just trying to get the crowd going,” Buffington said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. I’m trying to have some fun, get the fans going. But the officials didn’t take it that way, so they disqualified me. It’s a mistake. I’ve got to grow from it.”

When Buffington returned to the track for the 55 final, he blew away the field in 6.29 seconds— his third-fastest time ever in the event.

“When I heard that I got DQ’d, I said that I’m going to go all out in the 55,” Buffington said. “But it’s hard to PR here because you can’t wear spikes.”

Rejonis sets a pair of PRs

Led by senior Cameron Rejonis, the Smithsburg boys (82 points) finished second to Catoctin (136.5).

Just four days after signing with Division I High Point University, Rejonis set a pair of indoor personal records, winning the 800 in 2:03.98 after placing second in the 500 in 1:07.09. He also teamed with Liam Fisher, Tyler Younker and Michael Wynkoop to win the 4x800 (8:39.15).

The boys 500 was the race of the day as Rejonis and Catoctin’s Furious Trammel staged a photo finish, decided by thousandths of a second after they clocked identical official times to the hundredth.

“I thought I had it,” said Rejonis, the defending state champ in the 500 and 800. “To finish that close, that’s tough. I could have sworn my chest was first. But we have states to decide that.”

Blazers are thriving

Clear Spring had two champions — sophomore Jacob Faith in the boys high jump (6-0) and senior Ryder Brown in the boys shot put (44-1 3/4).

Overall, the Blazers will be taking nine athletes to compete at states, including a relay team.

First-year head coach Kevin Thacker, a former Blazer, said it was Clear Spring’s best region showing indoors since 2006.

“We’re doing really well right now,” Thacker said. “It’s my first year, and I put the foundation down and changed things up. I run things a little differently. I set a culture and a mindset, and the kids just bought in. It’s not all on me because I can only do as much as I can. The kids have to buy in and really work for it, and the results show that.”

More Washington County champs

Boonsboro junior Caroline Matthews went the distance to qualify for states in three events, placing first in the 3,200 (11:43.13), third in the 1,600 (5:28.55) and fourth in the 800 (2:35.35).

The Boonsboro girls also got a victory from senior Kaitlyn Queen in the shot put (31-4).

Washington County’s other victory came from Williamsport sophomore Richard Sanon in the boys 55 hurdles (8.24). The Wildcats also got a second-place finish from Dylan Parker in the boys shot put (43-5).

The Hancock girls had two second-place finishers — senior Aidan Faith in the high jump (4-10) and senior Joslyn Foltz in the shot put (31-2 1/2).

For the Boonsboro boys, junior Chad Wyand placed second in the 55 (6.81) and sophomore Jakob Davidson pulled off a rare state-qualifying double, placing third in both the 3,200 (10:50.40) and pole vault (10-1).

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Smithsburg girls win Maryland 1A West region indoor track title