The battle for Western Maryland Athletic Conference supremacy came down to the wire on Thursday at Southern High, with the Allegany boys and Mountain Ridge girls emerging as team champions in a thrilling conclusion to the conference meet.
In the boys' competition, the Campers edged out Fort Hill by the narrowest of margins, 127-125, to claim the team title. Mountain Ridge finished third with 85 points, followed by Southern (24) and Northern (7). The girls' race was equally tight, with Mountain Ridge securing first place with 108 points—just three ahead of Fort Hill's 105. Allegany (96), Southern (40), and Northern (21) rounded out the field.
The meet showcased outstanding individual performances, with eight athletes winning multiple events. On the boys' side, Allegany's Jack Taylor dominated the distance events, taking the 1600-meter run in 4:50.1 and the 3200-meter in 11:17.8. Fort Hill's EJ Scott was a force in the field and hurdles, winning the 110-meter hurdles (16.0 seconds) and triple jump (39 feet, 8.5 inches), while teammate Casey Martz proved unstoppable in the throws with gold in the shot put (51-4) and discus (133-11.25).
Mountain Ridge's Zach Haberlein showcased his speed, claiming the 100-meter (11.3 seconds) and 200-meter (22.5 seconds), while teammate Austin Simpson controlled the middle distances with wins in the 400-meter (51.3 seconds) and 800-meter (2:05.7). Other event winners included Allegany's Hayden Linaburg in the pole vault (10-0) and Chris Manherz in the long jump (19-9.25), Fort Hill's Chase Lamb in the 300-meter hurdles (41.6 seconds), and Southern's Graham Harvey in the high jump (5-10).
In the relay events, Fort Hill captured both the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter, Allegany took the 4x200-meter, and Mountain Ridge won the 4x800-meter.
The girls' competition saw three double winners. Mountain Ridge's Aynsley Hawkins was dominant in the 800-meter (2:33.9) and 3200-meter (11:58.5), while Fort Hill's Jaden Emerson blazed to wins in the 100-meter (12.2 seconds) and 100-meter hurdles (15.7 seconds). Teammate Kylee Rice showed her versatility with victories in the 200-meter (27.2 seconds) and 400-meter (1:03.5).
Additional event winners included Mountain Ridge's Carolyn Hughes in the 300-meter hurdles (46.7 seconds) and Ashlynn Hawkins in the triple jump (33-9.5); Allegany's Surae Stewart in the shot put (31-11), Rylee Bauer in the discus (107-10.5), and Briley Linaburg in the pole vault (11-0); Southern's McNeely Bosley in the 1600-meter (5:59.1) and Ariana Healey in the long jump (15-10.25); and Northern's Samara Streets in the high jump (4-10).
In the girls' relays, Mountain Ridge took first in the 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter, Fort Hill won the 4x100-meter, and Allegany claimed the 4x800-meter to round out a memorable day of championship track and field.