13th Annual Knights Invite
Friday, September 13, 2002
Baybrook Park
Bailey just misses record as C. Milton Wright defends title
Centrowitz leads Broadneck to upset win
Pat Bailey (C. Milton Wright's defending State XC Champion) and Awit Yohannes (Magruder's 4A outdoor 3200m State Champion) hooked up in a tough exciting battle in the 13th Annual Knights Invite at Baybrook Park. Rolling trough splits of 5:01 and 10:04 the two were even until Bailey made the decisive move. Bailey utilized his strength on the back hills to pull away in the last mile to win in 15 minutes and 28 seconds, just missing the course and meet record of 15:26 set by Spalding's Dusty Leib in 2000. Yohannes hung on for second in 15:58. J.J. Wetzel of Martin Spalding took third in 16:05. "I wanted to go for the record," Bailey said. "at two miles I was at 10:04. I knew I had a shot, but I tightened up a little bit at the end."
Bailey's teammates Jesse Slowikowski placed fifth (16:33), Brian Eagen 16th (17:11), Brandon Hepner 19th (17:19), and Sean McCormack 21st (17:25) to lead the top ranked Mustangs past Magruder 62-110. Fourth ranked Westminster finished third (116 points), Broadneck was fourth (143), and McDonogh was fifth (148).
Broadneck's Lauren Centrowitz, (4A runner up last year) got into a battle with St. Mary's Alissa Super. Centrowitz finally broke away at 1 ¾ miles. At 2 miles her lead was 30 meters and it was all over. "I pulled away on the hills," Centrowitz said. "I like to be pushed by other runners. I'm glad she (Super) was there to push me, but I'm looking forward to running my own race with no one around to challenge me. I just want to keep improving."
Broadneck, entering the meet ranked fourth, upset top ranked C. Milton Wright 64-66. Broadneck went 1, 6, 14, 17, and 26. C. Milton Wright finished 3, 4, 10, 16, and 33. "Judging from what the girls showed me in practice, I knew they would have a strong showing," Coach Dana Dobbs said. "This being the first meet of the season and the first invitational, that's a bonus." Notre Dame Prep finished third (114 points), Archbishop Spalding fourth (132), and St. Mary's fifth (151). This season marks 40 years of high school cross country at Baybrook Park.