Watkins Mill Track Looks to Break Through at State Finals

Off the strength of a team second-place finish in the 3A West Regional championship last week, nine Watkins Mill’s athletes are heading to this weekend’s state finals in Baltimore.

The boys’ team edged out Clarksburg and Quince Orchard last week at Linganore High School, scoring 69 points to the Coyotes' 66 and the Cougars' 65. Linganore won the region with 147 points.

The top-four finishers in each event at the May 19-20 meet earned a spot in the 3A state finals, where Watkins Mill ran to a fourth-place finish overall last year.

William Yougnia won the 200-meter dash last week in 22.42 seconds, anchored the winning 4x200 and 4x400 relays, and took third in a close finish in the 100-meter dash.

Patrick Schlosser won the region's discus title with a throw of 138 feet, 8 inches. He  also ran on the 4x200 and 4x400 relays.

Fellow sophomore Dontay Hears's performance at Linganore qualified him in four events this weekend. He took fourth in the long jump, third in the triple jump, and ran on the 4x200 and 4x400 relays.

Senior Damiete Roberts--the most accomplished hurdler in school history--will vie for three state titles: 110-meter hurdles, triple jump and the 4x200 relay.

Santon Shagavah rounds out this weekend's 4x400 team. He'll also be running with Watkins Mill's 4x800 relay team, which placed fifth last week but qualified for the state finals by virtue of their time. Sterling Cadeau, Pilawe Pato and Ariel Rodriguez complete the 800 relay team.

On the girls' side, McKenna Guilds qualified for state's in the 1600 meters.