TJ Girls Edge Urbana for First County Cross-Country Title Since 2010
The Patriots put five runners in the top 14 to win by three points at Woodsboro Park, while Urbana’s Kate Miner repeated as individual champion.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
Thomas Johnson won the girls team championship with 43 points, three fewer than runner-up Urbana. TJ placed five scorers in the top 14; coach Larry O’Hara said it was the program’s first county title since 2010. Urbana’s Kate Miner repeated as individual champion in 19:27.7, ahead of Tuscarora’s Siena Foster and TJ’s Salma Mahfoud.
Thomas Johnson’s girls turned a season of shared work and growing confidence into a county championship Thursday at Woodsboro Park.
The Patriots edged Urbana 43–46 for their first Frederick County Public Schools girls cross-country title since 2010, coach Larry O’Hara told The Frederick News-Post. All five of TJ’s scoring runners finished among the top 14, providing just enough depth to overcome another individual victory by Urbana junior Kate Miner.
Miner defended her county title in 19 minutes, 27.7 seconds, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Tuscarora’s Siena Foster. Foster ran 19:44.7, followed by TJ senior Salma Mahfoud in 19:51.3.
For Mahfoud, the finish carried added significance after a hamstring injury kept her out of last year’s county meet.
TJ’s other scorers were Madelene Kate Partlow, seventh in 20:25; Nina Kirkendall-Plaia, ninth in 20:54.4; Elizabeth Lombardo, 10th in 20:55.7; and Addie Innocenti, 14th.
The narrow team victory followed a breakthrough at the Central Maryland Conference championship the previous week. TJ beat Urbana 41–59 at Boonsboro, giving the Patriots confidence they could do it again.
O’Hara credited a supportive group whose runners bring experience from several sports. Kirkendall-Plaia also plays soccer in the fall, Innocenti has a lacrosse background, Mahfoud previously played soccer and Lombardo competes in middle-distance track events.
That mix has helped produce a team whose athletes push one another while enjoying their time together, O’Hara said.
Urbana remained close by putting all seven runners in the top 20. Behind Miner, its scorers were Natalie Barber, fifth in 20:10.6; Brenna Davies, 11th in 20:57; Kylie Kauflin, 13th in 21:15.8; and Mila Fuentes-Ayala, 16th in 21:24.2.
Hawks coach C.J. Ecalono praised his runners’ effort, and athletes from both teams mingled and posed for pictures afterward.
Middletown placed third with 95 points, led by freshman Sophia Caddy’s sixth-place finish in 20:20.5. Tuscarora finished fourth with 103. Oakdale’s Leah Scarzello was fourth individually in 19:56.1.
Miner said her performance on Woodsboro’s hilly course restored confidence after a fifth-place finish at the CMC meet. With regional and state competition ahead, both Urbana and TJ leave the county championship with reasons to believe their strongest racing can continue.
WHAT IT MEANS
TJ’s consecutive conference and county titles show the value of its scoring depth heading into postseason competition. Urbana’s close finish and Miner’s individual victory keep the rivalry compelling as the teams prepare for regional and state meets.
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