Girls make mark in state, nation

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Girls make mark in state, nation

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Christopher Anderson⁄The Bowie Star

The Star⁄Gazette All-County Girls’ Indoor Track team includes: (front row, from left) Shaunte Boney, Joanne Coley, Dionna Hayes, Imani Colbert, Waquesha Canty; (middle row, from left) Takecia Jameson, Marika Walker, Tasha Stanley, Doris Anyanwu, Tameka Jameson; (back row, from left) Selena Haggins, Eunice Jones, Saniel Atkinson, Adrienne Tolson. Not pictured: Coach of the Year Rick Williams.

Runner of the year

Marika Walker, Eleanor Roosevelt, Distance: Barely missed a historic mark at the state finals, but the Eleanor Roosevelt senior solidified her standing as one of the state’s elite performers. She won five individual postseason titles, including the state 4A⁄3A 1,600- and 3,200-meters. She established a state record in the 1,600 (5 minutes, 0.59 seconds), breaking the previous mark that stood for 12 years, and nearly became the first female in state history to run less than five minutes in the event. Walker will continue her track career in the fall at North Carolina State University.

Field athlete of the year

Joanne Coley, Largo, shot put: Won the state 3A⁄2A shot put title (40 feet, 8 inches) and claimed two of the three postseason meets, placing second to Potomac High’s four-time champ Rachelle Wright at the county meet. She rebounded by winning the East Region and state meets against Wright, who won the previous three Star⁄Gazette Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honors. Coley was the runner-up at the Prince George’s Invitational and placed fourth at the Montgomery County Invitational.

Coach of the year

Rick Williams, Oxon Hill: After guiding the Oxon Hill High School boys’ squad to its first outdoor state championship last spring, Williams saw his young girls’ team make strides this winter. Oxon Hill, which didn’t score at last year’s state Class 4A⁄3A finals, was the county’s second-best team at the state meet, placing fourth overall behind seven-time defending champ Eleanor Roosevelt. The Clippers were the runner-up at county and East Region meets. Oxon Hill was the most improved team at the county finals, going from 15th in 2006 to second.

First team

Doris Anyanwu, Roosevelt, Sprints: A repeat first-team pick, the sophomore won the county title in the 300 and was the runner-up and third, respectively, at the East Region and state meets. She was also part of the Raiders’ 1,600 relay that set the state record (3:52.18) and owns the nation’s No. 1 time (3:44.34).

Waquesha Canty, Charles H. Flowers, Sprints: The senior came close to the Triple Crown, placing second at the county (7.37) and state 4A⁄3A finals (7.16). A second-team pick last winter, Canty was the runner-up at the Montgomery Invitational to Western’s Leticia Wright, who won the state title.

Dionna Hayes, Elizabeth Seton, Sprints: Hayes produced the state’s best time in the 200 (25.6), and claimed top honors in the 55 at the Prince George’s Invitational (7.44) and Howard County Winter Invitational (7.29). The sophomore gained runner-up honors at Virginia Tech (personal-best 7.23) and Georgetown Prep (7.33) meets.

Takecia Jameson, Roosevelt, Sprints: Jameson was a key element in another championship winter for the Raiders, winning the 300 at the East Region meet (39.3), and was state (39.88) and county (40.6) runner-up. The versatile performer, headed to the University of Miami in the fall, has the nation’s top clocking in the 500 (1:12.61).

Eunice Jones, Central, Middle Distance: The senior came up big during the Falcons’ unsuccessful title defense at the 2A⁄1A meet, winning the 500 (1:18.47) and 800 (2:25.35). She won both events at the East Region competition as Central eventually finished third at the state finals.

Tameka Jameson, Roosevelt, MiddleDistance: Jameson successfully defended her state title in the 500 (1:15.63) and placed first at the region meet (1:15.13). Both times are rated in the top 10 nationally. Jameson, who will join her sister Takecia at Miami in the fall, has the nation’s fifth-best time in the 600 (1:32.53).

Tasha Stanley, Roosevelt, MiddleDistance: Another talented cog in the Raiders’ machine, the junior won her second straight state title in the 800 (2:15.54), and was region champ (2:18.43). A repeat first-team selection, Stanley placed second in the 500 (1:16.3) at the county finals and was part of the county-record setting 1,600 relay.

Imani Colbert, Flowers, Hurdles: Colbert established herself as the Jaguars’ best hurdler since Tiffany Nesfield (Illinois), winning the county (8.36) and region (8.2) 55 titles before a stumble in the semifinals at the state meet ruined her Triple Crown bid. She placed third at the Montgomery Invitational (8.36).

Selena Haggins, Central, Hurdles: A repeat first-teamer, Haggins won her second straight 55 hurdle title at the 2A⁄1A meet (8.6), and won the region title (8.3). The senior was fifth at the county finals, where she was the runner-up in the long jump (15-11).

Shaunte Boney, Largo, High Jump: Boney missed a postseason sweep, placing third at the state 3A⁄2A finals (5-2) after victories at the county (5-4) and region (5-2) competitions. A second-team pick last winter, the sophomore placed first at the Prince George’s Invitational (5 feet).

Saniel Atkinson, Bishop McNamara, High Jump⁄Triple Jump: Atkinson had the county’s best distance in the triple jump (36-7 at Virginia Tech), and high jump (5-8 at Kent State Invitational and Pepsi Hall of Fame Classic) which is currently No. 5 in the U.S. A returning first-teamer, the sophomore won the high jump at the Hispanic Games (5-6) and Gill Invitational (5-6).

Adrienne Tolson, Bowie, Long Jump: Tolson claimed the county championship (16-6.25) and was runner-up at the Coach O Invitational (16-2.5). The sophomore also placed third in the 60 hurdles at Coach O and was sixth in the 55 hurdles at the East Region meet.

Second Team

Sprints: Ayanna Adams and Tanisha Wells-Owens, Largo; Keona Austin, High Point; Lorraine Graham,Flowers; Deseree King, Oxon Hill; Christina Yates, Gwynn Park.

Middle distance: Elan Hilaire,Roosevelt; Kiana Martinez, Oxon Hill; Denise Smith, Flowers; Tonika Vickery and Jasmine Walker, Largo.

Distance: Taylor Blackwell, High Point; Nicole Franklin, Largo; Anika Stark, Bowie; Brittany View,Roosevelt; Alexis Walls, Oxon Hill.

Hurdles: Jasmine Norris, Largo; Evann Slaughter, Oxon Hill.

Jumps: Elizabeth Kallay, Largo; Everleigh McNeil, Flowers; Adenike Pedro, Seton; Christina Rawles and Dareshia Sistaire, Oxon Hill.

Shot put: Ashley Pope and Jessica Walls, Oxon Hill; Hannah Slaughter, Bladensburg; Joycelyn Wheeler, Largo.

Relays: Janae McMamman, Zawadi Rowe and Tashima Stephens, Roosevelt.

All-county teams are selected by the Star⁄Gazette sports staff based on athletes’ performances and nominations from coaches. Staff writer Derek Toney compiled the writeups on these pages.