Several Prince George's County athletes doubled their winnings Saturday, as the county enjoyed a stellar final day at the state track and field championships Saturday.
Five athletes – Charles H. Flowers junior Lorraine Graham, Flowers senior George Empty, Eleanor Roosevelt junior Aurieyall Scott and sophomore Amirah Johnson and Largo senior Robert Moore – won two individual state crowns to lead the way for the county.
Graham won the Class 4A girls' 100-meter hurdles (13.92 seconds) in dominant fashion, establishing a state record to go along with a close victory in the 300 hurdles (43.15 seconds).
The humble Graham was all smiles.
"I didn't think I would do it, but anything can happen in states," Graham said.
Empty also captured two 4A titles, winning events that generally are regarded as two of the most difficult: the 400 (48.26 seconds) and the 800 (1 minute, 55.13 seconds).
In the 800, Empty made his move at the 600-meter mark and proved too strong to be caught.
"Everybody knew I had the potential during the indoor season," said Empty, who has battled a lingering hamstring injury since the indoor season. "I was a little more tired than I thought, or I could have pushed for 1:52."
Scott, a native of Georgia, has come to Maryland and taken the prep track scene by storm. She can lay claim to being the fastest girl in the state, as she beat the defending champion, Northwest sophomore Olivia Ekpone, in the 4A girls' 100 (11.89 seconds) and in the 200 (24.30 seconds).
Johnson captured the 4A girls' 800 (2:17.21) and 1,600 (5:00.48).
"I expected to do this well in the [1,600] because I have been training for it and I wanted to get my time down and this was the perfect opportunity to do so," said Johnson, who competed in the 1,600 for only the third time this season.
Moore said he was confident he would capture the Class 3A boys' 110 hurdles (14.82 seconds) and 300 hurdles (39.50 seconds).
"During the outdoor season, I wanted to work on my strength at the beginning of the season and speed at the end," Moore said.
Forestville junior Ekundayo Sogbesan put together the perfect race following her coach's directions to the finest detail as she established a state Class 1A record in the girls' 400 with a time of 55.36 seconds. The previous mark of 55.63 was set just last year by Tyshia Oliver of Reginald Lewis High.
Roosevelt senior Denny Long won the 4A boys' 100 (11.08 seconds), while Central senior Mark Davis won the 2A boys' 300 hurdles (39.57 seconds), finishing off a triple crown postseason. He also won the county and 2A South Region titles in the 300 hurdles.
Friendly senior Vernetta Biggs captured the 3A girls' long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 1.5 inches.
The Roosevelt team of Abi Adenikinju, Afia Charles, Doris Anyanwu and Jenea McCammon won the 400 relay (46.99 seconds).
Meanwhile, the county also had a significant impact on the team standings. The Roosevelt girls ran away with the 4A state championship with 108 points, while Flowers finished second (57 points) and Oxon Hill finished fourth (46 points).
On the boys' side, Roosevelt was the top county finisher with 44 points (third in 4A) while Flowers finished in fourth place with 43 points.
In 3A, the Largo boys were the county's top finisher with 40 points (fifth), while the Friendly girls were the top finisher with 37 points (fifth).