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Maryland XC: Gentzel, Smithsburg girls celebrate Class 1A championships

Daniel Kauffman, The Herald-Mail
·5 min read

PARKTON, Md. — In 2021 and 2022, the Smithsburg girls cross country team settled for runner-up finishes in Class 1A at the Maryland cross country championships.

This year, the Leopards are second to none in their class.

Cora Gentzel and Michaela Gross finished 1-2 on Hereford's infamously hilly 3-mile course, and Smithsburg scored 69 points to defeat runner-up Harford Tech by 19. The Leopards claimed the sixth girls cross country state title in program history, and their first since 2014.

"The last two years, just coming up short, has really driven them on," Smithsburg coach Ray Shriver said.

Smithsburg's Cora Gentzel crosses the finish line as the winner of the Maryland Class 1A girls cross country race in 19:43.05.
Smithsburg's Cora Gentzel crosses the finish line as the winner of the Maryland Class 1A girls cross country race in 19:43.05.

Gentzel took control in the second mile of the course, which is the most difficult, opening a 20-second lead by the 2-mile mark and reaching the finish line in 19:43.05.

"I knew I needed to not go out too fast but finish strong, and I think I did that," Gentzel said. "I wanted to start hunting at the dip, going for anyone who might be ahead, because I always run from the back, and that works a lot. From there I did what I needed to do."

Said Shriver, "We knew she could. She's so very talented and so very driven. But you always wonder what it's going to be like on that day. She put it all together today, too, and I couldn't be more proud of our girls."

Smithsburg's Michaela Gross finished second in the Maryland Class 1A girls race in 20:16.96.
Smithsburg's Michaela Gross finished second in the Maryland Class 1A girls race in 20:16.96.

Gross was fourth at the 2-mile mark but worked her way up to second place by the finish, clocking 20:16.96.

"We start slower and work our way up," Gross said. "We feed off getting in front of other people, and that's what I did. As soon as I see someone, I try to catch up to them. … We've been working so hard to get ready for this meet specifically. We don't care about winning any other meet, it's just practice for this meet. We have such a great team bond, and I'm going to miss them so much next year."

Said Shriver, "She did everything humanly possible to be ready for today and proved it. Finishing second in that race is incredible."

Kayla Hawbecker (13th, 21:38.85) and Ella Fisher (24th, 22:40.06) earned medals with top-25 finishes, and Claire Bono rounded out the Leopards' scoring five runners (45th, 24:07.86).

Smithsburg's girls cross country team poses with the 2023 Maryland Class 1A state championship trophy.
Smithsburg's girls cross country team poses with the 2023 Maryland Class 1A state championship trophy.

"Four medalists kind of sealed the deal. Ella worked so hard all year to make the top 25 at states, and she succeeded. And picking up Claire to be our No. 5, that was just huge," Shriver said. "They slammed the door shut on Harford Tech at the end and made sure they weren't going to catch us."

Said Gentzel, "Third time is a charm. We've been runner-up, we've been so close, and this was the year to finally get it."

Boonsboro senior Caroline Matthews finished 12th in 21:33.75 to earn a medal.

Smithsburg's Michael Wynkoop (306) leads Boonsboro's Jakob Davidson (31) in the first mile of the Class 1A boys race. Wynkoop finished fifth in 17:18.22 and Davidson was sixth in 17:26.49.
Smithsburg's Michael Wynkoop (306) leads Boonsboro's Jakob Davidson (31) in the first mile of the Class 1A boys race. Wynkoop finished fifth in 17:18.22 and Davidson was sixth in 17:26.49.

In 1A boys, Smithsburg's Michael Wynkoop and Boonsboro's Jakob Davidson were within strides of each other for most of the race. Wynkoop kicked away from Davidson late to secure fifth place in 17:18.22, while Davidson finished sixth in 17:26.49.

"Michael's been one of the hardest-working kids I've had," Shriver said. "He's focused on what he wants. He wanted a top five, and I'm really happy for him that he got it. It's a product of hard work paying off, and in this sport … there's a huge correlation between hard work and payoff. He was willing to pay the price, and he's got the reward."

Smithsburg finished sixth out of 17 complete teams with 173 points. The Leopards' other scoring runners were Tyler Younker (29th, 18:25.47), Camilo Mellott (34th, 18:42.31), Luke Gentzel (66th, 19:39.87) and Ethan Hurd (70th, 19:48.34).

Boonsboro placed 11th in the team standings with 270 points. The Warriors' other scoring runners were Noah Tedards (47th, 19:00.37), Kieryn Bundy (58th, 19:23.95), James Rogers (99th, 20:41.87) and Henry Lincoln (101st, 20:47.63).

North Hagerstown's Lauren Stine and Great Mills' Carter Brotherton run side by side in the first mile of the Maryland Class 3A girls race. Brotherton won in 18:33.65 and Stine placed third in 19:10.48.
North Hagerstown's Lauren Stine and Great Mills' Carter Brotherton run side by side in the first mile of the Maryland Class 3A girls race. Brotherton won in 18:33.65 and Stine placed third in 19:10.48.

In Class 3A, North Hagerstown junior Lauren Stine finished third in the girls race in 19:10.48. Great Mills Senior Carter Brotherton won in 18:33.61, and Howard’s Claire Sivitz placed second in 19:01.72.

Stine placed second a year ago with a significantly slower time of 19:55.9.

“The field is super talented, as you could tell,” Stine said. “It’s not the place that I wanted. It just gives me more motivation for indoor (track).”

North’s girls finished 12th out of 18 complete teams with 284 points. The Hubs’ other scoring runners were Anna Chamberlin (35th, 21:18.87), Rian Johnson (82nd, 23:06.18), Ella Hajel (94th, 23:32.24) and Brianna Matthews (137th, 25:51.68).

North Hagerstown's Rishi Bhat (1005) had the best time by a Washington County boys runner at the Maryland state meet, finishing 30th in Class 3A in 17:13.44.
North Hagerstown's Rishi Bhat (1005) had the best time by a Washington County boys runner at the Maryland state meet, finishing 30th in Class 3A in 17:13.44.

North’s boys, which were projected to finish outside the top 10, exceeded expectations by placing seventh out of 24 complete teams with 267 points. It’s the Hubs’ best finish ever in Class 3A as they improved on a ninth-place showing in 2022.

“To move up from ninth to seventh with the level of competition in this class shows the heart and dedication of this team,” North coach Marc Abe said.

The Hubs’ scoring runners were Rishi Bhat (30th, 17:13.44), Walker Mason (31st, 17:16.55), Bradley Helman (46th, 17:37.88), Landon Call (87th, 18:17.15) and Carson Wilt (97th, 18:24.85).

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland XC: Gentzel, Smithsburg girls celebrate 1A championships