By Brent Kennedy
bkennedy@patuxent.com
(Enlarge) Senior Katie Harman won a combined 10 gold medals at the county, region and state meets this spring. (Staff photo by Matt Roth)
The bronze, silver and gold medals -- Harman estimates around 50 -- that she's won while a member of River Hill's cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams dangle above her dresser as a reminder of hard work. And this spring, as the Hawks' senior added 11 medals, 10 of them gold, to her collection during the outdoor track postseason, it was difficult to find many athletes that worked harder.
In her final high school season, Harman won two individual Class 2A state titles (1,600 and 3,200) and was first in four events at both the county and regional meets. Her efforts also helped River Hill to its second consecutive county title, which simply served as the icing on the cake for this year's Columbia Flier/Howard County Times girls outdoor track Athlete of the Year.
"Everything is starting to sink in a little bit now, especially after our banquet the other day," said Harman, who will run at James Madison University in the fall. "I've thought about how far I've come since I first started at coach (Earl) Lauer's cross country camp in seventh grade, and it's pretty amazing. Track especially, because this was only my second year doing outdoor."
Harman played lacrosse her first two years of high school, but Lauer convinced her to switch to outdoor track for her junior year.
"We made a deal that if I coached outdoor then she would run," said Lauer, who coached Harman in her four years of cross country. "She was a good lacrosse player, but that's not where the money was. In terms of her all-around training, it was the right move."
However, even with the success Harman had during cross country and indoor track, winning a combined three state titles as a junior, there was still an adjustment period during outdoor. The spring of her junior year, Harman's first outdoor season, she didn't win a single county or state title.
But this spring she came in to the season as a different runner.
"I was a lot more confident and comfortable with myself. I feel like I know my body a lot better now and what I need to do to peak at the right time," said Harman, who took a two-week break after indoor track and then took things slow early on during outdoor to keep from burning out.
"I ran my best races at the end, which hasn't always been the case."
Harman stole the show at the county championships May 7, cruising her way to convincing victories in the 800 (2:22), 1,600 (5:08) and 3,200 (11:16). She also was a member of the River Hill 4x800 relay squad that won gold with a time of 9:53, making her one of only two girls to win four gold medals at the meet.
But that was only the beginning.
At regionals, she dropped her times in all three individual events en route to winning three more individual titles. Her time of 11:03.17 in the 3,200 was a personal best and the Hawks' 4x800 relay team again finished first.
"Of all the races, that 11:03 in the two mile probably stands out the most for me," said Harman.
Harman lost her perfect post-season at states, finishing seventh in the 800, but she still earned championships in the 1,600 (5:04.07) and 3,200 (11:06.94). She added a silver medal in the 4x800 relay, giving Harman her best-ever outdoor state meet.
"She's probably the best distance girl we've ever had at River Hill ... 11 out of 12 medals this postseason was incredible," Lauer said. "She's tenacious, like a bulldog that grabs a hold of something and doesn't let go. She sets her goals and then works as hard as it takes in order to reach it. She has a determination that you can't teach."
Named to the all-county first team are:
Funmi Alabi, Long Reach
Events: 100- and 200-meter dash; 4x100 and 4x400 relay
Postseason highlights: First in the 100 (12.06 seconds) and 200 (25.05) at counties. Part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that placed first at the county championship. First in the 100 (12.11) and 200 (24.83) at 3A East regional meet. Also part of 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that placed first at regions. First in the 100 (11.81) and 200 (24.84) at 3A state meet.
Kamilah Browne, Reservoir
Events: 100- and 300-meter hurdles
Postseason highlights: First in the 100 hurdles (15.09) and 300 hurdles (46.29) at county meet. First in the 100 hurdles (14.94) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (46.44) at 3A East regional meet. First in the 100 hurdles (14.47) and second in the 300 hurdles (45.85) at 3A state meet.
Samantha Clay, Reservoir
Events: Shot put and discus
Postseason highlights: First in the shot put (31-0.5) and fourth in the discus (89-1) at counties. Fifth in the shot put (30-10) and third in the discus (94-0) at 3A East regional meet.
Dorehn Coleman, River Hill
Events: 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash
Postseason highlights: Second in the 100 (12.63 seconds) and 400 (59.35), while also taking third in the 200 (25.89), at county championship. First in the 100 (12.90), 200 (25.64) and 400 (59.14) at the 2A South regional meet. Second in the 200 (25.58), third in the 400 (58.29) and fourth in the 100 (12.71) at 2A state meet.
Eryn Donaldson, Mt. Hebron
Events: High jump, long jump and triple jump
Postseason highlights: First in the high jump (5-3), fourth in the long jump (15-7.5) and fifth in the triple jump (31-11) at counties. First in the high jump (5-7) and third in the long jump (15-10) at the 2A South regional meet. Second in the high jump (5-6) at 2A state meet.
Angela Mensah, Mt. Hebron
Events: Long jump and triple jump
Postseason highlights: First in the long jump (16-5) and triple jump (35-6) at the county meet. Second in the long jump (16-7.5) and third in the triple jump (35-0) at the 2A South regional meet. Second in the triple jump (37-5) and third in the long jump (17-0) at 2A state meet.
Laura Shoemaker, Wilde Lake
Event: Pole vault
Postseason highlights: First in the pole vault (10-0) at the county championship. First in the pole vault (9-6) at the 3A East regional meet. Third in the pole vault (10-0) at the 3A state meet.
Jacqueline Tape, Long Reach
Events: 100- and 300-meter hurdles
Postseason highlights: Second in the 100 hurdles (15.35) and 300 hurdles (46.88) at counties. Third in the 100 hurdles (16.45) and 300 hurdles (46.20) at 3A East regional meet. Sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.17) and 300 hurdles (47.14) at 3A state meet.
Shayla Tunson, Wilde Lake
Events: Shot put and discus
Postseason highlights: First in the discus (91-3) and fourth in the shot put (30-2.5) at counties. Fourth in the discus (91-8) and sixth in the shot put (30-5.5) at 3A East regional meet. Sixth in the discus (89-8) at 3A state meet.
Becky Yep, Mt. Hebron
Events: 1,600- and 3,200-meter run
Postseason highlights: Second in the 1,600 (5:18) and 3,200 (11:28) at the county championship. Second in the 3,200 (11:17) and third in the 1,600 (5:18) at 2A South regional meet. Fourth in the 3,200 (11:30) at 2A state meet.
Marie Yuille, Oakland Mills
Events: 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash
Postseason highlights: First in the 400 (58.72), third in the 100 (12.77) and fourth in the 200 (26.49) at the county meet. Second in the 100 (13.21) and 200 (26.28), while also finishing fourth in the 400 (59.93) at 2A South regional meet. Fourth in the 200 (25.97) and sixth in the 400 (59.27) at 2A state meet.
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