Graham Bazell's spot among the state's elite long distance runners was cemented long before he reached the track at Morgan State University this spring. After all, the Atholton senior, who burst onto the scene as a freshman in February 2006 by finishing second in the 3,200 at the Class 2A/3A indoor state championships, already had four state titles to his name.

This year's outdoor state championships at Hughes Stadium, in Baltimore, simply served as a resounding exclamation point.

Setting a 3A state record in the 3,200 (9:13.27) and a personal record in the 1,600 (4:18.44), Bazell won two outdoor state championships in the same season for the first time. Those two titles, combined with championships in both events at counties and regionals, have earned him the distinction of being this year's Columbia Flier/Howard County Times boys outdoor track Athlete of the Year.

"Winning the state championship in the mile and two-mile this year will probably end up as one of my best memories. I've never really been consistent at states (during outdoor) ... I've fallen short a lot," said Bazell, who won the 3,200 as a junior but had also previously finished second or third four times at states during outdoor.

"The way I won the mile, coming back and catching the guy at the line, that made it even better."

In that 1,600-meter race at the state meet, Bazell trailed by 20 yards on the last lap before coming back to win by less than a second. A combination of a great kick by Bazell and Urbana's Nick Huang faltering just before the finish line made the difference.

"It's uncharacteristic for Graham to close like that at the end of a race ... he's not the kind of runner that outkicks guys and comes from behind," Atholton coach Mike Babe said. "But something happened in those last 200 meters. He showed something that not a lot of people thought he had."

Bazell had already made a statement in the 3,200 by finishing with the fastest time among all four classifications this year. He edged Sherwood's Solomon Haile (4A) by less than a second for that honor.

"I was watching (Solomon's) race after mine and he was on like the same pace as I was, so I knew it was going to be close," Bazell said. "To beat him, even not running in the same race, means a lot."

Haile owns the overall state record in the outdoor 3,200, running a time of 9:06.13 last spring.

While Bazell's state championship times marked his fastest of the postseason, he still was impressive at counties and regionals. He won the 1,600 and 3,200 by four seconds each at the county championships. Then at the 3A East regional, he won the 1,600 by seven seconds and the 3,200 by 21 seconds.

"For me the main thing is that I've learned how to be consistent," Bazell said. "I am able to spread my effort throughout races and keep my splits, for the most part, around the same times. I've learned not to get too wrapped up in what's going on around me and just run my race."

Bazell has accepted a scholarship to Stanford University.

Named to the all-county first team are:

Yao Adantor, Reservoir

Events: Shot put and discus

Postseason highlights: First in the shot put (47-1.5) at the county championship. First in the shot put (47-0) and second in the discus (140-2) at the 3A East regional meet. Second in the discus (139-7) at the 3A state meet.

Josh Bair, Mt. Hebron

Events: 300 hurdles and triple jump

Postseason highlights: First in the 300 hurdles (41.34 seconds) and triple jump (44-4.5) at counties. Second in the triple jump (43-8) and third in the 300 hurdles (41.30) at the 2A South regional meet. Second in the triple jump (45-6) and fifth in the 300 hurdles (40.61) at the 2A state meet.

Ryan Brown, Long Reach

Events: 110- and 300-meter hurdles

Postseason highlights: Second in the 300 hurdles (42.01 seconds) and third in the 110 hurdles (15.33) at counties. First in the 110 hurdles (15.59) and 300 hurdles (41.34) at the 3A East regional meet. Fifth in the 110 hurdles (15.48) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (42.08) at the 3A state meet.

Robby Creese, Glenelg

Events: 1,600- and 3,200 meter run

Postseason highlights: Sixth in the 1,600 (4:30.42) and 3,200 (9:51.08) at counties. First in the 1,600 (4:33.51) and 3,200 (9:55.38) at the 1A South regional meet. First in the 1,600 (4:25.27) at the 1A state meet.

Jarrel Epps, Wilde Lake

Events: 100- and 200-meter dash

Postseason highlights: First in the 100 (10.94) and third in the 200 (22.68) at counties. Second in the 100 (11.46) and 200 (22.72) at the 3A East regional meet.

Nate Gant, Hammond

Events: 100- and 200-meter dash; long jump

Postseason highlights: First in the long jump (21-6.25), second in the 200 (22.59) and third in the 100 (11.14) at counties. Third in the long jump (21-6), fourth in the 100 (11.41) and 200 (22.97) at the 2A South regional meet. First in the long jump (21-5) at the 2A state meet.

Jackson Jordan, Mt. Hebron

Event: 110 hurdles

Postseason highlights: First in the 110 hurdles (15.10) at counties. Second in 110 hurdles (15.78) at 2A South regional meet. Second in the 110 hurdles (14.84) at the 2A state meet.

Vince Mak, Centennial

Event: Pole vault

Postseason highlights: First in the pole vault (11-6) at counties. Third in the pole vault (11-6) at 3A East regional meet. Sixth in the pole vault (12-0) at 3A state meet.

Craig Morgan, River Hill

Events: 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter run; 4x800 relay

Postseason highlights: First in the 800 (1:59.73), second in the 1,600 (4:24.93) and third in the 3,200 (9:38.02) at counties. First in the 800 (1:58.17), 1,600 (4:24.31) and 3,200 (9:41.58) at 2A South regional meet. On 4x800 relay team that finished first in 8:07.89 at regionals. First in the 800 (1:56.03), second in the 1,600 (4:24.06) and 3,200 (9:30.03) at 2A state meet. Also was a member of the state champion 4x800 relay team (8:01.17).

Connor Pencek, Glenelg

Events: 400- and 800-meter run

Postseason highlights: Third in the 400 (50.47) at counties. First in the 800 (2:03.11) and second in the 400 (50.71) at 1A South regional meet. First in the 800 (1:57.27) at the 1A state meet.

Antonio Thrower, Wilde Lake

Event: High jump

Postseason highlights: First in the high jump (6-4) at counties. First in the high jump (5-11) at the 3A East regional meet. Third in the high jump (6-2) at the 3A state meet.

Spencer Wilkins, Mt. Hebron

Events: 100- and 200-meter dash

Postseason highlights: First in the 200 (22.57) and second in the 100 (11.13) at counties. Third in the 100 (11.34) and fifth in the 200 (23.10) at 2A South regional meet. Fourth in the 100 (11.33) at the 2A state meet.

Khalil Zaky, Long Reach

Events: 400-meter run

Postseason highlights: First in the 400 (50.04) at counties. First in the 400 (49.74) at 3A East regional meet. Sixth in the 400 (50.45) at 3A state meet.

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