The UCBAC Championships took place on May 3rd and 4th last week, and there were many incredible performances by athletes. This was the first two-day meet for most teams. A total of 15 teams came to compete at Perryville High School in this prestigious event, where competition was heightened and records were set.
The Rising Sun Girls Team placed highest of all Cecil teams and won 2nd place (87 points), followed by North East Girls in 5th (54 points), Bo Manor in 7th (46 points), and Elkton in 10th (22 points). Perryville Boys earned 5th (54 points), followed by Elkton Boys in 7th (47 points), Rising Sun Boys in 8th (38 points), North East Boys in 11th (29 points), and Bo Manor Boys in 12th (22.5 points).
Two athletes performed outstandingly at this meet, with Leanna Rogers and Caroline Mercer each taking home 3 UCBAC Champion titles. North East’s Leanna Rogers won 1st place in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m, even taking home a school record in the 3200m with a time of 11:29.91. Rogers is currently a sophomore at North East High School. When asked about her performance, Rogers attributed much of her success to her supportive team. She said, “I am really proud of myself, my coaches, and all of my teammates for helping me get this far … My teammates and I push each other every day at practice to bring out the best of each one of us”. Rogers has many goals for her running career but ultimately hopes to break school records in the 1600m and 800m and take home a medal from the MPSSAA 2A State Championships.
Rogers also noted, “I would like to shout out how awesome my teammates have been throughout my high school career. I can always hear them cheering for me to do my best while I run, not only me but all of our other athletes. Everyone retains a positive attitude no matter if it was a bad day or not. I have the best coaching staff ever on our team. Coach Sprout, Decker, and Purner all push me to be the best person and athlete I could be. Even the throwing coach, Coach Westbrook motivates me every day.” North East must be incredibly proud of Rogers and her future in track and field.
Caroline Mercer of Rising Sun also took home 3 gold medals after UCBAC Championships, earning first in the Shot Put, Discus, and her team’s 4×400 Relay. Mercer is currently a junior at Rising Sun High School. She said she is incredibly proud of her performance at UCBACs this year and feels motivated by her accomplishments to continue her success in the future. Mercer also noted that “Watching demonstration event videos outside of practice definitely helps me focus in on what I’m doing when I have the chance to practice on the track”.
Mercer also has many goals for her future in track and field, including breaking 60 seconds in the 400m, throwing over 130ft in Discus, over 35ft in Shot Put, and running under a 27-second 200m. Mercer also wanted to thank her 4×400 team including Kaitlyn Martin, Bella Chavis, and Katie Callaghan for support coming into the event and their hard work on the track.
Cecil County athletes accounted for 11 UCBAC Championships titles this meet. Rocky Ramsland won the 100m Dash with a time of 11.11 seconds, taking home the win for Perryville. Elkton’s Boy’s 4×100 team of Solomon Pope, Isaiah Huffstutler, Allan Tate, and Joshua Brill won 1st with a time of 43.91 seconds. Sydney Phillips of Perryville brought home gold in the Shot Put, throwing 47′ 7. Jakob Blankenship of North East threw 130′ 6 in the Discus to capture 1st place. Risings Sun’s Girl’s 4×400 of Kaitlyn Martin, Bella Chavis, Caroline Mercer, and Katie Callaghan ran a time of 4:16.16 to earn first place. Brin Khanjar of North East also won the High jump, jumping 5ft to win.
Along with many first-place wins, Cecil County athletes had many more podium finishes. In Boy’s events, 8 Cecil County athletes placed 2nd or 3rd in their events. John Ferry of Rising Sun placed 2nd in the 3200. Teammate Matthew McKay placed 3rd in the 1600m. Ty Stiffler of Perryville placed 3rd in the 110m High Hurdles. Jaden Nichols of Elkton threw into 2nd in the Shot Put and was followed by Jacob Blankenship of North East in 3rd. Jared Adams of Elkton placed 2nd in the High Jump, and Andrew Lenz of Bo Manor placed 2nd in the Long Jump. Placing 3rd in the Triple Jump was Mekhi Lockhart of Elkton.
Five Cecil County Girl’s athletes also placed 2nd or 3rd on the podium. Sage North of Elkton earned 2nd in the 100m High Hurdles and was followed by Katie Callaghan of Rising Sun. Katie Callaghan also went on to earn 2nd in the 300m Intermediate Hurdles. Rylee Lenz placed 3rd in the Discus, and Briana Poullard earned second in the Long Jump.
Elkton’s Girls 4×100 relay of Shadai Givens, Myracle Miles, MyAven Ewing, and Sage North earned second. Rising Sun’s Girls 4×800 also won second place. Their team consisted of Anna Callaghan, Isabelle Griffith, Katelyn Lacey, and Amanda Callaghan.
Perryville High School did a wonderful job hosting this year’s UCBAC Championships, and their facilities were beautiful and well-kept. Athletes performed at extremely high levels and spirits were certainly high leaving the meet after the final day of competition. A huge thank you to all the coaches and athletes!
