June 05, 2001
Boys Performer of Year
Andy Kuchera, Westminster, senior: Nobody's better in the metro area in the pole vault. Kuchera cleared an area-best 13 feet, 6 inches at the Westminster Invitational before winning Carroll County, Central Maryland Conference and Class 4A East Region championships. At the Class 4A state meet, he took second (13 feet). He also won the event at a number of other competitions, including the Knights Invitational. This student of the pole vault attends at least one specialized camp each summer, and the results have paid off handsomely, with his vaults improving by well over a foot since last winter. Kuchera, however, is no one-event wonder. He also filled a void for the Owls by excelling at the hurdles, where he claimed a county championship in the 110 hurdles and took 10th in that event at the Knights Invitational.
Boys Co-Coaches of Year
Peter Dodd and Joel Pechart, Bowling Brook: Dodd and Pechart started a track program at the western Carroll County preparatory school in 1992 and, despite having to start from scratch each year with a new group of kids, have managed to turn it into a consistent power. This season, the team scored victories at the 16-team Tri-State Invitational in Hancock, the Journal-Hedgesville (W. Va.) Eagles Invitational and the Sonny Sheppard Relays in Hanover, Pa., and took second to only top-ranked Mount St. Joseph at the Private Schools State Meet after runner-up finishes at the Westminster Invitational and Zimmerman Invitational in Walkersville. In fact, the only teams all spring that Bowling Brook faced but didn't beat were Mount St. Joseph - The Sun's top-ranked team - Westminster and Frederick. "They far exceed our expectations," said Pechart, whose team won the 300 and 800 relays at the prestigious Knights Invitational, beating out such powers as Oakland Mills, Mervo and Mount St. Joe. Along the way, the relay-oriented team also shattered school records in the 1,600 (3:28) and 3,200 (8:23.6) relays. After its first meet, Bowling Brook never finished worse than second.
The boys team
Matt Adami, South Carroll, senior: Adami capped his South Carroll career by winning a county title in the 1,600, then placing fifth in the Central Maryland Conference, third in the region (4:32.7) and 12th at the Class 3A state meet. He also took fourth in the county and CMC 800, and fourth in the county and region 3,200 before taking 10th in the state.
Ryan Bordner, Francis Scott Key, senior: Bordner claimed county and region championships in the 200 (22.5) before placing fifth in that event at the Monocacy Valley Athletic League meet. He also excelled in the 100, taking second in the county and region, third in the MVAL (11.2) and seventh at the Class 2A state meet.
Troy Borneman, Westminster, senior: A standout in four events, Borneman won a county title in the high jump, was second in the 110 hurdles (16.7), third in the triple jump (39-8.5) and third in the long jump. At the Central Maryland Conference competition, he won the high jump (meet-record 6-4.5), took fifth in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the long jump. He went on to win a region title in the high jump before tying for sixth at the Class 4A state meet.
Brian Horr, Francis Scott Key, freshman: Key's talented freshman left his mark this spring, winning a county championship in the long jump (19-10.5), taking third in the 300 hurdles (43.5) and fourth in the 400 (52.9). At the Monocacy Valley Athletic League meet, he placed fourth in the triple jump (37-7) and took seventh and eighth, respectively, in the long jump and 300 hurdles.
Adam Kiriakoy, Bowling Brook, senior: One of Bowling Brook's top burners, Kiriakoy took second in the Private Schools State 400 (51.7), won the 400 at the Tri-State Invitational and claimed the 800 (2:02.8) at the Journal-Hedgesville (W. Va.) Eagles Invitational. He also ran legs on the Private Schools champion 1,600 and third-place 3,200 relay teams.
Dave Long, Westminster, junior: After coming out for track for the first time, Long claimed county and region championships in the 300 hurdles (40.6), also taking fourth in the Central Maryland Conference and 13th at the Class 4A state meet. He also ran key legs on the Owls' 400, 800 and 1,600 relay teams.
Dwayne Magruder, Bowling Brook, senior: Normally running three relays every meet, including Bowling Brook's unbeaten 400 relay, Magruder also excelled individually, winning a Private Schools State title in the 400 (51.3) and finishing fourth at that meet in the 200 (22.9). He also was second in the 400 at both the Walkersville and Tri-State invitationals.
Bobby Mead, South Carroll, senior: After taking the winter off, Mead returned as the county's top distance threat, claiming county titles in the 800 (2:06.1) and 3,200, and taking second in the 1,600 (4:35.5). He went on to claim second in the Central Maryland Conference in the 1,600 and 3,200, before winning a region title in the 3,200 (9:44.0) and placing fifth at the Class 3A state meet.
