All-Metro boys indoor track and field 2023-24: Southern-AA’s Eric Penkala named Athlete of the Year

Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro boys indoor track and field teams for the 2023-24 season.

Player of the Year

Eric Penkala, Southern-AA, junior

It’s been 40 years since the MPSSAA adopted the 800-meter run into its indoor state track and field program. Entering this season, only two runners had accomplished the distance “Triple Crown” — winning state championships in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Penkala became the third.

“He’s been consistent, he’s been competitive. He just trusts the process,” Southern coach Leon Tucker said. “The thing about Eric and his season, he just stuck with it. He trusted the training and trusted the coaches and he put it all together.”

Penkala left the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex with three individual Class 2A gold medals, winning the 800 (1:58.44), 1,600 (4:17.46) and 3,200 (9:31.39).

“From counties all the way up to states, actually the whole season, I’ve been doing the mile, two-mile, 800 combo. Every time I did that it was kind of a new experience, new feelings in terms of the lactic acid, the pain,” Penkala said. “When I got to counties, I kind of knew what I had to do. And especially at regionals, I knew it was going to hurt, it was going to be hard, but when it came to states, when I won the mile, it gave me confidence.

“The two-mile, I just blew through it, and in the 800 I just held on. I put my head down and just went.”

Penkala won the 800 state championship as a sophomore and has consistently been among the area’s top distance runners. But Tom Prendki, who coaches Penkala in cross country and is the track distance coach, said he saw a significant change in Penkala this year that elevated the junior to elite status.

“His confidence level, once he realized he could run just as well as his main competitors and he felt he was equal, that’s when he really took off,” Prendki said.

Penkala said a disappointing end to his sophomore cross country season left him with a drive to become a better runner.

“Over the summer and into the fall when cross country practice started, I emphasized it was going to be a whole new year, a whole new me,” Penkala said. “We’re not giving up as easily — not giving up at all — but I knew that junior year, that’s when the real times start to come out and I’d have to trust the process, do the work and it will all come out on top.”

But did his coaches think that would all lead to three state championships?

“On paper yes. But that was a tall order. A very tall order,”  Prendki said. “But he ever ceases to amaze.”

Coaches of the Year

Lutalo Bakari and Raynard Bennett, Digital Harbor

Bakari and Bennett served as co-coaches for a Rams team that captured the Class 3A state championship in decisive fashion.

They totaled 67 points, beating second-place Northern-Calvert by 25.

“Our motto for this year was ‘Attitude of Gratitude,'” Bakari said. “Everything we did we were thankful for. We learned a lot of lessons from last year. We contribute that to, one team, one focus, one goal. The kids bought into our philosophy.”

Digital Harbor used a strong lineup to rack up its points with two individual state champions — LaMont Johnson (300) and Jevonte Williams (55 hurdles) and two championship relay teams. The Rams also had two runner-up finishes and two others in the top four.

“We have a really strong core of sprinters, hrudlers, long sprinter and a great shot put, great field. It was a true, track AND field win,” Bakari said. “Our 4×2 and 4×4 [relays] ran strong, both were first-place winners. We also have a shuttle hurdle relay team that went and won nationals, too.”

First team

Cameron Davis, Calvert Hall, senior

Davis has been among the area’s premier distance runners for years and continued his dominance with two more MIAA A Conference titles in the 1,600 (4:27.11) and 3,200 (9:39.3).

Justin DeVaughn, Mervo, junior

DeVaughn electrified the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex crowd when he cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to win the Class 4A state high jump title. He also finished third in the 55-meter hurdles and ran on two top-five relay teams.

Chase Dorsey, Calvert Hall, junior

Dorsey, the area’s top thrower, launched the shot put more than 55 feet during a meet in New York this season. He won the MIAA A Conference championship, tossing 50-7.

Joseph Ensor, Howard, senior

Ensor, the top Howard County performer, became a two-time state champion, winning 3A gold in the 1,600 (4:20.76) and 3,200 (9:43.55).

Tsedeke Jakovics, Old Mill, junior

Jakovics was three-tenths of a second away from being a two-time state champion but still earned the 4A 800 state title (1:54.82) to go with a runner-up finish in the 1,600 (4:18.64).

LaMont Johnson, Digital Harbor, junior

Johnson was a big piece of the Rams’ title team, winning the 3A 300 (35.09) and finishing second in the 500 (1:06.55). He also ran on the Rams’ winning 4×200 and 4×400 relays.

Lukas Michael, Westminster, senior

Michael repeated as 3A state pole vault champion. The Carroll County gold medalist set a personal best when he cleared 14 feet at the state meet.

Marlin Newsome, Centennial, senior

Newsome won the 2A state championship in the 55-meter dash. He finished in 6.38 seconds, the best time at any of the MPSSAA or MIAA championship meets.

Jack Watcher, Loyola Blakefield, senior

Watcher won the MIAA A Conference pole vault championship, clearing 14 feet. He vaulted an area-best 14-6 at the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic in New York.

Ben Wheeler, Hereford, sophomore

Wheeler was crucial in the Bulls’ charge the 2A state team championship. He placed first in the 500 (1:06.08) and was the runner-up in the 300 (35.62).

Jevonte Williams, Digital Harbor, sophomore

Williams ran the 55 hurdles in 7.51 seconds — the top time at any public or private school championship meet — to win the 3A state title. He also was part of the Rams’ two championship relays.

Kian Williams, Severna Park, senior

Williams won the 3A high jump state title with a mark of 6-6. He went as high as 6-8 at a national meet in Virginia. Though not state events, Williams won the long jump and triple jump at the Anne Arundel County championships.

Second team

Khary Adams, Loyola Blakefield, sophomore

Cam Brown, Gilman, junior

Christian Childs, Manchester Valley, senior

Chancellor DeRosier, Old Mill, senior

Damon Ferguson Jr., Milford Mill, sophomore

Jadon Gaines, Hereford, senior

Tristan Gray, Digital Harbor, junior

Justin Naylor, Joppatowne, junior

Ojigwe Olua, Western Tech, junior

Kayvawn Simms Rogers, Meade, senior

Jake Weakland, Hereford, senior

Alexander Wockenfuss, Harford Tech, junior