Prince George's County

In 2024, the Bishop McNamara boys track and field team narrowly missed the WCAC title, but this year, they were able to redeem themselves in the final event, beating out St. John’s College and Archbishop Carroll. “Last year, we had key individuals, but this year, we had a full team,” stated Head Coach Sonny Hicks. “It took every event, sprints, distance, jumps, relays, and that depth is what made the difference.” This year, Hicks stated that 22 boys competed in this year’s WCAC championship meet. Out of the 22, 17 of them were able to score. “We knew what we had to do coming into this season,” stated Dean Solomon. “Last year gave us the blueprint, and this year, we followed through.” Solomon joined the track and field team in his sophomore year out of interest. After asking Hicks for the schedule, he started preparing and practicing for the upcoming season. His decision to join the team paid off. In his time at Bishop McNamara, Solomon was a part of the 4x800 relay team that broke the Maryland state record for indoor and outdoor track and field. “To go from running 8:10 to breaking the state record, that was surreal,” he stated. According to both the athletes and their coaches, this year’s success stems from a shift in mindset. Many of the athletes maintained discipline throughout the season, working hard day and night during practices. That was evident during the meet, as the winner was decided by the final event: the 4x400 relay. The Mustangs were able to cross the finish line first, giving them the title. This title win was not just a simple victory, but a result of all the growth and hard work that this team put in throughout this season and the seasons before.