Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro boys indoor track and field teams for the 2024-25 season:

Athlete of the Year

Ben Wheeler,

Hereford, junior

In the sixth grade, Wheeler realized that he was fast and started running, figuring it would help with soccer.

Fast forward a few years and Wheeler, now a junior, said goodbye to soccer to put all his focus on his burgeoning running career.

That focus and dedication to his craft led Wheeler to a pair of state championships at February’s Class 2A indoor track and field state meet.

“I started my training back probably late August and worked all the way up until … actually I’m still working,” he said. “I quit soccer to concentrate on track this year. I feel that was a big turning point for me. That helped me focus and get to a spot where I can win state championships.”

Wheeler has been a key piece of the Bulldogs’ program since his freshman season and reached new heights this year. He won the 2A state title in the 300, running it in 34.64 seconds.

He also claimed the 500 title in 1:04.3. Both times were Class 2A state meet records.

“He is an animal,” Hereford coach Adam Hittner said. “The 300 and 500 [at states] were no-doubters. He dominated them from the gun to the tape. … The 300 was an all-time Baltimore County record as well. He pulled a lot of athletes behind him to PR marks also because Ben knew he was the fastest one out there and just took the race by the throat and told everyone else to hang on for dear life.“Ben was undefeated at 300 and 500 this season. But he doesn’t stay in his comfort zone. He raced the 55 and 800 consistently, as well as the 4×400. He is there for his team in the big meets.”

Wheeler said that he went into the state meet confident, but knowing that he had to push himself to achieve his peak performance.

“That was definitely the goal,” he said of winning two state championships. “I had the fastest times going on, so I couldn’t go in with the mindset I’m not gonna win. Having that winning mindset helped me that day.”

Back in sixth grade, Wheeler said that he started running because “I was fast, so I gave it a try.”

“I started with cross country, running lots of miles,” he said. “I’m not gonna say I loved it at first, but I was good at it so it made me push myself and see where I can take it.”

By eighth grade, he was running the 100, 400, 800 and mile. “I was really spread out going into high school,” Wheeler said. “Coach Hittner asked me what I wanted to do and what I wanted to focus on. I picked the 400 because that’s where I was strongest, and just picked up the events surrounding it.”

Now he’s looking to parlay his success into college. He’s talked to a few Division I programs about running at that level. While he remains undecided, he said that he’s looking for an opportunity that can offer more than athletics.

Coach of the Year

Darrell Diamond,

Harford Tech

Diamond’s Harford Tech running program has experienced unparalleled success so far this school year. In the fall, the Cobras won both the Class 1A boys and girls cross country championships.

In the winter, they did it again. Diamond’s charges claimed both 1A indoor track and field state championships.

“After our outstanding cross country season with both teams winning championships, we knew we had a good distance group,” he said. “It was a matter of trying to get the rest of the team to that level.”

Diamond’s team was well balanced. Not only was it strong in distance events, but Khory Reevey proved to be a weapon in both sprints and hurdles. Alexander Wockenfuss won two state titles in mid-distance races. All together, there wasn’t a weak spot in the lineup.

“The plan was to make the relays as best they could be and score in as many events at the state level as we could,” Diamond said. “We had a great regional and got a lot of people at the state meet. We made some changes to the 4×800 team and they won they state title, starting us off 10 points.”

Building the well-rounded roster, Diamond said, is because of the dedication of his entire staff.

“It’s a philosophy we talk about with the coaches. The thing I talk about with the coaching staff, when you’re developing your groups, our mindset is to try to get the best group collectively in our class in the state. That’s distance and pole vault and jumpers,” he said. “Each coach, just have them try to think of the unit as a group. If you do that, you don’t always get the best athlete, but you may develop someone into a supporting cast member. They may not be top three, but maybe they are in contention for six, seventh or eight, and those are valuable points.”

First team

Will Coyne,

Loyola Blakefield, senior

Coyne was the area’s top pole vaulter this winter, winning the MIAA championship by clearing 14 feet, 1 inch. His best vault came at the Private Schools Invitational, where he cleared 14-7. It was the third-best vault in Maryland this winter, according to athletic.net.

Justin DeVaughn,

Mervo, senior

DeVaughn was the 4A state champion in the 55 hurdles, running the fastest time in Maryland this winter according to athletic.net (7.41). He finished second at states in the high jump, clearing 6-6. He cleared 6-8 at the Baltimore City championship, tied for second best jump in Maryland.

Tristan Gray,

Digital Harbor, senior

Gray was the area’s best thrower this winter, finishing second at the 3A state meet. His best throw this season was 53-10 3/4, which ranked fourth-best in Maryland during the indoor season.

Tsedeke Jakovics,

Old Mill, senior

The Baltimore Sun’s boys cross country Runner of the Year continued his distance dominance. The Princeton commit won 3A state titles in the 800 (1:56.48) and 1,600 (4:16.04). At New Balance Indoor Nationals, he finished fourth in the 800 in 1:49.72.

LaMont Johnson,

Digital Harbor, senior

Last year’s outdoor track athlete of the year had another phenomenal indoor season, winning 3A state championships in the 300 (34.39) and 500 (1:06.47). He led off the Rams’ championship 4×400 relay team.

Gabe Levrone,

Calvert Hall, senior

Levrone won MIAA championships in the 55 (6.47) and 300 (35.32) and ran on the Cardinals’ winning 4×400 relay team.

Gabriel Murray,

Oakland Mills, senior

Murray’s state championship win in the 55 hurdles went a long way toward the Scorpions winning the 3A team state title. His time of 7.42 was second best in Maryland behind DeVaughn.

Eric Penkala,

Southern-AA, senior

After winning three state championships as a junior, Penkala captured two as a senior, winning the 2A 1,600 (4:17.17) and 3,200 (9:44.91). He finished third in the 800.

Gregory Schellberg,

Liberty, senior

The 1A cross country state champion from the fall continued his distance dominance, winning state championships in the 1,600 (4:25.33) and 3,200 (9:57.84). He was also fourth in the 800.

Caleb Tenney,

St. Vincent Pallotti, senior

Tenney won the MIAA’s distance triple crown, winning league titles in the 800 (1:58.15), 1,600 (4:17.63) and 3,200 (9:56.3).

Alexander Wockenfuss,

Harford Tech, senior

The mid-distance specialist accumulated plenty of points for the Cobras’ 1A state championship team. He won the state title in the 500 (1:04.34) and 800 (1:57.73) and anchored the state championship 4×800 relay team.

Second team

Eli Aitken,

Hereford, freshman

Alaric Blattau, Liberty, junior

Garrett Brennan,

Spalding, senior

Theodore Brown,

Towson, senior

Jared Okechukwu,

Mount Saint Joseph, senior

Ojigwe Olua,

Western Tech, senior

Bryan Schaeffer,

Crofton, senior

Jeryco Sheppard, Dundalk, senior

Elijah Smith,

Western Tech, senior

Jevonte Williams, Digital Harbor, senior

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