Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro boys outdoor track and field teams for the 2024 season.

Athlete of the Year

LaMont Johnson, Digital Harbor, senior

Johnson was the centerpiece of a banner year for the Rams’ track and field program. It began in the winter during the indoor season, when Johnson won an individual state title and ran on two championship relays to help Digital Harbor claim the team crown.

Johnson and the program not only matched that success in the spring, but did it in record fashion. He won the Class 3A state title in the 400-meter race in a classification-record time of 46.93 seconds and took second in the 200. Johnson also ran with Jevonte Williams, DeAndre Thomas and Jawon Blue to set another state record, winning the 4×200 relay in 1:26.34.

Going into the state meet’s final race, the 4×400 relay, Digital Harbor was tied for first with Oakland Mills. The Rams’ quartet won the race in 3:16.31 to secure another team state championship.

“The whole year’s been great,” Johnson said. “Of course the year had its ups and downs. The individuals, everybody has our strengths and weaknesses. We always work though to strengthen our weaknesses. It’s just been a good season overall for me and my team.”

This is only Johnson’s second year of running track. Coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, Johnson was looking for something to get himself active again. He found a new sport.

“I really didn’t have anything going for myself at the time. All I did was go home, watch TV shows and chill. I wanted to do something more than just go home every day,” he said. “I wanted to make something out of my high school experience. I’m glad I joined track. It gave me so many more experiences, so many memories, so many friends. When COVID hit, I lost my socialness. Track opened a door for me, in a way.”

At first, Johnson wasn’t sure how far he could go in his new sport. He soon showed himself and everyone.

“When I first joined, I didn’t think I was anything special because there was so many people on the team who had their strengths. They were good at so many things. I just thought I was going to work on catching up to these guys,” he said. “When I first ran I was a distance runner; I was doing 400s and 800s. But my first meet, I was supposed to just show up to the meet and watch because I was new. But I ended up running for someone else and I ended up running 54 seconds. My coaches were like, ‘That’s pretty good for your first 400.'”

After some practice, Johnson whittled his time in the 400 to under 50 seconds and qualified for states in his first season. Two years later, he’s looking at colleges such as Texas A&M and Florida.

“I’m looking at schools that prioritize the 400 because I want to be the best version of myself I can possibly be,” he said. “I wanted to put my best effort forth on the track. I want the best institution that will make me the best version of myself.”

But there’s still one more year left at Digital Harbor. Johnson is looking to not only better himself, but shine a spotlight on the school.

“I feel like my senior year, when I hit the times I really want to hit, I want to inspire as many people as I can to do track,” he said. “Football and basketball might not do it for everyone else. So I feel like If I can inspire someone to come to our sport and help make my school more known, that will be great for our school.”

Coach of the Year

Scott Baker, Calvert Hall

Baker’s Cardinals have set the standard for excellence since the return from the pandemic. After losing to Gilman at the 2021 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship meet, Calvert Hall halted the Greyhounds’ dynasty and began one of its own. This spring, the Cardinals won their third straight title, beating Gilman by 95 points.

While plenty of talent has come through the program, Baker has been able to weather graduation losses each year, building a new group that can maintain high levels of success.

“This season was a great season for the program. We were able to add depth in a lot of the events where we had graduating superstars,” Baker said. “It is important to our program to get everyone involved, which allows us to continue to be successful for years to come.

“Our program had one state record, 17 top-10 state marks, seven school records and a handful of national qualifiers. Our goal next year is to show people no matter who we graduate, we will continue to be one of the best programs in the area. Shoutout to my coaching staff and manager who makes this all possible.”

In addition to stacking his team’s schedule with meets against top-tier programs up and down the East Coast, Baker also made a point to stay local.

The Cardinals scored victories at the Under Armour Black and Blue Invitational at Johns Hopkins, the TU Classic High School Invitational and the Park Invite at Severna Park.

“An important goal the program had this year was to become more successful during the regular season, specifically at invitationals. We won almost all the invitationals we were a part of,” Baker said. “The guys felt great about achieving this goal because it was a total team effort and it allowed us to carry a ton of momentum into the championship season where we won the MIAA outdoor championship for the third consecutive year.

“This allowed us to complete our biggest goal of the season, which was the triple crown consisting of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field MIAA titles.”

First team

Cameron Davis, Calvert Hall, senior

Davis was a top point-scorer for the Cardinals. The two-time All-Metro cross country Athlete of the Year won four MIAA A Conference titles, running the area’s top times in the 800 (1:52.45), 1,600 (4:12.82) and 3,200 (9:12.45) and competing on the championship 4×800 relay.

Justin DeVaughn, Mervo, junior

DeVaughn ran a blistering 13.91 seconds to win the 4A state title in the 110 hurdles and followed it with a win in the 300 hurdles. He was also the North Region champion in the long and high jumps.

Chase Dorsey, Calvert Hall, junior

Dorsey led area athletes in the shot put, throwing 57 feet, 7 1/4 inches to win the MIAA A Conference championship. He topped 59 feet at New Balance Nationals. Dorsey was also the MIAA runner-up in the discus.

Joey Ensor, Howard, senior

Ensor left the state championships as one of the area’s most decorated athletes. He won 3A state titles in the 800 (1:52.6), 1,600 (4:13.8) and 3,200 (9:29.75) and ran on Howard’s championship 4×800 relay.

Jadon Gaines, Hereford, senior

Gaines won his second straight 2A state championship in the high jump, clearing 6-4. He was the North Region champion and finished fourth at states in the triple jump.

Ruichen He, Glenelg, junior

No one else in the area and only one other athlete in Maryland could match He in the discus. The Gladiator threw 181-2 to win the 3A state title.

Tsedeke Jakovics, Old Mill, junior

Jakovics concluded a breakthrough season with a 4A state championship in the 800 (1:53.4). He also finished second in the 1,600, third in the 3,200 and ran on Old Mill’s championship 4×800 relay.

Lukas Michael, Westminster, senior

Michael had a season-best pole vault of 14 feet, the fourth-best in Maryland this season and best in the area. He finished second at the 3A state meet, clearing 13-6.

Ameer Mowad, Eastern Tech, junior

The Mavericks sprinter claimed 2A state titles in the 100 (10.54) and 200 (21.3). He also ran on his team’s third-place 4×400 relay and fourth-place 4×200 relay.

Gabriel Murray, Oakland Mills, junior

Murray went 8-for-8 this season in the 300 hurdles, including the 3A state championship (37.91). He was the 3A state runner-up in the 110 hurdles.

Marlin Newsome, Centennial, senior

Newsome earned two sprint gold medals, winning 3A state titles in the 100 (10.45) and 200 (21.5). His 100 victory came in a photo finish by one-hundredth of a second for the fastest time in Maryland this season.

Ethan Ruffin, Calvert Hall, senior

Ruffin was one of only three athletes in Maryland to clear 6-8 in the high jump, accomplishing the feat at the MIAA A Conference championships. He also won the event at the Park Invite and Under Armour Black and Blue Invitational.

Jevonte Williams, Digital Harbor, sophomore

Williams was a key piece to the Rams’ 3A state championship. He was the gold medalist in the 110 hurdles (14.32) and ran on Digital Harbor’s state-record-setting 4×200 relay and its championship 4×400 relay.

Kian Williams, Severna Park, senior

Williams won the 3A state title in the long jump (22-8). He was the East Region champion in the triple jump and had the second-best triple jump in Maryland (47-4) but did not compete in the event at states.

Second team

Will Coyne, Loyola Blakefield, junior

Logan Crowe, Hereford, senior

Justin Febles, Harford Tech, senior

Damon Ferguson Jr., Milford Mill, sophomore

Tristan Grey, Digital Harbor, junior

Vance Harris, Concordia Prep, sophomore

Ryan Hartranft, Century, junior

Zamir Herald, Howard, senior

Antoine McNair, Calvert Hall, senior

Justin Naylor, Joppatowne, junior

Martin Ohakah, North County, senior

Ojigwe Olua, Western Tech, junior

Eric Penkala, Harford Tech, junior

Alexander Wokenfuss, Harford Tech, junior