Hengst three-peats as MIAA cross country champ; Loyola dethrones Mount St. Joseph for A crown (VIDEO HERE!)
McDonogh’s Dalton Hengst (front) is in full command at Wednesday’s MIAA Cross Country championship race at Oregon Ridge Park. The senior won his three straight title in a record time of 15 minutes, 35.6 seconds.
Dalton Hengst remembers his first MIAA cross country championship race four years ago.
“I caught a little energy up that hill and just went for it,” said “It played out perfectly.”
Hengst, then a McDonogh School freshman, placed third at Oregon Ridge Park. Wednesday on the Baltimore County course, he concluded his MIAA cross country career in rousing fashion.
The senior captured his third straight individual championship. Loyola Blakefield won the A team title.
Hengst established a new meet record, 15 minutes, 35.6 seconds, nearly 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Eric Gibson from Gilman School (15:44). Mount St. Joseph’s Hunter Petrik finished third (15:45).
After crossing the finish line and entering MIAA running immortality, Hengst put on an Ole Miss hat. Hengst decided Tuesday he’s taking his talents down south to the University of Mississippi.
“At the end of the day I want to go college and be the best runner I can be,” said Hengst, who selected the Rebels over Boise State and Oregon. “I feel like that program, with the young guys they have now and that coach…I wanted to be a part of it.”
Hengst separated early, leaving Gibson, Petrik and Loyola’s Camden Gilmore vying for second the only suspense in the race. Hengst said his biggest challenge was stomach craps.
Nothing was going to stand in Hengst’s way Wednesday.
“There was a lot of pressure and it doesn’t bothers him,” said McDonogh coach Jeff Sanborn. “He never misses a beat. He’s never hurt, he’s never miss a race. It’s incredible.”
“It means a lot to me, my coaches, my team, my school…it’s just special,” said Hengst. “Anytime you can win something three years in a row, starting out as a young guy. This was my last chance.”
Loyola ended Mount St. Joseph’s two-year reign for its first championship since 2014. The Dons placed five runners in the Top 20, led by Gilmore’s fourth-place finish.
“We’ve been really talking about this since last year during indoors. It’s been in the back of our heads all summer,” said Gilmore, a junior. “I think we did a good communicating especially the last month.”
John Carroll School claimed the B title, and Severn School’s Robby Dubinski was the top individual performer. It was a three-peat in the C with Beth Tfiloh’s Josh Rosemore winning the individual crown and Friends School was again tops in the team’s standings.
Pictured above: McDonogh cross country coach Jeff Sanborn with his four-time MIAA champion Dalton Hengst.
MIAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
AT OREGON RIDGE
A CONFERENCE
Team scores:
1. Loyola Blakefield, 602. Mount St. Joseph, 67
3. St. Paul's School, 70
4. Gilman School, 75
5. Calvert Hall College, 92
6. McDonogh School, 139
7. Archbishop Spalding, 191
8. Archbishop Curley, 228 Top 10 individual finishers:
1. Dalton Hengst McDonogh School, 15:35.6
2. Eric Gibson, Gilman School, 15:44.6
3. Hunter Petrik, Mount St. Joseph, 15:45.0
4. Camden Gilmore, Loyola Blakefield, 15:50.0
5. Owen Johnson, Calvert Hall College, 16:02.4
6. Connor Verrett, Loyola Blakefield, 16:09.9
7. Andrew Brinker, Mount St. Joseph, 16:23.1
8. Ian Coleman, St. Paul's, 16:23.1
9. James Francis, Calvert Hall, 16:24.9
10. Phillip Heflin, St. Paul's School, 16:26.7. B CONFERENCE Team scores:
1. John Carroll School, 43
2. Severn School, 48
3. St. Mary's, 102
4. Park School, 108
5. Glenelg Country School, 114
6. Annapolis Area Christian School, 114
7. Boys' Latin School, 150
8. Indian Creek School, 181 Top 10 individual finishers:
1. Robby Dubinski, Severn School, 16:25.5
2. Alexander Kirkland, John Carroll School, 16:53.0
3. Tate Taczak, Severn School, 17:02.0
4. Thomas Demers, Glenelg Country School, 17:11.9
5. Matthew Hudes, Park School, 17:13.6
6. Ben Sullivan, John Carroll School, 17:19.3
7. Ben Witham, Boys' Latin School, 17:24.5
8. Lucas Williams, Annapolis Area Christian School, 17:29.0
9. Cam Mezzatesta, John Carroll School, 17:38.8
10. Peter Luljak, Park School, 17:40.7 C CONFERENCE Team scores:
1. Friends School, 28
2. Gerstell Academy, 80
3. Saints Peter and Paul, 98
4. Beth Tfiloh, 104
5. Saint John’s Catholic Prep, 106
6. Concordia Prep, 114
7. Saint Vincent Pallotti, 141
8. Key School, 247
9. Jemicy School, 251 Top 10 individual finishers:
1. Josh Rosemore, Beth Tfiloh, 16:13.0
2. Henry Griffith, Friends School, 16:46.3
3. Alex Prichett, Friends School, 17:42.6
4. Ben Nevius, Chapelgate Christian Academy, 17:44.7
5. Jack Larson, Beth Tfiloh, 17:55.5
6. Carter Ruffin, Friends School, 18:08.9
7. Adam Lovellette, Gerstell Academy, 18:14.3
8. Montrey Thompson, Concordia Prep, 18:15.9
9. Ryan Hardy, Friends School, 18:16.2
10. Fred Bradbury, Saints Peter & Paul, 18:26.7.
