The 55-meter hurdles event is an event contested during the indoor season and Episcopal took first place & State titles in both the girls and boys races.    Dawn Farquharson ‘18 kicked things off with a slightly less than stellar earlier race in the qualifying heats.   Farquharson entered the meet as the #1 seed with a strong time earlier in the season.   Most impressive was that she was able to refocus on executing in the final.   Getting over the first hurdle set the tone for the rest of the race and the look of determination was evident on her face, as hurdles two and three went by it was clear that she was on top torm and fought hard to stay focused over the final two hurdles to take home her first State title for The Maroon.    Immediately following this race the boys lined up in the 55-meter hurdles final.   Litchfield Ajavon ‘18 came into this race a distant 6th place in the time rankings with many other runners running faster times throughout the year.   With a best time of 8.22 many other athletes had their sights set on claiming the State Title this year.    Ajavon advanced to final with a strong time but still had to go up against the strongest competition he faced all year.   Ajavon rose to the occasion, keeping his unbeaten streak intact, to take the top spot in a personal best time of 7.92 and his first State Title.

Other highlights included some very strong relay performances.   One of the main events of the state championships are the 4 x 200-meter and 4 x 400-meter relays.  Many times teams are vying for valuable team points, or for many the distinction of putting your four best athletes together makes some amazing track and field theater each and every year.    This girls 4 x 200-meter team of Nina Moore ‘20, Dawn Farquharson ‘18, Jahsaiah Moses ‘18 and Zibah Oyibo ‘17 did not disappoint running the fastest time in school history in the event to place 2nd overall and All-State Second team honors.    Freshman Moore was given the crucial lead off spot and came into the exchange zone right on pace with other top teams in the State.  Fresh off a State title in the 55-meter hurdles Farquharson cooly moved her way through the field and put in a final burst for the final 80-meters to hand off clearly in first place after the second leg.   Jahsaiah Moses put in one of her solid relay legs for The Maroon handing off to Senior leader Zibah Oyibo who preserved the All - State placing for the girls and held her own against one of the top athletes in the state on the anchor leg.

The next best performance for the Maroon was the Boys 4 x 400-meter relay.  After being the very last team to make the fastest and seeded section, they had the challenge of drawing the least desirable lane in the critical first leg.   Jack Lee ‘20 got the team off to a great start, making it clear that Episcopal had plans to be more than just 6th place.    Relay veteran Vincent Notzon ‘18 ran his usual steady leg to keep the Maroon on pace to be “in the mix” in the final meters.   Sprint specialist Sam Kamara ‘18 moved up in distances and put in a solid 400-meter leg setting up a thrilling finish for rookie Ben Lee ‘19.   Lee decided to make his debut at the State Meet and on the anchor leg of the last race of the day a NASCAR event and moved straight from 3rd to 1st bumping shoulders with Fork Union Military School in the process.  Lee recovered from an upset to his strong rhythm and had to regroup and gather himself for the final lap and secured a 3rd place finish and All - State Honorable Mention honors for him and his teammates.