Four De Force: Severna Park Girls Cross Country Captures Another Title

Four is a special number for Severna Park High School’s girls cross country program. The team captured their fourth straight state championship at Hereford High School on November 9. Four Falcons finished in the top 10. No school had more than one runner with a top 10 finish.

With a score of 35, Severna Park overcame the three-mile course with a dominant showing, well ahead of the runner-up, Centennial, with a score of 105.

“We had five championships in a row with the boys (from 2017-2022), so to get the girls to that level, it is a great feeling as well,” said Josh Alcombright, Severna Park’s cross country coach.

With a time of 19:09.53, junior Josie Kamas placed third for the second consecutive year to lead the pack for Severna Park. The overall girls winner, Sherwood’s Madeline Quirion, was the only runner to finish in under 19 minutes. Sophomore Lexi Fitzimmons (19:38.70) was close behind as she finished fifth, two spots ahead of her 2024 placement.

“Both are really consistent and talented,” Alcombright said of Kamas and Fitzsimmons. “They’re just doing the work they’re asked to do, each year and each day.”

Alcombright praised sophomore Mari Matthews, who came in seventh (20:01.49), for doing so well on a course she had never run before. Kate Murphy (10th, 20:12.89) accomplished an individual feat to go along with her team’s success.

“Kate is the first athlete I’ve ever coached to be on four state championship teams and to have competed in all of those races,” Alcombright said. “She was really consistent and improved from being 11th last year.”

Seniors Lila Sandel (17th, 20:42.08) and Sydney Davis (22nd, 20:47.78) rounded out the top 30 for Severna Park.

Hereford’s course is known for its sharp turns and a punishing dip. Alcombright and his coaches felt like they had the right approach and skill to conquer those challenges.

“You have to be a strong aerobic runner and have a smart game plan,” he said. “You can’t go out too fast, but you can’t go out too slow. You have to be patient for the first lap and then get aggressive.”

Alcombright noted that his program has a “strong grasp of what it takes to be successful,” which helped the runners claim another championship, the 10th overall for the Falcon girls.

“Since I took over (the girls team) around 2017, it’s been a slow build,” said Alcombright, who has coached the Severna Park boys for almost 20 years. “They have acclimated to the training increase … and the girls don’t know any different. Success breeds success. The girls are buying into the program.”