HAGERSTOWN – Lauren Stine and Rian Johnson are about to go the distance.
In the big picture, that’s nothing new for the two North Hagerstown seniors. They are the Hubs’ mainstays for the longer runs on the girls track & field.
The pair has made names for themselves as two of the best Washington County has to offer in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 events. Stine is the three-time defending 3,200-meter MPSSAA Class 3A state champion, while Johnson swept the three events at the West Region meet earlier in May.
This time, “going the distance” is more metaphoric.
Stine and Johnson will cross the finish line for the last time as two members an athletic contingent representing Washington County at the state track meet – from Thursday through Saturday – at Prince George’s Sport and Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland.
By Saturday night, Stine and Johnson will have finished their final races, which covers a four-year stretch in their high school careers. In the wake, they leave some challenging standards for future distance runners to chase.
“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Stine admits. “It’s going to be the last race, but I’m really excited for the future.
“This season has been kind of disappointing for me. I haven’t run as well as I have in the past. So, I think for states, I’m hopeful to try and hit some personal records and try to end on a strong note.”
Stine and Johnson are scheduled to compete in the 3,200 on Friday and in the 800 and 1,600 on Saturday.
Stine owns some high standards. She captured the state cross country title she had chased her entire high school career last fall and did it in emphatic fashion by winning by 24 seconds.
She started her senior outdoor season with a 3,200 win with her season-best time of 10:39.52 at the Handley (Virginia) Invitational.
She capped it with her season best (5:02.23) in the 1,600 while finishing second to Johnson in the 3A West Region championships. She took second in the 3,200 and third in the 800 in the meet to qualify in all three at the state meet.
She posted personal records in the 800, 5,000 and in a leg split in a 1,600 relay.
“I have been kind of at the same level for four years now,” Stine said “I’ve always been working hard, and I haven’t stopped. I may have hit some burnout. But I have found this year I have been very consistent with my times … more so than I’ve been in the past. I think my body is just waiting to hit a good time. The future will be good.”
Johnson surged throughout her senior season by posting five personal best times in five different events. She capped it with the three convincing victories at the region meet, winning each handily.
“I’m definitely surprised about how far I’ve come, especially considering my times from last year,” Johnson said. “I’ve started just to get better. They are not even comparable to my freshman and sophomore year.
“I just look back on my freshman year and notice on how much change I’ve made. It helps motivate me to do my best because looking forward from then, it seemed all so far away. Now my last races are coming up. I just want to give it my all.”
The dramatic swing in Johnson’s fortunes may have come in January when she won the 1,600 at the Dickinson College New Year Invitational indoor meet. She set the Washington County record 5:02.27, beating a 10-year-old mark by 3.64 seconds.
“I don’t know (what happened),” she said. “I just knew I wanted to win and I’ve felt that way ever since.”
Better together
Johnson and Stine rate as the top two distance runners in the county, but the numbers are relative when it comes to practices. Each gives the other credit for success.
“It’s definitely nice to have a great training partner. It helps that we are such close friends,” Stine said. “If I have a bad day at practice, she helps pull me through it and, I guess, vice versa. It definitely helpful to have someone else.”
The friendly competition helps with the mundane world of practicing.
“We will never slack off in a workout because we are always together,” Johnson said. “It is very competitive having your competition at a workout you can never slack off.”
Down the stretch they come
Stine and Johnson will have marks next to their names on the race lineup sheet.
They will most likely be wearing the “ones to beat” bulls’ eyes, given Stine’s pedigree and Johnson’s run of region titles.
“It is definitely stressful,” Johnson said. “But I don’t know … it motivates me. I kind of like it
“(Seeing my name listed at the top) definitely makes me happy. I want to keep seeing that and keep going to get better and better to get school and county records. And then, I want to get the state record.”
But it’s something that goes with the territory the two Hubs roam.
“I think both of us have always had and always will (be targeted) coming into this meet,” Stine said. “It’s motivation.
“I’m a little nervous. You don’t want to end your career with a bad race. I just know I will put everything I have and more into that race, give it 110 percent and hope to come away with a good result.”
Come fall, it will be time for new adventures, careers and challenges.
Stine will be attending Penn State, and Johnson will be heading to Temple. Both will continue to run track.
That just adds to the motivation for the final trip to the starting line.
“I’ve been thinking about,” Johnson said. “I just know I’m going to leave everything on the track because it will be my last races.”
It’s also making Stine to live in the moment.
“It is a little bit sad. Like I said, it’s bittersweet,” Stine said. “It’s kind of like Rian said, I’m going to put everything that I have into all these upcoming races. But in the back of my mind, I have so many more to come. It’s kind of closing one chapter, but another one is opening.”
Washington County State Track Qualifiers
North Hagerstown
Class 3A
Boys
Gabe Ohaegbu – 110 hurdles
Walker Mason – 3,200, 1,600
Bradley Helman – 3,200, 1,600
Brady Bruette – Pole Vault
Elias House – Pole vault
Damean Thomas – Shot put
Sydney Smith – Shot put
Garrett Forrest – Discus
Relays: 4×800, 4×100
Girls
Dayanah Brunson – 300 hurdles
Ella Hajel – 1,600
Rian Johnson – 3,200, 1,600, 800
Lauren Stine – 3,200, 1600, 800
Anna Chamberlain – High jump
Reggan Chapin – Pole Vault
Relays: 4×800, 4×400
South Hagerstown
Class 3A
Boys
Felix Annan – 200
Relays: 4×100-, 4×400
Girls
Chloe Gietka – Triple jump, Long jump
Class 1A
Boys
Carter Nesbitt – 300 hurdles, Long jump, Pole vault
Luke Gentzel – 800
Tyler Younker – 1,600, 800
Michael Wynkoop – 3,200, 1,600
Dylan Herbst – 3,200
Camilo Mellott – 3,200, 1,600, 800
Michael Jackson – High Jump
Rittenhouse Shuster – Triple jump
Walker Hughes – Shot put
Relays – 4×800, 4×400
Girls
Jenna Howe – 100, 200, 400
Alaina Pate – 100, 200
Lilian Hade – 400, Pole vault
Grace Ellis – 800
Taylor King – 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles
Emma Joyal – 100 hurdles, Triple jump;
Cora Gentzel – 3,200, 1,600, 800
Kayla Hawbecker – 3,200, 1,600, 800
Ella Fisher – 3,200
Jada Tyler – High Jump
Emilia Spithaler – High jump
Alexandria Spithaler – Pole vault
Samantha Nieman – Shot Put
Relays: 4X800; 4X200, 4×100, 4×400
Other county participants
Boonsboro
Class 1A
Boys
Justin Prenger – 800
Derrick Jones – High jump
Ishola Badaki – High jump
Jakob Davidson – 3,200, 1,600
Relays – 4×800; 4×200, 4×100, 4×400
Girls
Alaina Barnhart – 100
Abigayle Fluharty – 200, 400
Sarah Mohler – Discus, Shot put
Sydney Turner – Shot put
Relays – 4X800; 4X200
Clear Spring
Class 1A
Boys
Hayden Hodge – 100, 400
Daniel Apiou – 110 hurdles, High jump, Triple jump
Nate McDonald – 110 hurdles
Gage Crampton – 800
Dean Edwards – Pole vault
Brooks Myers – Shot put, Discus
Nick Cullember – Shot put, Discus
Girls
Brielle Morales – 100 hurdles
Hadley Elwood – High jump
Audrey Roberts – Pole vault
Kailyn McCauley – Discus, Shot put
Katelyn Moffitt – Shot put
Boys
Logan Trumpower – High jump
Girls
Madison Booth – High jump
Williamsport
Class 2A
Boys
Byron Snyder – 100
Richard Sanon – 110 hurdles
Blake DuLauter – 110 hurdles, Long Jump
