File Photo Stephen Keith

The Lions junior was disappointed with himself after a fourth-place showing at last week's Frederick County Public Schools Championship. So Keith regrouped and channeled that frustration into a winning effort Thursday at Middletown Park, scoring a nine-second victory over Poolesville's Eric Holmstead.

Keith finished in 15 minutes, 50.16 seconds.

He was one of five county individuals winning regional championships Thursday.

At the 4A North championships at Dulaney High School, Thomas Johnson's Stephanie Bryan won her race and led the Patriots to a rare perfect-score win.

Catoctin's Leah Stone, a converted sprinter who had never won a cross country race before, won her first race at the 1A West championships at Williamsport High School.

Linganore 's Braden Bruning captured the 3A West title at Watkins Mill High School. Urbana 's Jimmy Miller won the boys 4A North championship.

Keith's win helped Walkersville 's boys finish second in the team standings behind Winters Mill, which outscored the Lions 49-72.

"I don't know what happened to me last week," Keith said. "I just didn't have it all there."

Keith said he spent the last few days in practice planning his race strategy and gathering his nerve.

"I needed to go out there, run my race, and run with confidence," Keith said.

The first mile of the race was a fact-finding mission with Keith running in a pack of five runners. He said he stayed to the rear of the pack, waiting for the right time to make his move up.

That opportunity came halfway through the second mile. Keith moved to the front of the pack and passed the likes of Holmstead, Winters Mill's Ryan Spangler and Nick Pezza along the way.

"The guys behind me then started drafting on me," Keith said. "They all followed behind."

Keith opened up more than a 20-second lead on Holmstead in the final mile, but Holmstead made a late run at the front and cut that lead to under 10 seconds. Keith needed one final push to seal the win.

"I glanced back a few times and saw him coming up behind me," Keith said. "I just had to power through it."

"I was kind of nervous there near the end," Walkersville coach Rob Wilhelm said. "But Stephen was confident and ran his race."

The Lions' Christian Blackner finished 11th. Middletown finished fifth in the team standings (146) and qualified everyone on the team for the state meet.

Andy Drum finished 24th for Middletown (17:03.04). Walkerville's Erin Hub qualified on the girls side, finishing 13th (19:56.83). Mary Mulkerin was Middletown 's top finisher in 38th (21:38.88).

Class 4A North

TIMONIUM -- Not having one of its five top runners didn't keep TJ's girls from dominating the field at Dulaney High School.

The Patriots' girls defeated the host Lions, 15-44, in their perfect-score effort. Urbana 's girls got third (66).

TJ coach Chris Lewis said Anne Powell was sick and unable to compete. Lewis said he knew his team had a good a chance at winning the regional crown, but had no idea TJ was going to post a perfect score in doing it.

"I didn't expect it," Lewis said. "It was a pleasant surprise. The Dulaney coach said he can't remember anyone winning a regional championship with a perfect score."

Bryan's race-leading time was a course-record 18:35. Savannah Plombon, Kristin Luttrell, Kelsey Igo and Kristen Galligan filled in the Nos. 2 through 5 spots.

For Urbana , Sarah Askine finished seventh (20:31). The Hawks' Kayla Coleman was 13th with Kyra Smith 14th and Nora Baumgarten 15th.

In the boys 4A North meet, Miller posted a time of 16:07.7. TJ's Stewart Reich was sixth (17:09.1). Other top 15 runners for the Urbana boys include Garet Strouse, seventh; Austin Hayslett, ninth and Josh Allwardt, 14th.

Class 1A West

WILLIAMSPORT -- Catoctin's Stone said she was in shock after winning her race. She defeated a Southern of Garrett runner by three seconds.

"I could not imagine myself winning this race," Stone, a senior, said. "It was a tight race, close all the way."

Stone said the lead went back and forth among the contenders. Among those competing for the top spot was Brunswick 's Becky Kaler, who finished fourth.

Catoctin's Kelsey Valentine qualified for the state meet, finishing 18th.

Catoctin's boys finished third and qualified for the states. Nick Trapane led the Cougars' boys in 13th (17:45). Chad Ammenheuser was 17th for the Cougars.

Class 3A West

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE -- At Watkins Mill, Tuscarora qualified its entire boys team for the state meet, finishing fifth.

Tyree Smith finished fifth for the Titans and Logan Jones got 10th. On the girls side, Tuscarora's Carolina Delany finished 17th (22:53) and qualified as an individual.

Linganore 's girls qualified as a team, finishing second. Bridget Nolan led the Lancers in second place (20:25).

Frederick qualified in fifth place. The Cadets' Gabbi Maher finished 19th.

Details on the Linganore boys were not provided.

The state championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at Hereford High School in Baltimore County.