Photo by Skip Lawrence Linganore's Pat Balderson, center, wins the 100-yard dash, as Middletown's Rob Michels, right, places second and Jaraad Yates is third.

But each was totally appropriate, given the makeup of each squad and the circumstances in which they won.

The Middletown boys, for instance, gathered in a massive huddle at the TJ stadium's 50-yard line and recited a boisterous chant they have borrowed from the movie "Karate Kid."

The athlete who held the trophy -- and possessed the team's biggest lungs -- stood at the center of the Knights throng and yelled, "Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?" The mass responded, "No, sensei." He then asked the same question about pain and, finally, defeat, receiving a loud "No, sensei" each time.

It's a Middletown tradition, and a fitting outburst for a team that won in classic Knights style -- valuing each point, scoring all over and not flinching against an aggressive nine-team field.

Middletown , as usual, relied on its depth, copping second in six events and third in seven to halt TJ's two-year reign. The Knights outscored the second-place Patriots, 127.5-99, while strong teams from Walkersville (93) and Linganore (88) were also in the running all day but couldn't quite keep up.

"Coach (Don Boyer) was leading us on, like we were the underdogs," said Knights sprinter Rob Michels, who placed second in the 100, 200 and 400 dashes for a Knights team that entered the meet as the favorite. "He had us picked out, where we needed to finish in every event, and I think we hit them all."

Middletown 's only event wins came from Ty Shaffer (300 hurdles, 40.14) and the 400 relay team of Lance Lagos, Michels, Sean Casetlow and Yates, who finished in 43.95 seconds and clinched the crown with three events left.

"We had our statement race," said Yates, who anchored the 400 relay. "We proved to everybody we were the best team."

TJ's girls, perhaps, didn't need to prove that, but they did anyway.

And when their third straight championship was announced -- after beating runner-up Middletown , 167-102.5 -- the Patriots gathered on the track and honored the seven seniors who have helped produce their impressive streak.

Each senior was presented with a colorful sign. Photos were taken and laughs were shared.

"They were doing Senior Night," TJ coach Becky Abrecht said, "because track doesn't have one and they wanted to give them that recognition."

Four seniors scored points for the Patriots on Thursday, led by sprinter Najjiyya Franklin-Huff, who produced one of the day's flashiest efforts. In contrast to the Middletown boys, TJ won nine events -- three by Franklin-Huff.

She captured the 200, 400 and long jump, and was second to Tuscarora's Victoria Kennedy in the 100. Her 400 time might have been the meet's best performance -- 56.75.

"I'm proud of myself," said Franklin-Huff, who realized a season-long goal with the time. "I'm trying to get to 55 (seconds) now. I have to adjust my goal for states."

TJ had two other dominators -- Emily Vannoy in the shot put (47 feet, 51Ú2 inches) and discus (126-3), and Stephanie Bryan in the 1,600 (5:15.67) and 3,200 (11:43.35).

Meanwhile, Cenarda Jackson won the 300 hurdles (46.82) and the 400 relay team of Jackson, Megan Cahill, Jasmine Ford and Jasmine Thomas took first (50.21).

Abrecht was quick to point out Lauren Wilmer, too -- a senior who was third in the 400, fourth in the 200 and anchored the second-place 1,600 relay.

"This is really a year that is our peak," Abrecht said. "I hope it continues, but we have really strong senior leadership and it's kind of filtering down to everybody else."

There were a number of other stars at the meet:

n Linganore 's Chowan Brightful, won two events in the span of about a minute.

Seconds after Brightful landed in the pit on a successful high jump of 5-6, Lancers coach Alvin Pridgeon yelled across the infield to her, "You're done. Now, go win the hurdles."

She did, finishing in 15.58.

n Tuscarora's Dominic Clarke doubled in the 200 (22.64) and 400 (49.32), then brought the baton across the line for a win in the 1,600 relay.

He was particularly happy with his 400 time, a personal best. And Clarke -- a speed demon who also flies around the field as a running back in the fall and has received football scholarship offers from Maryland and Virginia -- did it in front of an important guest.

"If you look up there (in the bleachers), there's a Stanford coach," Clarke said of Cardinal offensive coordinator David Shaw.

n Walkersville 's boys 800 relay team of Brandon Brownfield, D.J. Watkins, Jose Depadua and Keith Brown turned in a scorching time of 1:30.12 despite handoffs that coach Lee Palmer has called "hideous."

n Urbana 's Nick Huang continued his recovery from a vocal chord problem that troubled him in cross country by winning the 1,600 (4:23.83) and 800 (1:58.05).

n Middletown 's Brittney Caudle was a part of three wins -- the open 800 (2:24.41), 1,600 relay and 3,200 relay.

n Walkersville 's Jon Hill was a double-winner in the boys high jump (6-8) and long jump (22-6 1/2), while TJ's Nick Forbes swept the shot put (49-1) and discus (146-5).

NOTES -- Other boys champions were Linganore 's Pat Balderson (100, 11.29); Urbana 's Dylan Bernard (3,200, 9:42.16) and Dustin Fishman (pole vault, 13-6); TJ's Brock Chapman (triple jump, 45-6) and Chris Johnson (110 hurdles, 15.7); and Linganore 's 3,200 relay team of Ricky Conner, Tim Jones, Lyndon Novotny and Robert Perrotta. ... Catoctin's Ceth Parker set a school record with a second-place finish in the 3,200 (9:49.59). ... Urbana was fifth in the team standings (58), while Tuscarora (48.5), Catoctin (16), Brunswick (9) and Frederick (8) rounded out the field. ...

Other girls champions were Middletown 's 800 relay team of Sarah Wrieden, Tara Shaffer, Megan Buckheit and Jenna Caudle (school-record 1:45.56); the Knights' Sarah Wrieden (triple jump, 35-4 1/2); and Urbana 's Sarah Lueck (pole vault, 9-9). ... Urbana was third in the team standings (92.5), trailed by Tuscarora (76), Linganore (62), Walkersville (20), Brunswick (18), Frederick (12) and Catoctin (8).