"Our girls ran a tremendous race in very poor conditions," he said. "I'm very proud of them."

The Patriots already had won the Frederick and Class 4A North Region championships with ease, and they hoped to complete the postseason sweep at the state meet. But it wasn't to be as Severna Park, ranked No. 1 by Running Maryland, edged TJ by six points to win its third state title in five years.

Severna Park stuck with the strategy it has used all year, staying in a pack and never budging. The Falcons put just two runners in the top 10 -- ninth place was their best finish -- but placed five in the top 32 to end up with 89 points. That was just enough to top TJ's 95.

Wootton's Jessie Rubin won the race, and the Patriots got second- and fourth-place finishes from Savanna Plombon (20:19) and Stephanie Bryan (20:37). After that came Kelsey Igo (21st), Kristin Luttrell (30th) and Kristen Galligan (43rd) to round out their top five.

"(Severna Park) packed it in again," Lewis said. "What are you going to do?"

This was the best performance at a state meet in school history for the TJ girls. Plombon said the Patriots had made finishing in the top five in the state a goal this season.

Mission accomplished.

"I'm glad that we got pretty close to them," she said. "I'm happy (with that). We achieved our goals."

Severna Park coach Ed Purpura was impressed with the Patriots' efforts throughout this season. He said that TJ's speed makes the Patriots a tough team to battle.

"They had a fantastic year," Purpura said. "I wouldn't want to run a track meet against them."

The Urbana girls took 11th in the 4A race with 286 points. Sarah Askine (22nd) was the team's top runner.

Bridget Nolan of Linganore turned in one of the county's better individual performances on this day, finishing fifth in the Class 3A race. She finished in 21:10 as Mount Hebron's Becky Yep won in 20:25.

The Lancers took 12th overall (313). River Hill won the team title in Class 3A.

The Walkersville girls finished 11th in the Class 2A division. Erin Hub (16th) led the Lions with her effort.

On the boys' side, the county champion Linganore boys finished a disappointing 10th in Class 3A with 243 points. The muddy course really slowed everyone down. Braden Bruning finished seventh, but no other Lancer made it in the top 25. Damascus won the team title.

Tuscarora took 13th place (321) as Tyree Smith (18th) and Logan Jones (19th) led the way.

The Urbana boys (262) finished 12th overall in Class 4A. Jimmy Miller was the school's top runner, finishing 10th in 17:35 -- 47 seconds behind champion Andrew Palmer of Whitman from Montgomery County.

--Miller came into the race after strong victories in the Frederick and Class 4A North Region meet, but had problems against a very tough field on a very muddy course.

Walkersville 's boys took third place in Class 2A. Winters Mill won that team title with 68 points, beating out Glenelg (90) and the Lions (109).

Glenelg's Robby Creese won the race in 17:30, but Walkersville 's Stephen Keith finished fourth, just seven seconds behind. Christian Blackner was the second Lion, ending up in 12th place overall, 27 seconds behind Keith.

Catoctin took fifth place in Class 1A. Bohemia Manor (61) scored an easy victory, but Brandon Humerick (17th) led Catoctin (168).

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.