Indoor Track: At Montgomery Invitational, Mobolaji Adeokun wins two events

Mobolaji Adeokun lets tiny little perfectionst voices burrow insider her head. When they all start talking, she starts overthinking. And underperforming.  

The DuVal senior turned the volume way down on all of them Saturday. She managed to get out of her own way long enough to win two events — the 55-meter dash and the long jump — and place well in two others at the Montgomery Invitational in Landover.

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“This year it’s a little more chill for me,” Adeokun says. “If I’m too pumped up, I psych myself out and I mess myself up. I’ve learned how my body works.” 

Approximately 1,700 athletes from 104 schools across Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District attended the meet at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex. Many of them worked off enough of the holiday rust to churn out some fantastic performances. 

Adeokun, who was born in the District to Nigerian parents, was one of the more impressive ones. She kicked things off in the 55 meters, running away from Northwest’s Camry Torian to win in a personal-best 7.14 seconds. 

About 10 minutes later, Adeokun was runner-up in the 55 hurdles to Old Mill’s Alexis Franklin in 8.25. Franklin was the winner in 8.17. 

Adeokun also set personal bests in winning the long jump by over a foot with 18 feet 9 inches and finishing third in the 300 in 41.80.

“It shows all of my hard work,” Adeokun said.

Antonella Taylor was the only area athlete to set a meet record. The Bowie junior launched the shot put 46-9 on her final toss. It is currently the top high school girls’ throw in the country and it shattered the old mark of 44-4 set in 2003.

“I’m so proud,” Taylor said. “I felt it in me. I knew it was possible.”

Annandale senior Ahmed Bile , the All-Met Athlete of the Year during the cross-country season, was the boys’ mile champion. The Georgetown recruit sat in second place behind leader Brent Coulter of Landstown for most of the race before kicking home during the last 200 meters and winning in 4:21.21.

Bile also helped Annandale finish second in the 4x400 relay behind Digital Harbor in 3:31.53.

Chantilly junior All-Met Sean McGorty won the boys’ 3,200 going away, lapping the last-place runner before crossing in 9:25.54.

Osbourn Park senior Breanna Walker had hung two gold medals around her neck by meet’s end. In the 4x200, Walker and Torian were both on anchor and they both received the baton at the same time.

They battled shoulder to shoulder for about 150 meters before Walker shifted into one more gear on the home stretch and crossed with the win. Walker, Kiana Hairston, Kalyn Simmons and Jordan Banks finished in 1:44.80. Northwest was runner-up in 1:45.15.

Earlier, Walker was victorious in the 300 in 40.76.

The 300 “Is my baby,” said Walker, who is undefeated in the event this seasons. “I’m going to go down like a proud parent. I love my baby.”