River Hill's Harman: Double Winner

Katie Harman slid belly-first along the track yesterday, then peeled herself off the floor. She had never been tripped at the start of a race before, and it jarred her.

But on her walk back to the starting line for the mile at the Montgomery Invitational, Harman received a quick "atta girl" from a teammate -- and some firmer words from her coach. The River Hill senior managed to regroup, winning the gold medal in the mile before also capturing the 3,200-meter title.

"I lost control mentally, and I didn't know what to do," Harman said. "But now I'm happy about today."

The Montgomery Invitational at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover is typically the biggest local meet of the season in both attendance and performance. Although no team scores were kept, it served as a barometer for approximately 1,800 athletes to gauge where they stand just weeks before their county championships.

Harman was among the fittest. She won the mile in a career-best 5 minutes 7.32 seconds -- but not before receiving a scare from Juliet Bottorff of Tatnall (Del.). The duo separated from the pack midway through the race, and Bottorff repeatedly tried surging past Harman, even bumping Harman at one point. Harman let her go at the start of the final lap but reeled her in with 50 meters to go and out-leaned Bottorff at the line to win by .03 of a second.

More than three hours later, Harman ran in the 3,200 and controlled it from start to finish. The sound of the bell on the final lap gave her a shot of adrenaline, and Harman powered to the finish in 11:13.2.

Harman had hoped to cap the final cross-country season of her career with a state title in November, but a sinus and ear infection slowed her considerably. She has rebounded nicely indoors, dropping her times every week. Best of all, she hasn't lost a race so far this season, even while racing many of the best runners in the Washington area.

"I'm excited about it," said Harman, who yesterday clocked the sixth-fastest mile time in the country. "I can still say I'm undefeated."

Gaithersburg senior All-Met Sean Stanley extended his dominance in the field. He fired the shot put 60 feet 2 inches, a meet record and currently third farthest in the country.

Paint Branch senior Arielle Statham was probably the meet's most versatile female performer. She won gold in the triple jump (37-7 1/2 ) before anchoring her 800-meter relay team to a fourth-place finish.

But her best effort came in the 400. She took the lead at the start and never gave it up -- even when she heard the "whoop" of the crowd, a sure sign that a runner is about to be caught.

"I'm usually no good at starting fast," said Statham, who won in 57.03 seconds. "But this time I wasn't scared to die in the end."

Montgomery Invitational King For a Day: Churchill senior Sean King won twice, capturing gold in the 4x800 relay before winning the 800 in 2:00.47. Pearl of a Performance: Potomac senior Pearl Bickersteth won the girls' high jump with 5-8, a meet record.