Introduction
The end of the 2014 outdoor track season marks five years since MoCorunning.com published the All-Decade Teams (Boys, Girls) which celebrated the best T&F athletes who participated in Montgomery County, Maryland between 2000 and 2009. The next all-decade team will be a more manageable project if there is a halfway checkpoint. Hence, this project is called the "Half-Decade Team" to celebrate the best T&F athletes who competed in Montgomery County between 2010 and 2014.

Selection Process
MoCorunning editor, reporter, photographer, keeper-of-statistics, and track & field fan Kevin Milsted researched and nominated 40 boys and 40 girls for consideration for this Half-Decade Team. Coaches with more than 5 years of experience in Montgomery County were asked to review MoCorunning's nominees and vote for the most deserving 20 boys and 20 girls, ranked in order, based on whatever criteria was most important to him or her. The 20 athletes with the highest score based on the coaches' votes are now shown here as members of the MoCorunning Half-Decade Team. Coaches were asked to "write in" 2 additional boys and 2 additional girls which were not already nominated by MoCorunning. The athletes with the most write-in votes were added to the honorable mention list along with the other nominees.

The following coaches contributed to this Half-Decade Team. Without their thoughtful consideration of each athlete, this project would not have been possible.

Robert Burke, Clarksburg Elrid Cason, Damascus Eric DaSilva, Einstein Greg Dunston, Georgetown Prep Eric Ellingson, Wheaton Steve Hays, Whitman Paul Jacobson, Churchill Scott Mathias, Clarksburg

Elizabeth Muehl, Walter Johnson Kellie Redmond, Wootton Daniel Rose, Georgetown Prep Herb Tolbert, Gaithersburg Michael Trumbull, Poolesville David Warren, Churchill Chad Young, B-CC Robert Youngblood, Northwest

Half-Decade Team Athletes

Athlete of the Half-Decade: Sean Sutton, Good Counsel 2011 High School Personal Bests: 6.61 55m, 10.98 100m, 21.70 200m, 34.35 300m, 47.63 400m Medal Count: 3 WCAC, 1 National Notes: Won 400m at New Balance Indoor Nationals. Likely ranks #1 all-time in Montgomery County in the indoor 200m, 300m, and 400m. High school PR 47.63 400m was recorded indoors and is best by a Montgomery County athlete indoors or outdoors since 1991. Competes for UNC where he is ACC champion in the 400m and has personal best times of 21.51 and 46.81.

Chase Weaverling, Poolesville 2014 High School Personal Bests: 4:18.89 1600m, 8:33.73 3000m, 9:15.46 Two Mile (9:12.4c 3200m), 14:55.59 Track 5000m Medal Count: 3 County, 5 Region, 5 State Notes: Ranks #1 in the 3000m, #2 in the track 5000m, #3 in the 3200m, and #12 in the 1600m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Owns most state titles of any Montgomery County male athlete from 2010 to 2014. Twice competed in the 3k at the Penn Relays, finishing in the top 20 each time. Holds class 2A indoor state record in the 3200m (9:29.76).

Russell Hornsby, Georgetown Prep 2011 High School Personal Bests: 50.43 400m, 1:05.98 500m, 1:50.82 800m, 2:32.41 1000m Medal Count: 1 IAC Notes: Ranks #1 in the 800m all-time in Montgomery County. Clocked 1:50.82 during senior year while racing head-to-head against MoCoRunning's previous All-Decade Team Athlete of the Decade, Andrew Jesien. Earned All-American honors in the 800m with fourth place finish in 1:52.62 at New Balance Indoor Nationals. Competes for the University of Oregon where he has clocked 1:49.55 800m and 48.93 400m. Fun facts: brother plays DI basketball at LSU and father is Grammy-winning musical artist, Bruce Hornsby.

Paul Joseph, Clarksburg 2013 High School Personal Bests: 6.59 55m, 11.25 100m, 22.23 200m, 35.29 300m, 50.14 400m, 7.75 55m Hurdles, 14.75 110m Hurdles, 38.40 300m Hurdles, 21-05.50 Long Jump, 43-02.00 Triple Jump Medal Count: 6 County, 6 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #1 in the 300m hurdles in Montgomery County dating back to 1997. Ranks #3 in the 300m, #3 in the 55m hurdles, #6 in the 110m hurdles, #9 in the 55m dash, and #11 in the long jump in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Ties for the most individual county titles by a male athlete between 2010 and 2014. Competes for University of Maryland.

Joseph Woiwode, Georgetown Prep, 2010 High School Personal Bests: 23.08 200m, 49.10 400m, 1:05.42 500m, 1:51.75 800m, 2:37.82 1000m, 4:21.09 1600m Medal Count: 4 IAC, 1 National Notes: Ranks #2 in the 800m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Won IAC 400m titles as freshman and junior. At 2010 National Scholastic Indoor Championship, won two national titles and a third All-American honor by winning the 800m in 1:52.86, anchoring the 4x800 relay to first place and anchoring SMR to third place. Outdoors, set the Viking Invitational 800m record at 1:51.75 and won IAC 1600m title (4:21) in his only high school 1600m race. Anchored 4x800 relay to third place at Penn Relays in 7:43.76 in what looked like a scene out of a Prefontaine movie. Competes for Dartmouth.

Thor Serafenas, Good Counsel 2010 High School Personal Bests: 176-01 Discus, 56-10.00 Shot Put, 60-05.00 Weight Throw, 171-03 Hammer Throw Medal Count: 3 WCAC Notes: Ranks #1 in the shot put and discus in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. 176-01 is likely the best discus mark by a Montgomery County athlete since 1985. Won two WCAC titles in the discus and one in the shot put. Had ties with Throw 1 Deep club team and competed in weight throw and hammer throw when possible. Competes for UMBC and won the Hammer Throw in the college division at this year's Penn Relays.

Jalen Walker, Northwest 2015 High School Personal Bests: 6.53 55m, 10.72 100m, 21.74 200m, 35.59 300m, Medal Count: 2 County, 4 Region, 2 State Notes: Ranks #2 in the 55m, #2 in the 200m, and #3 in the 100m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Holds Mocorunning.com freshman records in the 100m and 200m. As sophomore, swept county, region, and state titles in the 100m and 200m. Won indoor and outdoor county, region, and state titles on the 4x400m relay.

Kyle Martin, Good Counsel 2012 High School Personal Bests: 7.52 55m Hurdles, 14.23 110m Hurdles, 38.65 300m Hurdles, 42-09 Triple Jump Medal Count: 2 WCAC Notes: Ranks #1 in Montgomery County in the 110m hurdles dating back to the year 2000. Ranks #2 in the 55m Hurdles, and #4 in the 300m Hurdles from 2010 to 2014. Swept hurdle races at 2012 WCAC Championship Meet. Competes for VCU where he placed 3rd at the A-10 Championship in the 60m hurdles in 8.15.

Kyle Graves, Good Counsel 2010 High School Personal Bests: 1:58.28 800m, 4:13.34 1600m, 9:10.53 3200m Medal Count: 1 WCAC Notes: Ranks #1 in the 1600m and 3200m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Topped loaded field to win WCAC 3200m title. Still holds Draper Invitational 3200m meet record at 9:10.53. Closed with 59 second lap to finish 3rd in the Florida Relays 1600m in 4:13.34. Split approximately 4:15 on the Penn Relays winning DMR (a great team effort and must watch for MoCo DMR fans). Split approximately 4:10 on the DMR at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Competes for Wake Forest University where he has recorded times of 1:49.94 800m, 3:43.92 1500m, and 4:00.39 Mile.

Andrew Palmer, Whitman 2010 High School Personal Bests: 4:17.0 Mile (4:15.6c 1600m), 9:11.64 3200m, 14:49.97 Track 5000m Medal Count: 2 County, 1 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #2 in the 3200m, #4 in the 1600m, and #1 in the track 5000m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Freshman year was Nike Outdoor Nationals champion in the freshman mile. Junior year was four-time state runner-up indoors and outdoors in the 1600m and 3200m. Senior year swept outdoor county, region, and state titles in the 3200m. Earned All-American honors in the track 5k at New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Competes for Syracuse University where track 5k time is down to 14:08.32.

Diego Zarate, Northwest 2015 High School Personal Bests: 1:56.43 800m, 4:15.58 1600m, 9:18.16 3200m Medal Count: 1 County, 1 Region, 2 State Notes: Ranks #3 in the 1600m, #4 in the 3200m, and #11 in the 800m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. As junior, competed in four events at indoor and outdoor state championships, each time winning 1600m and placing third in the 3200m after running on the 4x800 relay. Dropped almost five seconds off personal best to win outdoor 1600m county title.

Kaos Williams, Clarksburg 2013 High School Personal Bests: 6-10.00 High Jump, 18-10.50 Long Jump Medal Count: 1 County, 1 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #1 in the high jump in Montgomery County dating back to 2005. Went undefeated in the high jump during his only season of high school track.

Brandon Addison, Watkins Mill, 2010 High School Personal Bests: 6.57 55m, 21.79 200m, 35.80 300m, 48.25 400m Medal Count: 2 County, 2 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #2 in the 400m, #4 in the 200m, and #7 in the 300m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Swept county, region, and state titles in the 400m in 2010. Is the only Montgomery County male athlete to win a 400m state title in any classification dating back to 1997. Led Watkins Mill to team county title in 2010. Contributed to state champion 4x200 relay. Competed for NC Central where 400m time dropped to 47.33.

Gaston Assoua, Blake 2013; Springbrook Profile High School Personal Bests: 23-00.00 Long Jump, 46-05.00 Triple Jump, 6-02 High Jump, 36.84 300m Medal Count: 2 County, 1 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #2 in the long jump and triple jump in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Jumped 23 feet in the long jump at indoor county championship meet to break meet record by 15 inches. Placed top ten in the long jump at New Balance Indoor Nationals and the Penn Relays. Won long jump state title and contributed to state runner-up 4x400 relay. Holds Coyote Invitational triple jump meet record.

Joshua Trzeciak, Wootton 2013 High School Personal Bests: 49.9 400m, 1:54.50 800m, 4:16.6 1600m, 9:45.12 3200m Medal Count: 3 County, 3 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #5 in the 800m and #7 in the 1600m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. After missing indoor junior season with injury, broke outdoor Cougar Relays meet record in the mile and won 800m county, region, and state titles. Contributed to 2013 4x800 state champion relay. Competes for the University of Pittsburgh.

Devon Hairston, Kennedy 2014 High School Personal Bests: 7.50 55m Hurdles, 8.24 60m Hurdles, 14.35 110m Hurdles, 39.05 300m Hurdles, 51.94 400m, 41-07.00 Triple Jump Medal Count: 2 County, 3 Region Notes: 55m Hurdles time ranks #1 in Montgomery County dating back to 1998. Ranks #2 in the 110m Hurdles and #7 in the 300m Hurdles in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. Won 55m Hurdles at prestigious Virginia Tech Invitational in 7.51 and clocked 7.50, the fastest automatic 55-meter hurdle time ever at the Montgomery County Indoor Championship Meet (meet record is hand-timed 7.2h).

Reginald Steele, Paint Branch, 2010 High School Personal Bests: 10.84 100m, 21.75 200m, 36.59 300m, 50.85 400m Medal Count: 2 County, 2 Region, 2 State Notes: Ranks #3 in the 200m and #4 in the 100m in Montgomery County from 2010 to 2014. After missing most of senior indoor season with injury, swept outdoor county, region, and state titles in the 100m and 200m. Was the first Montgomery County athlete since 1986 to win 100m and 200m state titles in highest Maryland classification (what is now 4A was then called AA in 1986). Competed four years at the University of Pittsburgh.

Solomon Vault, Gaithersburg 2014 High School Personal Bests: 6.55 55m, 10.66 100m, 22.04 200m Medal Count: 3 County, 3 Region Notes: Ranks #1 in the 100m, #4 in the 55m, and #5 in the 200m in Montgomery County from 2010-2014. Won 3 county and 3 region titles against the fastest crop of Montgomery County sprinters of the decade. Won 5 additional county and region titles on relays, carrying Gaithersburg to the fastest 4x100 time by a Montgomery County team since 2003.

Jaron Woodyard, Wootton 2016; Watkins Mill Profile High School Personal Bests: 6.52 55m, 10.68 100m, 22.06 200m, 35.19 300m Medal Count: 1 County, 2 Region Notes: Ranks #1 in the 55m in Montgomery County dating back to 2009. Ranks #2 in the 100m and 300m from 2010 to 2014. Led Wootton to outdoor county team title as sophomore. Is the youngest member of the Half-Decade Boys Team and holds the fastest times in Mocorunning's database (since 2006) for a sophomore in the 55m, 100m, and 300m.

Michael Scott, Kennedy 2014 High School Personal Bests: 23-04.75 Long Jump, 6-02.00 High Jump, 42-10.00 Triple Jump, 11.35 100m Medal Count: 2 County, 1 Region, 1 State Notes: Ranks #1 in the long jump in Montgomery County dating back to 1998 with no consideration given to wind. Swept 2014 county, region, and state titles in long jump and tacked on a high jump county title. Holds long jump meet record at Mullins Russell Invitational.

Half-Decade Team Relays

4x100 - Gaithersburg 2014 - 42.47 County champs, region champs, and state runners-up. Marc Smith, Vicco Bedell, Jamal Leonard, and Solomon Vault recorded the fastest 4x100 time by a Montgomery County team since the Gaithersburg boys of 2003.

4x200 - Good Counsel 2010 - 1:27.95 Sean Sutton, Cortlandt Harris, Jemel Sessoms, and Chris Thompson still hold the meet record at the 32-year-old Draper Invitational.

4x400 - Good Counsel 2010 - 3:16.87 Sean Sutton, Cortlandt Harris, Thomas Tallerico, and Fola Shokunbi finished 11th overall at the Penn Relays in the fastest time by a Montgomery County team in more than a decade.

4x800 - Georgetown Prep 2010 - 7:43.76 Russell Hornsby, Nick Letourneau, Joey Chapin, and Joseph Woiwode won the National Scholastic Indoor Championship (NSIC) 4x800 in 7:48.99 before finishing third at the Penn Relays in 7:43.76.

4x1600 - Walter Johnson 2010 - 17:55.5 Ishan Dey, Sean O'Leary, Nick Regan, and Alex Willett averaged 4:29 per runner in clocking the fastest 4x1600 by a Montgomery County team in at least a decade at the Arundel Relays.

1600m SMR - Good Counsel 2010 - 3:28.87 Sean Sutton, Cortlandt Harris, Thomas Tallerico, and Fola Shokunbi finished 8th in the SMR at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the fastest time by a Montgomery County team in at least a decade.

4000m DMR - Good Counsel 2010 - 10:04.72 Cortlandt Harris, Thomas Tallerico, Fola Shokunbi, and Kyle Graves won the DMR at the Penn Relays in 10:09.07 before placing 7th at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 10:04.72. It is likely the fastest time ever recorded by a Montgomery County team.

Half-Decade Team Honorable Mention