Among the winners of Wednesday's Class 3A West Region indoor track and field championships at Baltimore's Fifth Regiment Armory a few stood out.

Perhaps the most obvious was Linganore High School's Patrick DuBoyce, who won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and finished second in the 800.

There was also Friendly's Dajahn Lowery, who won the 55-meter dash and finished second in the 300.

But the most surprising name claiming a region championship was Northwood's Alexis Doon, a freshman who won the 500. It even surprised her.

“I didn't expect to win, because it's my third time running it,” Doon said. “I didn't do very well the first time I ran it, I got better my second time. This time I won.”

Doon finished in 1 minute, 26.57 seconds. Urbana's Drew Ballow was second in 1:27.85.

The Linganore boys won the region championship, beating out Frederick County rival Gov. Thomas Johnson 98 points to 91.5. Damascus came from behind to win the girls crown, topping South Hagerstown 76.5 to 67.

“We needed every point we could get today, it came down to the last event, so all the girls really pulled it together,” Damascus coach Jason Bozicevich said.

Linganore also had to wait until the last race before celebrating the team title.

“TJ is a very tough team,” Linganore coach Andres Wright said. “Pat {DuBoyce} ran three races, he scored 28 points by himself, but we got help from everyone, including pole vault.”

DuBoyce said he hasn't decided how many races he'll compete in at the state finals, scheduled for Feb. 19 at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.

“I definitely ran today to keep that option open [competing in all three events at the state meet],” DuBoyce said. “If our team needs the points, then definitely. We'll see.”

For Friendly's Lowery, doing well at the region meet was also a surprise.

“I just came off knee surgery, so I'm kind of excited,” said Lowery, who said he injured the knee during football season and had surgery to repair it just before Thanksgiving. “Thank God it wasn't that bad, and the doctor said that because I'm young, it didn't need as much time as usual to heal.”

The 3A West Region includes all the schools from that class in Montgomery, Frederick, Prince George's and Washington counties. The top performers advance to face athletes who qualified from the Central and East regions.

Helping Damascus win the girls championship were senior Allison Marella and junior Amy Hoffmeyer, who finished first and second in the 3,200 meters.

“We definitely kept up with the websites, so we knew we had a chance,” Marella said. “The race went pretty much the way we planned.”

Marella finished in 12:04.00 and Hoffmeyer at 12:28.10.

Still, they said they know the competition will be tougher at the state meet.

“I don't think the target is on our backs,” Damascus' Bozicevich said. “Hereford will be very tough. We'll see.”

ksain@gazette.net

3A West Region indoor track and field

Girls team scores

1. Damascus 76.50; 2. South Hagerstown 67; 3. Linganore 59; 4. Tuscarora 50; 5. Urbana 47; 6. Albert Einstein 37; 7. Gov. Thomas Johnson 36.50; 8. North Hagerstown 27; 9. Watkins Mill 24; 10 Northwood 21; 11. Potomac 20; 12. Friendly 19; 13. Rockville 13; 14. Seneca Valley 4; 14. Frederick 4.

Boys team scores

1. Linganore 98; 2. Gov. Thomas Johnson 91.50; 3. Tuscarora 70.50; 4. Seneca Valley 38; 5. South Hagerstown 34; 6. Friendly 33; 7. Urbana 31; 8. Damascus 23; 9. Frederick 21; 10. Rockville 20; 11. Potomac 16; 12. North Hagerstown 7; 12. Watkins Mill 7; 14. Crossland 6; 14. Albert Einstein 6; 16. Northwood 1.