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The Class 4A South Region cross country championships Thursday afternoon at Fort Washington Park had their share of intrigue.

Eleanor Roosevelt High School enjoyed a dominant effort from its boys' team. The Raiders won the regional title with their top five runners combining for the low team score of 19 points. But second place came down to a tie-breaker between Henry A. Wise and Bowie, which both finished with 63 points. By state rule, if two teams are tied after counting the results of their top five runners, the team whose No. 6 runner had the better performance wins the tie-breaker.

Bowie came out on top, as the Bulldogs' sixth runner finished 21st, while Wise's sixth runner was 22nd. Roosevelt's Charles Bolinger, Justin Ahalt and Paul Yuan swept the top three spots.

On the girls side, Eleanor Roosevelt nearly avenged an upset by Charles H. Flowers two weeks ago at the county championships, but the Jaguars prevailed by two points, winning with the low score of 27, while Roosevelt was second with 29 points.

Amirah Johnson of Roosevelt won the girls' race, but Flowers' T'Nay Williams (second), Asia Lewis (third) and Danielle Gainer (sixth) took three of the next five spots.

Meanwhile, the meet did not draw as many participants as in recent years. Out of 12 schools in the region, there were only four boys' teams in action, while only six girls' teams competed. According to Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association rules, when there are four teams competing in a regional meet, the top three qualify for the state meet. When six teams compete, the top four earn state berths.

Roosevelt, Bowie and Wise qualified their teams on the boys' side, while the Flowers, Roosevelt, Bowie and Oxon Hill girls' teams clinched state meet berths. The state meet is set for Nov. 14 at Hereford High School in Parkton.

The top 15 individual finishers still earned automatic berths to the state championships.

"It was really fantastic the way our boys performed," said Roosevelt coach Greg Johnson. "All seven guys ran their personal best on the course. On the girls' side, our talent isn't as good as it was in the past, but the kids are really good and continue to work hard. I think this has been one of my favorite years coaching track or cross country."

Individual results

Boys

1. Charles Bolinger – Roosevelt (17 minutes, 3 seconds)

2. Justin Ahalt – Roosevelt (17:07)

3. Paul Yuan – Roosevelt (17:12)

4. J.D. Thornton – Suitland (17:50)

5. Troy Browne – Flowers (18:03)

6. Cullen Mosely – Parkdale (18:09)

7. Adam Snyder – Roosevelt (18:21)

8. Trevon White – Wise (18:24)

9. Gerardo Amaya – Bowie (18:25)

10. Carl White – Roosevelt (18:26)

11. Alan Ottenstein – Bowie (18:30)

12. Nelson Danachi – Parkdale (18:39)

13. Kevin King – Wise (18:46)

14. Adrian Miller – Wise (18:47)

15. Dera Nwosu – Bladensburg (18:53)

Girls

1. Amirah Johnson – Roosevelt (20:06)

2. T'Nay Williams – Flowers (20:53)

3. Asia Lewis – Flowers (21:22)

4. Danielle Calhoun – Roosevelt (21:49)

5. Elizabeth Carino – Parkdale (21:53)

6. Danielle Gainer – Flowers (21:59)

7. Neema Rowe – Roosevelt (22:17)

8. Lydia Nichols-Russell – Roosevelt (22:18)

9. Alexxis Walston – Suitland (22:20)

10. Nicole Franklin – Flowers (22:22)

11. Camille Washington – Flowers (22:30)

12. Deseree' King – Oxon Hill (23:20)

13. Elise Allen – Roosevelt (23:39)

14. Taylor Blackwell – High Point (23:56)

15. Nicole Scott – Roosevelt (23:57)

Team Totals

Boys

1. Eleanor Roosevelt – 19 points

2. Bowie – 63 points

3. Henry A. Wise – 63 points

Girls

1. Charles H. Flowers – 27 points

2. Eleanor Roosevelt – 29 points

3. Bowie – 106 points

4. Oxon Hill – 114 points