LANDOVER, Md. – After overwhelming the field to win her first-ever indoor state championship in the 400 meters, Juliana Balon sprawled on the edge of the track.
Her mother, Christine, hugged her. Someone yelled out, “The 400 is no joke.” Balon agreed. Then her coach, Nehemiah Kent, gave her a reminder resonant with many athletes Saturday afternoon at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center.
“You don’t have time.”
Contested in one day, the DIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships don’t leave room for rest or relaxation. That was never more apparent than in the girls championship in which Tatnall and Balon’s Padua stretched their rosters as far as possible, asking their top athletes to compete in three or four events for team points. No one was asked to do more than Balon.
Just after noon, Balon posted the fastest time in qualifying for the 55-meter dash. At 1:02 p.m., she made her first attempt in the long jump. By 2:05 p.m., she had won the 55 final and was back in the sand pit. On her next jump, she reached 18-4.50, the winning mark by more than 5 inches.