Millrose Games prep mile runner-up Alex Tatu breezed to victories at 1,600- and 3,200-meters, setting meet records in both, and Megan Boone recorded wins in the long jump, 55, 300 and 1,600 relay as the Knights swept the team titles.
Tatu and Boone had plenty of help. Individual wins by Dennis Boone, Megan's younger brother, in the long jump, Taylor McFadden (triple jump), Derek Altizer (55) and Jon Turnbull (1,000) helped put the boys well up on runner-up Petersburg, the defending champs. Makena Hammond (high jump, triple jump) and Bridgett Dryer (1,000) added wins for the Dale girls.
Combined result: Thomas Dale 297, Prince George, the 2001 girls winners and the next best combined, 156.
"We're going in a positive direction," said Dale coach Bob Gulley, whose boys team in particular is expected to challenge for the Central Region title next week.
"We've got 13 seniors, and it's nice to send them out as [district] champions."
Said Tatu, a junior, who hardly broke a sweat in his two races, clocking 4:35.95 and 9:54.42, "I'm just glad I can contribute to the win, to get the 20 extra points."
A possible injury to hurdler Jonathan Chapman, who anchored the Knights 800 relay to a come-from-behind win but limped off the track after a bumpy heat in the 300, was about all that marred the team's performance.
Earlier in the day, Rhian Jenks of Prince George, who finished second in the girls high jump and long jump, tied the meet record in the pole vault with her winning clearance of 9-0.