The Lancers topped St. James, 142-103. Archbishop Ryan (67), Roman Catholic (37), Archbishop Wood and La Salle (32 apiece) were way up the track.
"To number them, it would be football one, basketball two and track three," Stuart said. "I started with track in fourth grade. When I came to McDevitt, I was just a very average freshman. But I was very determined to work and I always listened to coach (Paul) Poiesz.
"Now look where I am. And look where he is."
Stuart, a 6-2, 165-pound senior who will graduate with seven varsity letters, won the 110 high hurdles in 14.54 (he had run a meet record 14.10 in the trials) and the high jump in a personal best 6-4. His seconds came in the 400 intermediate hurdles (55.4; teammate Steve Spencer ran 54.9 for first) and triple jump (43-10).
What that means is, Stuart collected 36 points, or one-fourth of McDevitt's team total.
"The individual competition is what's best about track," he said. ''Sometimes it can be a team thing, but you're usually trying to compete against yourself, to better your own previous efforts.
"No matter how old you are, you can compete. Most sports tend to be dominated by juniors and seniors. But in track, freshmen and sophomores can do just as well as the older guys. You have to be on your toes, because someone is always there to challenge you."
Well, almost always.
In the javelin, McDevitt's John Taylor was in a class by himself.
After breaking a 19-year-old record in the trials with an effort 228-8, Taylor coasted home yesterday with a 224-0. His effort bested the runner-up's by 41 1/2 inches. That should not have been surprising: Taylor this spring is the No. 1 high school javelin thrower in the country.
Wednesday a week ago, after nursing strained elbow ligaments for three weeks, Taylor managed 235-4 1/2 at Wissahickon High's Trojan Track Classic. It's the top effort in Delaware Valley history.
"For the three-week period," Taylor said, "the most throws I ever took in a meet was two. It was usually one. It was just to save the elbow. I got the go-ahead for the Trojan Classic and did the 235."
Yesterday, Taylor felt a shade underpsyched.
"I had trouble getting myself up for some reason," he said. "I did 218 on the first throw, then fell off. People could see me screaming and getting excited before the last throw. I was trying to psych myself up, get a little adrenaline. Sometimes it works. I got 224 on the last throw."
On June 15, in Chicago, Taylor will participate in the Keebler International Championships for high school seniors. He will spend his summer on the TAC and AAU circuits.
Taylor knows his college destination, Brown University, but Stuart still is unsure. He carries a 2.5 grade-point average, but has been limited to 670 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
"It's hard mentally to get good grades," Stuart said, "but not be able to get over the SAT hump. It's very frustrating.
"But I'm the kind of guy who believes that everything happens for a reason. At one time or another, I'll get mine. I've been accepted at IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), but nothing is definite."
KEEPING TRACK
Said Paul Poiesz: "All of our races were close and tough. In no event were there easy points" . . . For St. James, the stars were Donald Guy, Bob Jackson and Harvey Johnson. Guy got wins in the 100, 400 and 4 x 100 relay and was second in the 200. Jackson's were in the 800, 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 and he was third in the 400. Johnson ran on the winning relays and was second in the 100 . . . Bonner's Gene Stickley won the shot put and discus . . . McDevitt's Steve Spencer won the 400 hurdles and took second in the pole vault. Teammate Mark Zataveski was second in the shot and discus.
