On May 22 and 23, members of McLean’s outdoor track team competed at South Lakes High School for the 6A Region D championship. Many of the runners placed very high, with some reaching qualifications for the state tournament at the end of May.
“I think the team did a great job,” sophomore distance runner Dani Diaz said. “We had a lot of state qualifications as well as many personal records and great performances.”
For the boys at regionals, there were numerous runners who placed very well in their events, with some earning a state championship qualification. Individually, sophomore Carter Lineweaver placed fourth in the two-mile race, senior Kevin Kabasele placed sixth in the 110 meter hurdles, junior Mikhael Cristo-Ezewoko placed fourth in the triple jump and senior Jonas Knudson took home bronze in the pole vault. Additionally, the 4×100 meter team consisting of seniors Lee Davis, Jahi Jemison, Kabasele and junior Seth Peleg placed second, and seniors Luca Hinton, Liam Riley, Jackson Coombes and junior Landon Moore placed first in the 4×400 meter relay.
“The 4×800 relay had to have been the most nail biting race I’ve ever been in,” Coombes said. “It was a roller coaster of emotions between the baton being knocked out of one of our racers hands, to me speeding up and running a personal best to get us in perfect shape. We had a job to do, and we did it.”
As for the girls at this meet, there were a couple more state qualifiers. Diaz placed sixth in the mile and second in the two mile, earning her state qualifications for both. Marie-Odette De Marcellus placed fourth in the 100 meter hurdles and third in the high jump, receiving two qualifications as well.
“The girls teams did a really good job, and I am excited to continue running with them at states,” Diaz said. “Overall, I had good races, but there is always room for improvement.”
The Highlander runners have their state championship on May 31 and June 1. Many of these runners that qualified for the state competition will be running in this meet and are well prepared to compete at the highest level.
“Whatever changes we needed to make for states were already made, and regionals were where we proved that,” Coombes said. “All we have to do now is run clean and run smart, and I don’t see why any of our runners can’t compete highly.”
