The Leesville Indoor Track and Field Team closed out their 2024 season at the State Championship Meet on February 9. The meet took place at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The team made Leesville proud with their performance. The women’s team placed 41st overall and the men’s team placed 17th.
The team also had athletes participate in almost every event. The track events were individual races like the 1600m (mile) and relays like the 4x800m. The field events were pole vault, shot put, and high jump.
To compete in the State Meet, each athlete had to achieve a certain mark in a regular meet. The NC High School Athletic Association raised the qualification standards this season, but the Pride worked hard and 23 athletes made it to the State Championship.
Ruth Metaferia, sophomore, and a distance runner on the team, said, “The meet went really well for the team. The girls’ 4x800m race did well, and my [race] was good too.”
Metaferia raced the 1600m and finished in eighth place with a personal best of 5:07. The girls’ 4x800m team placed 12th with a time of 9:58.
Allex Williams, senior and a thrower on the team, also enjoyed the meet. “There were a lot of great people there. It was a fun experience,” said Williams.
Williams competed in shot put and placed 19th with a distance of 44 feet 10 inches.
Metaferia, Williams, and many other track and field team members trained all winter long. They will get a short break, and then head into the spring track and field season. Tryouts will take place on February 21 and 22, after school.
The team’s ongoing determination led to a great performance at the State Championship, and their outdoor season is sure to be successful too.
