As we embark on another spring track season, the LM boys’ track team is looking forward to showcasing their speed, coming off of a record-setting cross country season where the team scored 27 points in the League Championship, landing them their first title in over four years. The fall season was shorter than the runners had hoped, but they were happy to walk away with the title. As they flipped the page on cross country, they turned their attention to winter track, training long and hard through the winter as the competition was put on hold, developing their speed while maintaining their aerobic fitness from the fall. With no racing, the team focused on critical workouts and long runs every Saturday.
This spring season, they will continue the work from the winter and show- case their staunch training. Captains Trey Gannon ’21, Rob Daquila ’21, Henry Folk ’21, and Justin Badt ’21 look to lead an army of young talent. The team’s younger members have been training with the veterans, and Gannon has taken notice: “The underclassmen on the team often try to pass me in workouts, providing me with an additional source of motivation. Safe to say the future of the team is in good hands.” Gannon looks to improve his incredible winter season last year, where he posted a 4:31 mile personal record. He is determined to lead several distance runners with high hopes this spring. These runners include Alex Bullard ’22, Simon Schmieder ’22, and David Litvin ’22, who are looking to compete with Gannon in the mile, along with his younger brother, Drew Gannon ’23. The team will look to get six or seven runners under the infamous 4:30 mark in the mile, an achievement that would put LM’s distance group as one of the country’s tops. This year’s distance program has the potential to be one of LM’s best.
Although the Aces have quite the talent on the long-distance side of things, they will need their sprinters and jumpers to score as well. Sam Auerbach ’22 has been working all winter to have a breakout spring season. With a personal record of ten feet in the pole vault, he will look to qualify for districts this spring. D’Shawn Jemison ’21 will try to lead the sprinters to another successful season, as he hopes to be the next great sprinter and role model for the young sprinting group. The team will need the sprinters and jumpers if they want any success this spring.
Despite the issues facing the Aces this spring, they will make the most of whatever season they are given. With practices going back to five times a week, they should be well in form by the first meet. The seniors look to close their high school running career on a high note with a potential Central League Championship title, and there is no question that the team has the talent and the work ethic to do so. The virus may limit their season, but the group knows they must make the most of every opportunity presented. Look out for the Aces this spring with big things on the way.
