Sprinting Towards Glory: Leps Relay Runs at State Thursday
Just two years ago, La Grange sent a 4x200 meter relay team to state, and they won silver.
Now, an entirely new crew of Leps sprinters are setting their sights even higher.
“It feels good to be going to state but we want to win it,” said senior C.J. Davis.
The Leps go into Thursday’s state meet with the sixth best qualifying time of 1:28.94, but the top six teams are separated by less than a second. Also, on the UT track just six weeks ago, the Leps ran a 1:26.71 in the prelims of the Texas Relays.
“I think we’re capable of running a 1:26. If we can do that I expect to be first,” said longtime La Grange track coach Rusty Cauthern.
The six athletes (four runner and two alternates) that La Grange will send to the track Thursday are a mix of old and young, and some midseason replacements who won jobs on this special squad.
And their specific roles on the team for state are not finalized yet.
“I’m extremely proud of them, we’ve had to overcome some injuries, some things didn’t go our way. They never batted an eye,” Cauthern said. “It doesn’t matter who we’ve thrown out there, they’ve responded.”
The seniors include Davis, Clayton Knapik and Phillip Arceneaux. Austin Diggs and Jaden Williams are juniors and sophomore LeKavion Broussard is the young guy.
“I am nervous,” Broussard said. “But I’ve learned so much from these other guys.”
The seniors are ready to embrace the opportunity of their final high school competition.
“All the work you put in, it’s all paying off and I’m just excited,” Knapik said.
“Hopefully we bring something home,” Arceneaux said.
“As long as our handoffs are clean I think we can do it,” Diggs said.
Williams will compete in state track Thursday and then turnaround and play for the Leps baseball team in the second round of the postseason Friday and Saturday.
“It’s really fun running with my guys, and having the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage is awesome,” Williams said. “I just try to get the stick to Diggs as fast as I can because he can flat out run.”
Diggs, the anchor leg, has emerged as the standout in this relay team. While all the other Leps just have this relay to worry about, Diggs has also qualified for state in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters.
“He’s had a great year from the very get-go,” Cauthern said of Diggs, who won indoor national titles in the 60 meters and the 200 meters before high school season started. “We’ve talked to him about not over-training. That’s what happened last year.”
Last year injuries kept Diggs from having a breakout sophomore season, but he’s quickly made up for lost time.
“Getting to state means a lot especially coming back from last year, being injured,” Diggs said. “I was expecting to do something like this last year but I never got to try. Putting it off makes it feel better now.”