Sprinting Towards History?

Led by an Amazing Relay Team, Leps Running for Historic Feats At This Week’s State Track Meet

The La Grange boys have not won a relay state title in track in 99 years.

That could change Thursday when a special foursome of Leopards take the track in Austin.

And they have not one, but two, chances to make school history.

The La Grange boys haven’t brought home relay gold since the La Grange mile relay team did so back in 1922. Only once have the Lady Leps done so, the 1980 4x100 relay.

This year’s Leps 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay have both qualified for state. The 4x200 relay has the fastest qualifying time (1:26.23) of the eight teams in the race and the 4x100 relay had the second fastest qualifying time (41.95).

Both La Grange relay teams include the same four guys running in the exact same order in both races.

Junior Dana Baker leads off, followed by senior Trey East, who passes the baton to senior Jordan Scott, who gives the baton to anchor leg, sophomore Bravion Rogers.

“We’ve had high expectations since Day 1, and they have risen to the challenge every time. It’s been a joy to watch,” said La Grange head track coach Rusty Cauthern. “They do exactly what we ask of them in practice and they are fun to be around ... we think we can still drop some time off.”

All four of the relay members talked about how excited they were about state before practice one day last week.

Dana Baker: “It’s an honor to be able to go to state and compete. We joke around a lot, but when we get on the track, it’s serious.”

Trey East: “We have the fastest time going in so hopefully we come out with gold. Our chemistry is pretty good, we’ve been friends for years. That helps because we can push each other and motivate each other.”

Jordan Scott: “We’ve never been able to do this, so to run at state, it’s a blessing. It would mean a lot to be state champs.”

Bravion Rogers: “I just want to get these seniors a gold medal in their last year and have fun doing it.”

The relay team is not the only La Grange representatives going to state.

Rogers has also qualified for state in the high jump after clearing a personal best 6-4 at regionals, tied for the fifth best mark among qualifiers.

Joseph Mueller has qualified for state in the discus with a throw of 152-03 at regionals, seventh best among qualifiers.

“It’s super exciting to go to state,” Mueller said. “At district I threw 140, at area I threw 129. It’s all about form. My strength is there. When I’ve warmed up I’ve thrown 160.”

Dylan Truss has qualified for state in the pole vault. He cleared 15 feet at regionals, tying him for third among qualifiers, but he’s gone higher (15-7).

“I’ve never been to state before,” Truss said. “I’m trying to follow in my cousin’s footsteps who is vaulting for Sam Houston State now. I’ve been talking to a few colleges, been talking to Sam, I want to go there ... I definitely want to try to get 16 feet at state.”

The boys have a big enough contingent going to state that they could make some noise in the overall team points race as well.

The La Grange boys won the team title at the state track meet back in 1923, the school’s only state team track title, but overcoming Waco La Vega in the point total will be tough because the La Vega boys have three relay teams at state.

But anything’s possible.

Meanwhile, the La Grange girls state track hopes rest solely on the shoulders of junior Hailey Bass, the Lady Leps’ lone state qualifier.

She has the sixth best qualifying time in the 400 meters. She ran a personal best 58.60

She ran a personal best 58.60 in the regional finals, a full second faster than the PR she’d run the day before in the regional prelims.

“At regionals, if you get third you aren’t advancing, so you have to push yourself to an extreme limit,” Bass said. “My goal at state is 58-flat. I hope I get there.” hasn’t been done since the Leps win the 1923 track boys team title – some 98 years ago.

Here’s a look at every La Grange state track champ:

Boys

1922 La Grange B mile relay (Edgar Rosenberg, Ed Novosad, Arthur von Minden & A.V. Smith), 3:44.6

1923 Walter Mensing, B 120-yd hurdles, 16.2 (Conference B record, 1923-24)

1923 Walter Mensing, B pole vault, 11’ 03”

1923 La Grange State Class B Champs over Alvin, 20-16

1954 Ralph K. Rosenberg, 1A 440-yd dash, 50.0

1969 Eddie Hubbard, 3A 100-yd dash, 9.6

1992 Curtis Truesdale, 3A 100-meter dash, 11.0

1993 Curtis Truesdale, 3A 100-meter dash, 10.3 (Conference 3A record, 1993-2002)

1998 Lawrence Dobbins, 3A 100-meter dash, 10.66

2000 Shauntae Lovings, 3A 110-meter hurdles, 14.1

Girls

1980 La Grange 2A 4x100-meter relay (Sharon Kovar, Sheila Willrich, Debra Scott & Charlene Grant), 48.3

1981 Charlene Grant, 3A 100-meter low hurdles, 14.2 1982 Charlene Grant, 3A long jump, 19’ 01”

At the state track meet in 1923 to win the team title, Walter Mensing of La Grange won the 120-yard high hurdles, the 100-yard dash and the pole vault and was fourth in the broad jump.

La Grange’s Edgar Rosenberg was second in the 440-yard dash.

The La Grange mile relay was second that year.