The West Potomac boys track and field relay team carried strong momentum into the Virginia High School League Indoor Track and Field State Finals In Virginia Beach after several standout performances at the regional meet.
Daniel Black, Andrew Edwards, Trent Lyking and Robert Leonard helped lead the team to states, working together with the shared goal of placing in the statewide competition. Their success began at regionals, where multiple runners had top finishes and record breaking performances.
The team needed strong results at the regional competition to qualify for states, and several runners delivered. Robert Leonard, Senior, competed in five events at regionals, finishing in the top five in each and earning two first place finishes.
At the state meet, Leonard continued his success in his individual races, including the mile and two mile.
“I set the school record in the mile. I ran an all-time PR of 4:10,” Leonard said.
His record breaking performance earned him a third place finish in the state. Leonard also placed sixth in the two mile race with a time of 9:22.
Daniel Black also competed alongside Leonard in the mile during the regional meet, placing fifth with a time of 4:35. Both runners were part of the relay team that helped break multiple school records during the meet.
Placing third in the 4×200 with a time of 1:33 and finishing fourth in the 4×400 with a time of 3:34, the relay team set a new school record in the 4×800 finishing second with a time of 8:01 to secure their place at states.
At the VHSL state meet, the team finished 10th in the 4×200 relay with a time of 1:31.
Leonard believes the team success comes from the strong bond the runners share after spending hours training together.
“We’re all just friends. We hang out outside of running,” Leonard said. “We motivate each other, work out together, run together, and push each other.
