A GLEN OAKS SPRINTER (RIGHT) NAVIGATES A 4X200m EXCHANGE AT THE LSU HS QUALIFIER
While the Division I team race was never in doubt at the LHSAA State Indoor Championships, the same cannot be said about Division II team race where the Glen Oaks Panthers came away with the school's first-ever state indoor championship after a disqualification in the final event of the day--the 4x400m relay.
The Panthers were led by senior Na'Ryan Delone, who won the 60m (6.88) and the 400m (50.19). Delone also ran the second leg on both of Glen Oaks' sprint relays.
The Panthers won the 4x200m with a time of 1:31.52. Other relay team members included Darius Gross, Christopher Jackson, and Carton Hargrove.
In the 4x400m, Glen Oaks finished as the runner-up with a time of 2:28.63. Panthers making up that relay included Delone, Hargrove, Ethan Washington, and Darius Williams.
"We trusted the process and training," Glen Oaks head coach Johnny Duncan said. "We've really been hitting it since August with one goal in mind-to be standing in this spot here in February at the state championship. The guys bought into the program. They bought into the process of us training. The long hours. The weekends. The holidays. And it all paid off."
As strong as the Delone and the Panthers were throughout the meet, things looked bleak heading into the final event of the day. Glen Oaks trailed Lake Charles College Prep 47-41. Both schools had podium-worthy teams entered in the race.
Disaster struck for Lake Charles College Prep as a yellow flag went up at the start of the second leg. The Chargers, who would have finished third in the event, were disqualified because the second leg had his foot on the line--not behind it--before his take off to receive the baton.
"My boys at Lake Charles College Prep had the Division II title taken from us by a judgment call," LCCP head coach Jackie Rhine said on Sunday. "It hurts, but we're young and will be back."
When Rhine protested, he was told that his second leg's foot touched the line it wasn't allowed to touch while waiting for the incoming runner. However, the Chargers did make the baton pass in the zone like every other team. Rhine said LCCP did not gain a competitive advantage.
"Rules are rules," Rhine said. "We're a very young team. I just hate it for my only senior. I hate that he wasn't able to end his final indoor season as a state champion due to a discretionary call. Moving forward, we can't allow the 4x4 relay to decide our fate. This moment does not define us, but will propel our program and athletes moving forward."
The lone LCCP senior is Cameron Hill, who has led the team throughout the 2024 indoor season. Hill led the Chargers again on Saturday. He finished second in the high jump (6-0) and fourth in the long jump (19-8.75).