MCA'S CATALINA REICHARD (5) COMPETES IN THE 3200m AT THE 2023 LHSAA STATE INDOOR MEET
Better late than never!
Several distance runners are planning to compete for the first time at Saturday's LSU Last Chance Qualifier. Let's take a look and see who is running their season opener.
Parkway's Brennan Robin-This is really no surprise as Parkway head coach Kent Falting told MileSplit LA early on in the season that Robin, who turned in one of the most impressive freshmen seasons in LHSAA history in 2024, would not open until the Last Chance Qualifier. He is listed in the 1600m, where he was the LHSAA State Indoor and Outdoor runner-up as a freshman.
Jesuit's Brady Monahan-The "heir apparent"--if you will-- in a distance program that has dominated LHSAA distance action for the last five years, Monahan is scheduled to compete in the 3200m on Saturday. He will lead the Blue Jays next year when Brady Mullen graduates. The last time we saw Monahan was his sub 15:00 race at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships back in November. It was Monahan's second straight runner-up performance at state.
Mt. Carmel's Catalina Reichard- It appears that Reichard, who was Louisiana's best female distance runner in the Fall of 2023, will make her long-awaited return this Saturday. Reichard is entered in the 3200m. In her last LHSAA race on Louisiana soil, Reichard won the 2023 LHSAA Division I State Cross Country Championships with a time of 17:28. A couple of months later, Reichard won Louisiana's Gatorade Player of the Year Award for cross country.
Jesuit's Leland Crawford--Since running a 4:15 in the 1600m at the Texas Distance Festival and following that up with a podium appearance at the LHSAA State Outdoor Championships during his freshman year, Crawford has battled injuries which have sidelined him for the most of his career. His teammate, Brandt Blanchard, let the cat out of the bag in his MileSplit LA interview after winning the 1600m at the LSU HS Qualifier. And sure enough, Blanchard was right! We see Crawford's name listed among the entries in the 1600m.
Baton Rouge High's Lucy Thomas--The last time we saw Thomas it was back in November as she was grinning ear-to-ear after winning her first state cross country championship. Thomas upset SJA's Michelle Daigle to win the Division 1state title after overcoming an early season injury. Thomas is scheduled to compete in the 1600m on Saturday.