April 26th of this year marked the beginning of the end for the 2024 Regis Jesuit varsity track & field team as they participated in the 51st annual Liberty Bell track meet at Echo Park Stadium. Being a track team, there were a numerous number of our Raiders running and jumping from every class as well as throwers like Seniors Derek Rinehart from the boys division and Sophia Young from the Girls division. We had very strong and exciting results coming out of the meet, highlighted by Junior Braeden Focht placing 4th overall in the 3200 meter run as well as Senior David Flaig finishing 3rd overall in the 800 meter run.
As they near the end of the season, we are hearing a lot from both runners and coaches about both their favorite, and least favorite experiences and memories from throughout the past couple of months. Luke Lanoha, a freshman at Regis and sprinter for track & field, talks about his connections formed with upper class-men through his older brother and, “getting in a good laugh by sharing stories about things that we had in common.” Mr. Boyle, a cross country and long distance running coach as well as Regis math teacher states that this season is, “one of the first times in a long time that I think Regis Jesuit cross country showed that we can be one of the best up and coming programs in the state,” showing how enthusiastic he is for the current and future state of the running program at Regis Jesuit High School.
Not only has the Regis Jesuit track and field team had a very successful and productive season this year and in previous years, setting both school and state records, but as we look ahead to the future it seems that we are only going up. Despite several very strong juniors and seniors headed out of the program this year and next year, the under class-men have some very promising prospects. Coach Boyle reminds us that, “The sky’s the limit in terms of our program so keep an eye on us for the next couple of years.”
