Written By: Victoria Williamson ~ Assistant Sports Editor
Sam Llaneza running at the ODAC championship meet. Photographed by Caroline Gerke.
This past weekend at the ODAC championship meet, the Lynchburg Track & Field Team landed on top for the third year in a row. The women set a record for their program with 197.00 points, and men safely led with 149.00 points, according to LHSN.
Not being the only record broken at this championship meet, LHSN recounts that Lynchburg’s own Sam Llaneza set a new record for the 800m run, his time being 1:52:59.
Llaneza discusses how the team prepared for the championship meet throughout the season, “We put ourselves in a good spot to qualify for NCAA’s earlier in the season, so we used ODACs almost as a hard workout to help some of the team score higher as well as to make sure we could still win the championship,” he said.
Kayla Werner competing at the ODAC championship for the University of Lynchburg. Photographed by Caroline Gerke.
Being a key distance runner for the University of Lynchburg, Kayla Werner individually won the 3k and mile run, and assisted in winning the DMR (distance medley relay), according to the ODAC Sports Network.
After taking some time off during the indoor season due to knee pain, Werner was anxious to be back on the track for the championship. She credits the overall team atmosphere to having an influence on their successful weekend.
“Even though the indoor track was loud and other spectators were shouting, the Lynchburg group’s enthusiastic organized cheers rose far above the others. Each time someone finished an event, their teammates crowded around the finishing area to congratulate them,” said Werner.
After stunning their competition this weekend at the ODAC championship meet, the Hornets hope to continue their success in the NCAA championship meet; to be announced March 3rd.
For more information and updates, visit: Lynchburg Track & Field Team.
