The Brentwood Christian School track and field team is ready to begin the season with high expectations. Two girls runners are already signed and ready to compete at the next level, and a talented influx of new runners is matched by a growing coaching staff.

Together, the mix of leadership and depth have raised expectations across the growing program.
The girls side of the program is coached by head coach, Katie Smith, and assistant coach, Cheyanne Lovelady.

On the boys side of the program, head coach David Waters leads the way. Ultimately, the team is in good hands and has a very competitive chance at the district, regionals, and state meets.
Brentwood has had a very strong track and field team for many years.

Although they fell short last season, recent championships for the boys (2021) and the girls (2024) are still a motivating factor.

“We are spending our time ultimately preparing for district, regionals, and state,” said Smith. “I am excited to see how we compete up until then.”

“I am very confident in the team this year because of how hard we worked in the offseason,” said junior and key runner Lynden Worley. “I think the most difficult part is the tougher part of the season [and] tougher competition in 5A.”

The depth of the team is immense with many experienced runners. The boys have returning seniors Matthew Crouch, Joshua Gonzalez, Dylan Sloan, and Ian Wiggins.

“We have a lot of dedicated people and people who are willing to work hard to achieve their best on this team,” Wiggins said. “That’s what makes this team great.”

The girls have a very strong program as well, led by sisters, Harper and Hailyn Counts, who signed to run cross country and track and field at Harding University after graduation. Both have strong chances to continue to compete at the state level.

Other returners and key runners include senior Caitlin Welsh, juniors Ava Johnson, Worley, and Anu Oguntade, as well as key sophomores and incoming freshmen for both genders.
“The team is really getting closer together and learning to work hard as one,” said Worley.

Beyond track, Smith is planning on teaching her athletes to go beyond just running or throwing. Her specific focuses are to lift each other up with an emphasis on 1 Thessalonians 5:11, which states: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

“I really want a focus for us this year to be to see us come together as a team and to build each other up,” Smith said.

“Track has taught me to work hard and to always encourage,” added Wiggins.

At the first meet on Feb. 26 in Brady, the teams performed well. The girls won the meet as overall champions, with Worley (long jump), Harper Counts (1600, 3200) and Johnson (100, 200) among the winners. The boys had numerous winners as well, including Gonzales in three events (110 and 300 hurdles, discus).

Additionally, Gonzales (shot put), Welsh (100 hurdles) and Harper Counts (1600) all set school records. Gonzales and Harper Counts were setting new PRs for previous records they already held.

All-in-all, as the spring seasons begin, the hard work the track and field team has put in during the offseason will finally pay off, as they continue their march toward the district meet at Brook Hill School in Bullard on April 16.

*This article appeared in the March 2026 issue of The Bear Facts, Brentwood Christian School's high school journalism class newspaper.