The track program at Brentwood Christian School has always been known for its excellence. This year’s season reflected the school’s commitment to excellence once again.

There were six school records broken this year, the girls team finished 10th overall at the TAPPS state meet, and seniors Harper Counts (3200), Joshua Gonzales (pole vault) and junior Ava Johnson (100 and 200) all earned silver medals.

The same three athletes all broke records throughout the season, while senior Caitlin Welsh (100-meter hurdles) also nabbed a new BCS-best mark.

“These athletes showed grit every day, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Katie Smith, girls track and field head coach.

Johnson broke the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.30 seconds, then broke it again with a 25.26 at state. Harper Counts also set a new 1600-meter record, finishing a race in 5:12.36. Welsh hurdled at 15.79, while Gonzales now owns BCS shot put, discus and pole vault records, the latter of which he broke at state with a mark of 13 feet, six inches.

The records were a small part of a long season for the Bears and Lady Bears. Both programs competed in five pre-season meets prior to district, winning seven between the two. Both went on to a third-place finish at district and qualified over 10 athletes to state from regional competition combined.

“This is the most mentally tough team I’ve ever coached,” said David Waters, head boys track and field coach. “Their resilience defined our season.”

Some highlights for the boys included district championships for sophomore Tobi Olasode (100) and senior Nico Napper (3200). The boys also qualified their 4x200 relay of Olasode, senior Matthew Crouch, junior Huxley Harlan and sophomore Andrew Berger to state.

The girls had numerous district and regional qualifiers, including junior Anu Oguntade, who qualified for state for the third year in a row. The girls also sent their 4x100 relay team of Johnson, Oguntade, junior Lynden Worley and freshman Kenlee Rubin to state.

“A way I have grown this season is competing on the varsity level, which has caused me to work harder and bring my running time down significantly,” Rubin said.

Multiple members of Brentwood qualified past district and regionals to advance to the state
At regionals, the boys placed seventh with 47 points; additionally, the girls placed fifth with a score 71.5.

At state, Harper Counts also finished third in the 1600, capping a career in which she won individual state titles in both cross country and track and field. Oguntade competed in the long jump, while senior Hailyn Counts was fifth in the 3200.

This year’s sense of teamwork was especially meaningful to the seniors preparing to leave the program behind.

“I’ll miss the people the most,” Napper said. “Being around teammates who push you and encourage you every day is something special.”

Gonzales and Welsh are moving on to Central College in Iowa for track, while Harper and Hailyn Counts will be running cross country at Harding University.