Highland High School runners Brock Veley, Jack Weaver, Chase Carpenter and Landyn Albanese can hardly believe they qualified for the 2019 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships in the 4x100-meter relay event. In fact, of the 16 teams to qualify in that event, this Highland foursome will be only one of four teams to have run the event in under 43 seconds (42.99). Not only are they expected to advance on Day 1, they look to finish pretty high up on the podium.
“It feels good to be going to the state with your best friends in high school,” Veley said. “We’re having fun and we’ll give it our best.”
“The hundred is good,” Veley said. “It’s just that the 4x100 is fun. It’s just something different. You get to cheer for your teammates and work together as a team.”
Weaver knows he and his relay mates have a real shot at the finals.
“I’m extremely nervous and excited,” Weaver said. “I know we can make the finals, and I believe we can get on the podium.”
For Weaver and Carpenter, both seniors, this is the real last hurrah in their high school athletic careers and they want to make it a big one.
“If we can make it on the podium, that would be amazing,” Carpenter said. “My expectations for this track season have been greatly surpassed.”
Albanese, a sophomore, has three great teammates to lean on.
“I’m very nervous about this weekend,” Albanese said. “I’m just glad I’m running with two seniors and a junior. I have the third leg, so I’m right in the middle.”
Carpenter is just trying to maintain the mindset that has helped him and his team all season.
“I just came in here and I wanted to have fun,” Carpenter said. “Suddenly, I ended up on a state-qualifying 4x100 team. I really wasn’t planning on that, but they wanted me to be a part of it and, luckily, these guys have been able to carry me. I just have to keep reminding myself that I’m here to have a good time. If I forget that, I won’t run a good time.”
