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Last year, the LaGrange Academy track and field team was comprised of exactly one person. Fast forward a year and Georgia Martin — the lone participant in 2024 —- was joined by three other Warrior athletes as senior Grayson Blair, sophomore Owen Sells and eighth grader Katie Hill signed up this season. 

“This year was so much better because I got to actually practice with somebody other than my dad,” Martin said, laughing. 

Martin has been throwing the discus for about as long as she can remember. She improved on her finish from last season, earning All-State honors by placing eighth in the state tournament.

“I set two goals for myself after last year: make finals and beat the school record, and I was able to accomplish both of those things,” Martin said. 

It was a strong showing for Martin as she set the school record in the discus. With one year left, she is working to get stronger and place even higher in 2025.

Martin also set a PR for the shot put at state, but did not qualify for the finals.

Blair also qualified for the state tournament in the discus throw. The senior took the last couple of years off from track and field but decided to rejoin the team as a senior.

“I did it previously and then took the last couple of years off, but I made a promise to a teacher that I would do it again my senior year,” Blair said, cracking a wry smile. “

Blair set the discus school record at regionals and then reset it at state. 

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” Blair said. “There are just so many more people watching you at state than at the other tournaments.”

Blair also set the school records in shot put until Sells showed up to the team. The do-it-all Warrior splits time between soccer, where he serves as the team’s starting goalkeeper, and track and field. Sells ended up shattering the school record in the shot put at three straight meets (the only three he competed in) despite joining the team late and barely throwing.

“I was feeling pretty sick at state and was still able to finish sixth, and it was only my third tournament of the year, so I was pretty happy with what I was able to do,” Sells said.  

Sells’ sixth-place finish at state earned him All-State honors. This was the first state meet for Sells and it was a big step up from all the other competitions he has been at. 

“Whether it’s basketball or soccer, I’m usually one of the bigger guys out there, but at state, all those guys made me look small,” Sells said. “It was a bunch of 6’4 offensive linemen, who made me look like I was four years old.”

Hill has been tearing it up on the cross-country scene for the Warriors for the past couple of years. Unfortunately, the middle school doesn’t have a track team, so this was her first chance to take part in the season.

“I had to wait until eighth grade to join the track team and I was pretty excited,” Hill said. “Running cross country really helped me during the track season.”

A long-distance runner by trade, Hill took part in the 1600m and 3200m races, breaking the school records in both categories. Hill finished in fifth place in the 3200m at state, earning All-State honors. 

“I tried some of the shorter events, but I think I’m going to stick with the longer ones,” Hill said. “It’s easier for me to go fast over a longer stretch.”

After a 400% increase in team size from 2024 to 2025, the hope is that the team will continue to grow in the coming years with Hill, Martin and Sells campaigning for their friends and classmates to join the cause.

“Hey, we improved 400% since last year, so why can’t we at least double the team next year?” Martin said, chuckling.