The girls’ track and field team have reached incredible heights over the recent years. The team won Georgia’s state championship in 2014, 2021 and 2023, and they finished second in 2022. In every meet, there has been at least one runner or relay team who finished first for the girls’ team. Not only that — the girls’ team recently won the region meet at Woodward by a lead of over 100 points. The many records and ranked times the girls’ team set this season speak for themselves.

The girls’ track and field team photo. Photo courtesy @wa.trackandfield Instagram

Coach Ryan Davis, the head track and field coach, is happy with how the team is doing. This season, they are on course to earning the state title once again.

“I’m excited about the progression of the team,” Coach Davis said. “We had a big exciting moment this past weekend where we were back-to-back region champs, girls and boys — I think that’s four years in a row for the girls and I think three years in a row for the boys… The progression of the track team has been really, really, exciting because they’re moving in the direction where they need to be, especially moving up to the sectionals, getting ready for the state championship…I know our girls have big shoes to fill…cause we won state last year… [we] want to be back-to-back state champs as well.”

Aside from the performances, the team members have great support for each other. Track and field is an individual sport, which may lead to competition between teammates, but on the girls’ team, this is not the case. Coach Alida Abdullah thinks the competitiveness of track and field doesn’t get in the way of the team spirit.

“I think that the strength of our team is our cohesiveness.” Coach Abdullah said. “I think it’s important that we all, you know, support one another, and I think that the girls in particular have really done a good job of, you know, just being excited about one another’s success, so of course track can be very individual, they are working against each other, but they’re also working together, and that’s kind of a hard thing to be able to but I think that our team does that very very well.”

One of the records broken this year was the school record in the steeplechase, now held by Taylor Longegan ‘27. The steeplechase combines obstacles and running in a 2000 meter race.. It was a special feeling for Taylor when she broke the record.

“The cheers from the crowd fueled my determination, and before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line.” Taylor said. “The feeling of accomplishment was exhilarating as I learned that I had set a new school record. Looking back, I am grateful for the experience and the memories that came with it. Breaking the school record in the steeplechase is a moment I will never forget.”

The team is having a great season, and some members still feel like they can push themselves even more. Taylor Gullatte ‘25 was part of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 teams who put up state and nationally ranked times. In addition, Gullatte finished second in two events at the region meet. She hopes to build on these achievements in the postseason.

“I feel like this season I can do a lot better, you know,” Taylor Gullatte said. “I just wanna improve on the times that I ran so far cause I know that I can, so I just keep having to put in the hard work.”

Sydney Glee ‘25 ran at the state competition last year when the girls’ team won the championship. Sydney has continued her success, winning both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles at region this season. The 300 meters stood out for her as an important race.

“My favorite race so far has definitely been my region race… in the 300 meter hurdles,” Sydney said. “And that’s because I had taken a couple weeks off from running in that race and I came back and I had trusted my training and I was able to put up a very strong national time.”

The team has many outgoing seniors who have been integral to the team’s accomplishments over the past couple seasons. However, there are many juniors and underclassmen who are ready to step up and lead the team.

“We’re very grateful for the successes and wins that have come our way and that we’ve been able to work really hard for,” Sydney said. “And I know that, though the seniors are leaving, um, the juniors and underclassmen are excited to continue the grind and… the period of success that we’ve been able to have the last few years.”

Records and ranked times set by the girls’ team this season (seconds.milliseconds or minutes.seconds.milliseconds)

Madison Gardner-

400m Georgia #1, US #9, School Record (53.62)

Kenyah Conner-

800M Georgia # 3, School Record (2:10.29)

Sydney Glee-

100 Hurdles Georgia #7 (14.28)

300 Hurdles Georgia #5 (42.80)

Chelsea Williams-

200m Georgia #14, school record (24.38)

Jensen Warnick-

Pole Vault #9 in 6A (10-0)

Nora Rosenburg-

Pole Vault #9 in 6A 

Taylor Gullatte-

100m #7 in 6A (11.98)

Sydney Glee, Taylor Gulatte, Kenyah Conner, Chelsea Williams-

4×100 Relay Georgia #3, US #26, (46.13)

Sydney Glee, Madison Gardner, Taylor Gulatte, Kenyah Conner

4×400 Relay Georgia #1, US #9, School Record (3:43.30)

Taylor Lonergan-

2000m Steeplechase school record (8:01.08)