Greenhills Track and Field Smashing Records, Building Legacy
The Greenhills track and field team is having the kind of season that athletes dream about—and coaches spend years working to build. After a strong 2024 campaign, this year’s Gryphons have taken another leap forward, blending veteran leadership with rising talent to set a new standard for success. With five school records already shattered, multiple athletes earning early qualifications for the state finals, and more poised to qualify at regionals this weekend, the energy around the program is unmistakable.
“I knew we were going to have a pretty strong team that would continue to build off of last year,” said head coach Jarrett Bussell. “We had strong seniors that graduated, and we have a lot of talented new runners filling those holes. We also have a lot of veteran runners that are continuing to get faster, stronger, jump higher, and jump farther. So a lot of good performances.”
Record-Breaking Season
So far, the team has rewritten the record board five times. Lauren Sheffield ’25 re-broke her own school record in discus not once but twice this season, most recently at a last-chance meet where she also secured an early qualifier (EQ) for the state finals with a throw of 115 feet, 6 inches. Ishan Leahy, a senior captain, not only broke the 300-meter hurdles record—twice—but also hit the state early qualifying time, punching his ticket to the finals.
And then came senior night, when the floodgates opened.
Senior Jayla Johnson soared over the high jump bar at five feet, claiming sole ownership of the school record. Later that evening, the boys 4×200-meter relay team, composed of Brock Merritt ’25, Adeola Adefeso ’26, Noah Korley ’26, and Leahy, took down a long-standing school record. Finally, the boys 4×400-meter relay team of freshman Rowan Bryer, sophomore Naveen Kulkarni, junior Henry Beck, and Leahy crushed a 1999 record with a blistering 3:29, making them one of the fastest Division 3 squads in the state.
Depth, Grit, and Team Chemistry
This year’s success isn’t just about a few standout performances—it’s about a deep roster that’s competitive in every event and a culture that values both excellence and encouragement. Whether it’s a senior chasing school history or a freshman finding their stride, nearly every athlete has made measurable gains.
Coach Bussell credits the program’s momentum not just to talent and hard work, but also to culture. Much of that has been shaped by the team’s captains, Nico Dettling ’25, Leahy, Sheffield, Mason Stranahan ’25, Eleana Zhuang ’25, who’ve led from the front and brought others up.
“It’s that idea that iron sharpens iron,” he said. “These kids push each other every day and genuinely want each other to succeed. That’s rare.”
Looking Ahead
With regionals this weekend, Bussell is focused on giving every athlete the best shot at making it to the state meet.
“My goal is always to try to get as many people to states as possible just so they can have that experience,” he said. “We’re going to run smart—strategically lightening some athletes’ loads so they can peak in their best events.”
The Catholic High School League championships follow close behind. The girls are chasing a third straight league title, while the boys are aiming to upset a powerhouse Liggett team.
“They’ve got a few D1-level sprinters,” Bussell said, “but we out-depth them. If we can chip away enough points, we’ve got a shot.”
With a freshmen-only meet, an invitational, and the MHSAA state finals on May 31, there’s plenty left on the calendar. But beyond the medals and meet results, this season is already one for the books.
