Boys Track and Field is ending the year on a high note. One of the highlights of the season came last week at the state championships in Charleston, Illinois. Senior Leland Later became the state champion in the 1,600 meter run, finishing in 4 minutes and 9.95 seconds. This win is a historic one for New Trier. Dating back to 1914, New Trier has had 22 twenty-two individual state champions, but never before in the 1,600 meter, making Later the first runner from New Trier to hold that record.

The whole year has been incredible for Later. On Nov. 5, he won the class 3A cross country title.

“The race was a lot of fun, and definitely one of the highlights of my running career. It was really special to go down to state and run for my school. It was really hot out, which I thought would factor in to my time, but I ended up doing very well. The whole season has really been one of the more successful ones we have had. A lot of guys qualified to go downstate for a bunch of different events. In the past, that might not have always happened. We also won a lot of invitationals, which was really great. The whole season has been on an upward swing,” said Later

The rest of the state meet for New Trier somewhat paled in comparison to Later’s achievement. The Boys New Trier Track and Field team failed to crack the top ten. Roselle High School, from Lake Park took first place with 48 points. Later was also the only New Trier athlete to place first in an event.