While most Washington and Lee students are looking forward to Washington Break, men’s track and field athletes have different reasons for excitement. They are heading to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship on Feb. 28 and March 1.
Captain and thrower Leo Avigliano, ’27, said that morale is high and the team is poised for success. He said they’re hoping for a “triple crown”: ODAC championships in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track and field.
“Our cross country team is coming off an ODAC and Regional Championships win, and now it is up to us to help them fulfill the triple crown. We haven’t had an opportunity to win a triple crown in my three years here so far. So morale is extremely high going into ODAC season,” Avigliano said.
“I think everyone’s pretty confident going in,” said Lukas Michael, ’28. “We have a lot of young talent, and this feels like our year.”
Part of the reason for this high morale is the team’s record-setting freshman class. With 18 members, they are the largest class on the team.
This year’s freshman class has been historic. They have broken school records in the open 800 (DJ McDonough, ’29) and the freshman 4×400 meter relay (John Daniels, ’29; Connor LaCour, ’29; Macky Gartley, ’29; and McDonough).
Three of these freshmen have top-three ODAC times or marks in their respective events, and ten of them currently hold the fastest time or mark on the team in an event.
“This year’s freshman class is a bunch of animals,” Avigliano said. “They’ve not only contributed great times and marks, but they’ve contributed an awesome attitude towards the season. Those guys are locked in and their attitude is contagious.”
“They’re freaks of nature,” Michael added.
Upperclassmen athletes hope that the freshman class will help bring home an ODAC championship. The program hasn’t won an indoor or outdoor ODAC championship since a 2020 indoor victory.
Part of the reason for this title drought has been the Lynchburg Hornets, a team that Avigliano says will be their toughest competition during the postseason.
“I mean it’s pretty easy to say that Lynchburg is the toughest in both indoor and outdoor,” he said. “The last time we beat them was before my time, and there is nothing I want more than to beat them this year.”
One of the things this year’s team has going for them is their closeness.
“This team has made my job as captain so easy because they are already extremely close and are there for each other whenever anyone is in need,” Avigliano said. “This absolutely transfers onto the track and in the field and I would say it definitely contributes to our success. Guys constantly cheering for each other, giving advice, etc., is seen in every single performance on the track.”
“I’d say we’re pretty close,” said jumper Mason Mandis, ’29. “They are my best friends outside of my fraternity.”
Michael says the team’s closeness “pushes us to do better because we are competing for the team, not just for ourselves.”
Whatever happens, the 2026 men’s track and field team will have two shots at their first ODAC championship in six years.
