Dream team: Lions aim for third state relay track crown

Members of the Lawrence High 4x400 Meter Relay team, from left, senior Leah Gabler, junior Kyleigh Severa, and seniors Jensen Edwards and Marissa Pope, are vying for their third state title in the event in three years.

Two years ago, Lawrence High seniors Jensen Edwards, Leah Gabler and Marissa Pope, along with junior Kyleigh Severa, were disappointed when their 4×400 relay finished second at the Sunflower League meet.

“It was like a switch just got flipped, and they were like, ‘We’re not losing again,'” LHS coach Jack Hood said.

They’ve dominated ever since. They’re aiming for their third straight state championship this weekend at Wichita State’s Cessna Stadium. They also have their eyes on another goal: 3:53.00. Any time below that would be the fastest in state history, and the Lions hope to make the most of their last race together.

“This is kind of what we’ve been looking forward to the whole year,” Edwards said. “It’s always been on my mind. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t thought about state.”

But these four girls aren’t just teammates running races together. They’re best of friends who push themselves to their very best. On the track, they are the vocal leaders of the team. In the classroom, they are members of the National Honor Society. Whenever coaches need something demonstrated for underclassmen, these are the athletes they turn to.

“We are very competitive,” Severa said. “I think that’s what makes our team work because we’re all so close in speed. Each person is trying to beat each other in practice. We want our teammates to win and be successful, so that’s what helps us the most.”

“We all want to do well for each other,” Gabler added. “When it’s on our mind that we can do something, we’re going to work our butts off to do it and try to achieve it.”

Pope and Gabler, who went to the same daycare as kids, went undefeated in eighth grade on their 4×400 relay at South Middle School. Edwards ran for Southwest and always was one of the top runners for her school.

“We ran against Jensen and beat her every time,” Pope said with a laugh. “We kind of had a rivalry coming up.”

That rivalry turned into a friendship when they ran together in high school. In their freshman year, Edwards, Gabler and Pope took third at regionals and just missed a spot in the finals at state, taking ninth place in prelims.

“Our 4×400 wasn’t like a huge thing like it is now,” Gabler said. “It’s kind of weird looking back. We are so good now, but then, like freshmen year, it was not really a huge deal.”

Edwards added: “There weren’t a lot of sprinters when we got here. Especially Marissa and I, we just got thrown on varsity right away. We had a lot expected out of us from the beginning. That’s just how it’s been.”

Once Severa was added into the fold, they found some instant success at early meets. She already knew Edwards because they are neighbors.

“Kyleigh just has a way of coming in and being comfortable wherever she is,” Pope said. “She came in and she meshed well from the start. She was thrown in every single race, and she did well. She was our best runner. She fit in perfectly.”

That loss to Shawnee Mission East at the Sunflower League meet two years ago only added to their competitive fire.

“Everything they’ve done since then has been with one purpose and one goal,” Hood said. “They want to achieve as much success as they can together as a unit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a relay group that is that close.”

Since then, they’ve won two state titles. At last year’s state meet, they knocked four seconds off their time in regionals and broke a school record (3:55.19). Their alternate runner, sophomore Myah Yoder, has helped them add school records this season in the 4×100 (49.46) and the Sprint Medley relay (4:16.22).

They were familiar with some of those records. Severa’s older sister, Kaela, was on the previous 4×400 record relay, and Pope’s older sister, Audrey, held the record in the 4×100 and is now their sprint coach.

“It’s fun. On some days it’s a struggle because we argue,” Marissa Pope said of being coached by her sister. “But she’s my No. 1 fan, and she always helps me with everything. She helped change the way I run my 400, which made me drop time. It’s really special.”

After their final race, they’ll go their separate paths. Pope will play basketball at Cowley County, Gabler is still deciding on a school to run for but is leaning toward Oklahoma Wesleyan, and Edwards will end her track career, studying at the University of Texas. Severa still has a year left at LHS.

But they’re not done yet. They still have a few memories to make and goals to accomplish.

“It kind of hit me after last Friday,” Severa said. “I texted in our group message, ‘Guys, this is our last week together. Oh my gosh.’ We’re pretty sad. None of us want to leave each other, and we’ve always ran together.

“It’ll really hit us at state. I know we’ll all be crying and everything. But until then, I think we’re all just trying to enjoy our time together.”