The St. Mary’s boys indoor track team has gotten its season off to a torrid start, currently standing at 4-0 at the midway point of its season. The Spartans’ wins came against Catholic Central League rivals Bishop Fenwick, Archbishop Williams, Austin Prep, and most recently, a 34-39 victory over Arlington Catholic this week.
Much of the season’s success can be attributed to senior Taban Manyok, who has competed in three events in every meet (the maximum an individual is allowed) and has placed first on each occasion. Manyok is the current favorite to win CCL MVP, a feat he achieved in the spring outdoor 2019 season as well as the recent fall 2019 cross country season. Manyok has also qualified for the state meet in the high jump (personal best: 6’0”), the mile run (4:47.40), and the 1000 meter run (2:44.53). But for Manyok, it’s all about the team as a whole.
“Succeeding on your own and celebrating on your own isn’t fun,” Manyok said. “There’s nothing more important than a team win. I’m going to keep doing what I can to make sure my team is successful and at the end of the day as long as I did all that I could, then that’s enough for me.”
Manyok is not the only one contributing to the team’s success, however. Senior Dylan Abkarian has been a consistent performer for the Spartans in running, jumping, and throwing events. Abkarian joins Manyok on the Spartans’ 4×400 meter relay team and high jump, but also has scored in first or second place in the shot put in every meet this season.
Freshman standout Brett O’Brien has also made his mark on the team, competing in the 55m hurdles, the high jump, the long jump, and the 600 meter run. As a freshman in his first season at St. Mary’s, O’Brien is near qualifying for states in the 600 meter run and has placed first in the 55m hurdles twice this season.
Other contributors for the Spartans include EJ Leone (300 meter run, 39.80; member of the 4×400 meter relay team), Chris Mejia (55 meter dash, 7.21; shot put, 35 feet 10.5 inches; member of the 4×400 meter relay team), and Declan Dorgan (55 meter hurdles, 10.84; member of the 4×200 meter relay team).
Tristan Smith, in his third year at St. Mary’s and his second year coaching indoor track, said that the unprecedented success at meets comes from preparation at practice.
“We push each other in practice and it shows on meet day,” Smith said. “What it’s really about is that they show up every day and work hard. The culture of this team is changing. They really want to be here, and they want to win, and it’s showing.”
Coach Themo Liakopoulos agrees.
“It’s great to see the team succeeding, this is exactly what we work for,” Liakopoulos said. “With maybe the program’s best season in St. Mary’s history, we hope to get even better.”
The Spartans’ biggest challenge this season will be on January 28th as they take on the defending Catholic Central League Champions Cardinal Spellman in what may be a clash that determines the CCL championship between two squads that could very well end up 6-0 when they meet.
