With more than 250 students combined on Lexington High School’s indoor track and field teams during the regular season, tracks get loud when Minutemen take the starting block or ready for a field event.
The program’s tight-knit culture fuels standout performances for athletes like junior jumper/hurdler Simon Tandeih and freshman speedster Amelia Whorton that garner awards and impressive opportunities. This weekend, they’re among the double-digit LHS athletes participating in the 2025 New Balance Nationals Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance’s in Brighton March 13-16. The full event schedule, which includes participants from most states, is available on the meet website.
“We have one of the most supportive teams in the state for sure,” Tandeih said.
During the dual track meet season, indoor track teams boast a combined roster of about 250 kids. Roughly 70 compete in district in state championships, and a select few make it to nationals.
The girls participants:
- Mackenzie Callahan, freshman, 800-meter
- Jane Conrad, freshman, 1-mile
- Ainsley Cuthbertson, junior, weight throw and shot put
- Aubrey Deardorf, junior, 60-meter
- Amelia Whorton, freshman, 1-mile, 800-meter
- Callie Glenn, sophomore, 4,000-meter; Cecilia Kvaal, freshman; Callahan, Conrad and Whorton, 4×800 relay and distance meter relays
The boys participants:
- Cleavon Manor Jr., junior, 4×55 shuttle hurdles
- Aidan Raney, junior, 4×55 shuttle hurdles
- Matteo Sanchez de Rojas, freshman, 400
- Simon Tendeih, junior, long jump and 4×55 shuttle hurdles
- Ryan Zhang, senior, 60-meter hurdles and 4×55 shuttle hurdles
- James Joseph, senior; Arjun Raha, sophomore; Max Zhang, senior; Zachary Barry, senior, 4×800 relay.
With fewer athletes involved, practices look much different.
“It’s a lot quieter,” boys coach James Hall said. “Practices are more efficient and we can get all of our stuff done in two hours.”
A litany of talent among underclassmen led the Lexington girls team to February’s MIAA Division 1 indoor track & field team state title at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Conrad won the 2-mile, Whorton won the mile, and the quartet of Glenn, Whorton, Kvaal and Callahan captured the 4×800 crown. Glenn placed second in the 2-mile behind Conrad and Cuthbertson finished second in shot put.
The middle schools share a track, so coach Rebecca Trachsel knew of the talent coming in. Distance runners building off a second-place championship cross-country finish bolstered the roster.
“I do think what was surprising was that it was a pretty big number, and having them all in the same place competing for the same goal made me realize how big of a group they were,” Trachsel said. “This young group packs a pretty big punch.”
The boys finished tied for third in their state championship meet. Tendeih won the long jump. This weekend marks his fifth season (indoor and outdoor combined) competing at a national meet.
“I don’t really have expectations for how I’m going to do,” Tendeih said. “I think when I start to think about results then I lose having fun… if I just go in with a positive mindset then the results will follow.”
It’s a debut of sorts for Whorton, who also plays soccer and will run outdoor track. She competed unattached in the USATF nationals as an eighth grader.
“This is my first time going into a really big meet with people supporting me,” Whorton said. “Lexington is a historical place, but we can be [relevant] as a new place too.”