ATHLETICS
Chasing the Personal Best
CPA Track and Field Mentality with Coach Leroy Harris
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For new Varsity Track & Field Head Coach Leroy Harris , the ultimate athletic pursuit involves competing to be the best that you can be . And for track and field athletes , from freshmen to seniors , that means less worry over placing first and more focus on pushing and challenging yourself towards your own “ first ” – your personal best .
Leroy joined the program as head coach in 2021 , bringing with him an approachable yet competitive perspective for the team . His work instructing middle school fitness and coaching varsity football has given him ample experience with students in various stages of athletic development and a broad spectrum of skill levels .
“ I tell the same thing to the sixth grader running her first mile and to the senior competing at the state finals : focus on your personal best . Part of what I want kids to understand when they come through here is that it ’ s not about being first every time . It ’ s about making each day you work at something a little better than the last day you worked on it ,” says Leroy .
Leroy has been at CPA for 3 years , sharing his expertise from a successful career in professional sports . Originally from Raleigh , NC , he got his start growing up as a multi-sport athlete ( something he heavily encourages for CPA athletes today ) playing basketball , baseball , football and wrestling . He attributes much of what he learned about mental toughness , perseverance , and strategy to his time on the wrestling mat in high school . Leroy ’ s successful football career at Southeast Raleigh High School caught the eye of a North Carolina State recruiter one Friday night , leading to a scholarship offer to play football for the Wolfpack .
“ I was a full-time student athlete . It was hard work , but I ’ m thankful that I kept my relationship with the Lord first and who I was as an athlete second ,” Leroy explains .
In 2007 , Leroy was drafted by the Tennessee Titans where he played as Guard / Center until 2012 . He also played for the Detroit Lions in 2013 before moving back to Nashville .
Track and Field at CPA saw over 20 new students compete in the 2021 season . Leroy ’ s training is high-intensity and packed with positive energy , and anyone nearby the track can hear the loud music and Leroy over the megaphone during practice . He creates the perfect environment for motivation .
“ The students really love Coach Harris , and he connects with them and pushes them in such an authentic way . He brings so much quality to this program as head coach and we ’ re excited to have his wealth of knowledge leading the track program ,” says Athletic Director Mike Ellson .
The program boasts four state championship titles from the state meet in the spring , many top-four placings for boys and girls events , third place overall for boys , and fifth place overall for girls – a program first .
State Champions Long Jump : London Humphreys — 23 ’ 3 ”
4x100 Relay : Parker Beck , Tyler Reid , Reid Williford , Ben Reavis — 42.77
4x200 Relay : Parker Beck , Tyler Reid , Reid Williford , Ben Reavis — 1:29.92
4x400 Relay : Jacob Harrison , Jackson Olivo , Tyler Reid , Reid Williford — 3:27.04
Leroy ’ s perspective on winning as a byproduct of work ethic has already taken root in the program . Student-athletes are performing at higher levels than ever before , and he hopes these skills will carry over into a life-long pursuit of physical fitness and general competitiveness . He reminds us that high school is just four years . And whether you go on to compete in college or not , using this time to develop habits as an individual will help you as an adult .
42 PURPLE & GOLD 2020-21