The Saint Paul’s Track and Field Wolves look to do something they haven’t done since 2019: win a District Championship.

With only five teams in District 6-5A instead of the usual eight, the Wolves’ chances of winning a championship are higher than ever. Coach Al Nastasi acknowledged that the race to a championship in District 6-5A “will be different” in the new reclassification.

The Track and Field Wolves can be broken down into event groups.

Sprints

The Wolves are coming off their best sprinting year in school history. Current Tampa University sprinter Jacob Khashou ran the second-fastest times in Saint Paul’s history with times of 10.71 and 22.00 seconds in the 100m Dash and 200m Dash, respectively.

Current senior Callahan Leahy ran the third-fastest time in Saint Paul’s history in the 200m Dash with a time of 22.32 seconds, even while battling a hip flexor strain. Additionally, the Wolves shattered the 4x100m relay school record and pulled off a major upset, winning the District 6-5A championship in 42.95, the fastest time in the district since 2019.

Although the Wolves are missing Khashou this year, Leahy seeks to soar above what Khashou did and is on track to do so. During this indoor season, Leahy has run 7.10 in the 60m, the third fastest time ever in District 6-5A, qualifying for Nike Indoor Nationals. With Leahy’s hard work since August, his success in the 60m should translate into the 100m and 200m. Moreover, Leahy’s 22.32 in the 200m is currently the fastest time in District 6-5A, and his 11.12 in the 100m is second in the district.

Along with Leahy, junior Troy Willis is back this year, bringing elite experience back for the Wolves. Sophomore Julian Conzonere and freshman Jayden Williams are new to the relay. Although Conzonere did not focus on the 100m nor 200m last year, he was the ninth-fastest freshman in Louisiana and the fastest freshman in school history in the 400m, with a time of 52.96, in addition to leading off the regional-qualifying 4x200m relay for the Wolves.

Williams had a spectacular pre-freshman season, winning the 200m at multiple meets. Even with two under-classmen, the Wolves could break the 4x100m school record for the third year in a row.

Khashou feels this sprint group is talented and will be great this year even without him. “This Saint Paul’s sprint group is definitely set to have a great year. They are bringing back a couple of key pieces and bringing new ones in too. It will be a fast year for sure,” Khashou stated.

Hurdles

The Wolves missed junior Noah Vicknair last year when he had to sit out for the season due to injury, but he had a spectacular freshman season in 2023. Vicknair was the tenth and 14th fastest freshman in the 110m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles with times of 17.30 and 45.29, respectively, bringing back a potential district champion in both races for the Wolves.

Vicknair is “really excited” to be back on the track and have new experiences. “I’m really excited to be back this year! I had to step away last year for football reasons, but now I’m ready to start hurdling again. I’m looking forward to setting new PRs and seeing what I can do. Hosting meets at school this year will be awesome too,” Vicknair exclaimed.

Additionally, freshman Harper Freret is ready for a spectacular freshman season after being the fourth fastest pre-freshman in Louisiana last year in the 300m hurdles with a time of 46.69. Freret and Vicknair bring the prior success in the hurdles the Wolves lacked last year.

Distance

The Wolves have been spectacular in the 800m and the 1600m for the past couple of decades. Seniors Edmond d’Hemecourt and Fischer Redmond are returning from last year, focusing on the 800m and 1600m.

D’Hemecourt ran 2:06.79 at the District 6-5A Championships last year in the 800m, placing sixth. Redmond battled injuries last year, but he still finished with a 2:18.82 in the 800m. Their times in the 800m should translate to great performances in the 1600m. 

Additionally, pre-freshman Beau Doussan will see some appearances in the 800m on varsity this year, after his junior high season is over. Doussan won the junior high NIAL Championship last year in the 800, running 2:22.66, the third-best time for a seventh grader in Louisiana. Doussan has a bright future ahead of him, and he gets to start his high school track career a year early.

Throwers

The Wolves had major success in throwing events last year, especially in the Javelin Throw. Current senior Austin Billiot won the District 6-5A Championship in his first year throwing, with a distance of 159’1’’. Billiot has the potential to be the first repeat champion in District 6-5A since 2021 and the first repeat District Champion for the Wolves since Preston Chapman in 2003.

But it doesn’t end with Billiot now that the Wolves have freshman Waylon Johnson, who took home silver at the AAU Junior Olympic Games last year in the 14-year-old age group. Although Johnson is only a freshman, his success at the national level will translate into the varsity level.

Johnson knows that even with being a freshman on varsity, his “exposure to the pressures of competing at higher levels” will make the varsity atmosphere feel natural.

“I have been competing on the national level since I was eight. It gave me exposure to the pressures of competing at higher levels with intense competition and large crowds. A little nervousness is always healthy, but I believe the Junior Olympics prepared me mentally for the high school setting,” Johnson explained.

The Javelin Throw in the District 6-5A Championship will likely be a two-man race with Billiot and Johnson, putting them in a great position to qualify for the state championships. Billiot and Johnson could be the best javelin-thrower duo in school history.

In the Shot Put and Discus Throws, the Wolves have no returning starters; however, these events seem to be strong points this year. Freshman Andrew Shofstahl has never done either of these events, but based on being offered by Tulane University as an offensive lineman in football, Shofstahl will have the power and strength he needs to excel in these events.

Furthermore, senior Jacob Rebaudo is “fired up” for a great season. He made a few appearances on varsity last year and his sophomore year, including a fifth-place finish at the PHS Classic last year and a seventh-place finish in the Discus Throw at the Judy Baehr Relays his sophomore year, which featured 21 teams. After a fantastic football season, during which he was named to the LFCA All-State Team, Rebaudo looks to continue his athletic success in Track and Field.

Jumpers

In the High Jump and Triple Jump, the Wolves have been short-handed for the past several years. That changes this year. Sophomore Ethan Ballard is coming off a solid freshman season, even while battling an ankle injury. Ballard was the twelfth-best freshman in Louisiana and the best freshman in District 6-5A, with a jump of 40 ‘1.5″. The injury held Ballard back in the High Jump last year, but now that he’s healthy, he looks to exceed his pre-freshman success in the High Jump, where he finished as the best pre-freshman in Louisiana.

In addition to Ballard, Johnson has been elite in the High Jump, jumping 5’8″ even though he mainly focuses on throwing events. This is the first time since 2019 that the Wolves have had two athletes jump 5’8″ in the High Jump, which Ballard and Johnson both did even before high school. Having a duo as great as this for the next three years will be crucial for the Wolves.

The Wolves have many rising stars in the freshman class which is already filled with accolades, in addition to returning starters who have already won championships.

This looks like the best team the Wolves have had this decade.

Coach Al Nastasi reflected on this year’s team, appreciating the experience in some groups while acknowledging the development to come for the underclassmen. “The 2025 Track and Field Wolves look to continue to rebuild with experience in the throwing corps, which will be complemented with a developing group of distance runners and jumpers,” Nastasi stated.

The Wolves kick off the outdoor season on March 14, 2025, at the Judy Baehr Relays, at Covington High School.