For many, track and field here at Green Hope has served as a bridge into High School, a place where freshmen found their stride, created lasting memories and learned valuable life lessons one lap at a time. For others, the sport is a later discovery, a final high school chapter providing the same quality life lessons and opportunities for growth. Four years later, these seniors enjoy one last meet altogether as a send-off from the Green Hope Track and Field program before they dash into their next chapter of life.

The Falcons hosted the meet against Apex, Apex Friendship and Willow Springs, where loads of seniors found success in potentially the last home meet of their track and field careers. In the 100m, Yamin Jothi (‘26) took first place with a time of 11.30. Jothi, a senior, has been a part of the track team for three years now and is heading off to MIT next year, where he will be playing football and running track. Jothi also took 3rd place in the 200m with a time of 23.39. Also in the 100m, Eric Daniel (‘26) ran a time of 12.36, which serves as a new personal best. In the 800m, four-year veteran Miguel Carrasco Gomez ran a time of 2:11.70, which earned him 7th overall. Carrasco-Gomez has been a vital part of the track and cross country teams for four years now and is heading to Purdue University for his next chapter in life. Also in the 800m, Wayne Homan (‘26) ran a time of 2:14.97, which is a new outdoor personal best. Homan has also been a part of the team for four years now, making a surge in his senior year with many impressive personal bests to close out his career. Finally, in the 800m, Samuel Combs (‘26) took the race out hard and ultimately finished with a time of 2:22.02. Combs has been a dual-threat jumper and distance runner in his career and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the next four years.

In the 1600m, Parker Gray (‘26) ran a time of 5:16.02, placing sixth. In the girls’ high jump, senior Teresa Qian (‘26) jumped a personal best of 5-00.00 and earned the title of New ’26 NC #42. Also in the high jump, Iliana Hennegan (‘26) jumped a personal best of 4-06.00. Rounding it out for the seniors, Alex Robinson (‘26) took first place, vaulting 12-06.00, earning the title of New ’26 NC #18. Robinson will attend East Carolina University for the next four years in the fall.

The last event of the night was the 4x400m relay, where the Falcons put together an all-senior team consisting of Wayne Homan, Parker Gray, Miguel Carrasco-Gomez and Alex Robinson. The boys raced hard, running a swift time of 3:57.22.

Senior Samuel Combs competed in three events on Wednesday, including the 800m, long jump and triple jump. As Combs preps for the end of the 2026 outdoor track season, he sat down with the GH Falcon to speak on his athletic career. Combs emphasized the community and culture of the Green Hope Track team, “It is an amazing community, all the people on that team have a common goal of improving, and they’re all welcoming and friendly to people of all skill levels… even on hard workout days you’re still struggling with great people, strengthening connections” Combs has been a member of the Green Hope XC/Track program for several years now but one memory sticks out in particular, “During Indoor, I was practicing high jump with Teresa and Braylon, I ended up skinning my elbow and had to get taped up. Eventually, all of us got some sort of matching tape accessory, including a waist trainer made by Coach McBride.” Being a Senior, Combs has been around the community for some time. Combs was asked what he would say if he could speak with his freshman self, “Start earlier. I only ran Indoor my freshman year, then Indoor and Outdoor Senior year, and I truly regret not continuing the sport during the spring seasons after basketball”. After four successful years, Samuel Combs will be continuing his academic pursuit at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he will be majoring in Chemistry.

Another future Tar Heel, Adam Mitchell (‘26), has been a member of the Falcons track team for 4 years now. Mitchell ran the 400m and the 4x400m relay with an impressive time of 55.94. Mitchell still has a long way to go in his outdoor track campaign as he plans on running on the regional, state and national 4×800 team. Mitchell, who has often been recognized for his leadership, sat down with the GH Falcon. “Because of this team, I have found a community that offers unwavering support and kinship beyond the track… Distance running has taught me valuable perseverance and tenacity that other aspects of my life feed from… I am eternally grateful for this sport”. Running for Green Hope for 12 seasons, Mitchell has a plethora of memories, but he shines a spotlight on team bonding with his closest friends, “I have had hundreds of incredible memories with my teammates including exploring Boston after nationals, going to cross country camp in the mountains, post-long-run hangouts and the day-to-day spontaneous moments”. Finally, Mitchell took a trip down memory lane telling his freshman self, “You will fail and that is okay. Every season will have its ups and downs, but that is all a part of the learning process… Who I have become as a student, athlete and person have all been affected by learning to overcome adversities in this sport.” Mitchell is gearing up for the remainder of his senior track season and continues to prep for a new beginning at UNC Chapel Hill, where he will major in Public Health.

To close out the night, the Class of 2026 Seniors were recognized as they walked the track alongside of family, friends and one another. Each senior was provided with a message from whoever walked alongside them on the stadium speaker and a round of applause for their four years of academic excellence at Green Hope High School and commitment to the Green Hope Track & Field Program. Now, for a congratulations and well-wished sendoff to Iliana Henegan, Teresa Qian, Gabriel Cardenas, Miguel Carrasco-Gomez, Samuel Combs, Eric Daniel, Parker Gray, Wayne Homan, Yamin Jothi, Andrew Leary, Adam Mitchell, Alex Robinson and Noah Sanders as they soar off the track into the distance.