Stunned voices filled the crowd at the Bullis Bulldog Invitational track meet on the brisk afternoon of April 9. “Wow!” “That was incredible!” Head Coach of the Good Counsel track and field team, Eugene Neal, repeatedly inquired of everyone around him, “Did you see that?” Leah Stephens, an incredible junior distance runner on the track team, had just run a 4:56 mile, her personal record, breaking the Bullis Bulldog Invitational and Good Counsel women’s mile record. This was after she had already broken the meet and Good Counsel’s 3200-meter record earlier in the day with her fastest time yet of 10:31. Assistant Coach Katrina Wavering commended Leah’s impressive performance: “Leah dominated both races, leading from the gun. It was fantastic to see all her hard work pay off. Her coaches and teammates are so proud!”

Leah also dominated the field during the cross-country season. She won the WCAC, the Maryland Private School championships, the Chesapeake Invitational, and Maryland Invitational. Cross country Head Coach and track and field Assistant Head Coach Richard Hiegel praised Leah’s accomplishments saying, “It’s a rarity that I have the chance to coach an individual with the work ethic and competitive nature that Leah has. I first noticed Leah when she was running for Olney Cross Country when she was a 7th grader. Even back then she was flying by our runners as our teams practiced together at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. She is an amazing athlete who is resetting the Good Counsel record books. I’m thrilled to be a part of her success along with my coaching partner, Katrina Wavering.”

Leah originally became interested in running when a friend recommended cross-country to her when she was eight-years old. She then fell in love with the sport and worked to pursue it. Though balancing training and schoolwork can be tough, Leah makes sure to prioritize sleep and creates time during the day and at night to get both done. One of her favorite parts about running is how “consistency and hard work will eventually pay off and there’s always room for growth!” Despite the fact her training does not leave her with too much free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and spending time with family. Aside from running, she also likes to volunteer at Brooke Grove Retirement Village on the weekends. 

Currently, she is ranked #1 in Maryland in both the 1600 and 3200 for the outdoor track 2022 season. Since Leah is only a junior, her future at Good Counsel and beyond is looking bright!