GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Merrillville girl’s track makes history as seniors near graduation

What’s recently happened?

For the first time in 26 years, Merrillville High School (MHS) Girl’s Track and Field team are Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) champions. It has been a long time coming for the Lady Pirates, and the 2025-2026 team has accomplished this goal with ease.

Senior Lailah Wesby was the 400 meter dash DAC champion along with being a part of the 4 x 400 meter relay that also took the title of being DAC champions. Saniya Lipscomb was the pole vault DAC champion. Jordyn Fort was the DAC champion in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, and a part of the 4 x 400 meter relay. Erin Mukes was the shot put DAC champion and Destine Ware was the high jump DAC champion. Christina Collins and Meagan Thomas were also a part of the 4 x 400 meter relay.

“It feels amazing, and very rewarding, it just shows how much the hard work and dedication is paying off,” Wesby said.

The Girls Track and Field team is full of athletes that give everything they’ve got to the sport to get to where they need to be. They put in countless hours of practice, conditioning, and recovery to achieve the status of true champions. The way they work and the effort they put in shows why they came out on top.

“Individually, to get to where we are at, every point matters. To be able to win and us being able to show up everyday, regardless of how hard things get, it just shows how passionate everyone is about track,” Wesby said.

While track and field is more of an individual sport, it is important that every individual goes and tries to get as many points as they can to contribute to the overall team score.

In the upcoming weeks, they will face multiple different schools in the sectional, regional, and state final meets. The Lady Pirates will compete in the sectional meet on Tuesday, May 19, at Hobart High School.

“I’m looking forward to becoming sectional and regional champions, while medaling at state,” Wesby said.

What’s coming up?

The MHS senior breakfast drive around is approaching on May 22. This is an event that all students look forward to as they progress through their years of high school. It’s a time where each of the seniors get together just a week before they walk across the stage.

“I am most excited about being able to spend more time with my friends, eating, and having a day off,” Senior Arvee’A Ford said.

During the breakfast drive around, the seniors get to decorate their cars and drive around the student parking lot as they indulge in the food trucks, games, and music that MHS has to offer them. It is part of a relaxing time as they get ready for graduation, finishing up classes, and taking their last final exams.

As the class of 2026 gets closer to their graduation, the last few activities and moments they spend together are truly special before they all go their separate ways. It is definitely a full circle moment to get to experience these activities on their own after seeing the seniors that graduated before them participate in them.

“I feel old. I get to see how they feel for the first time, and it makes me realize how far I’ve come from my freshman year,” Ford said.

Staff Spotlight:

Patrick Coffey has been a health teacher and head track coach at MHS for 16 years. His contributions to the Merrillville community have been nothing short of phenomenal, as both a great instructor and coach.

Coffey has had recent success with both his boys and girls track teams winning the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) titles. The girls haven’t won this title since 2000, so the amount of hard work and coaching that has gone into this specific team is incredible with the results they were able to produce.

“I am so proud of our teams and coaching staff for winning the DAC titles. Everyone in the 16 events has to do their jobs in order to win a championship in track, which is difficult because there are always a few mistakes that take place during a track meet. There’s a family atmosphere every day at Merrillville. Our boys and girls truly support each other and help each other,” Coffey said.

He has built an amazing program here at MHS and curated exceptional athletes that have gone on to do amazing things with track and field.

“The most important part of coaching is establishing meaningful relationships with the staff. We have great coaches, who are their own mini head coaches of their events. Without their professionalism and expertise, we don’t win,” Coffey said.

Coffey is the head coach, but he works closer with the hurdlers at MHS track, as that is the event he competed in himself during high school and college. Being able to instill personal experiences and knowledge on that specific event is another reason why MHS Track is a highly successful sport at MHS.

“My favorite part about coaching is seeing how our kids’ character develops so they are ready for the day-to-day demands of the real world. Our expectations are high, so it’s great to see how everyone grows and adapts to our culture,” Coffey said.

The Pirates continuously have athletes that qualify for regional and state finals meets under Coffey’s direction, so there is strong optimism that they will make school history again this year. School and meet records have been broken at numerous meets this year which shows that the coaching styles of Coffey and his staff along with the ambition of the athletes themselves truly pays off.

“Our expectations for the postseason would be to be as competitive as we can. We have been preparing for the postseason since November, and we are ready to see all of our hard work pay off,” Coffey said.

Student Spotlight:

Jordyn Fort is a sophomore on the Merrillville High School (MHS) Track and Field team, and she currently holds the school records for the 400 meter dash, 100 meter high hurdles, 300 meter intermediate hurdles, and the anchor of the 4 x 400 meter relay. Fort is also a part of the MHS Varsity Girl’s Basketball team.

“My favorite part about running track is being able to meet competitive people like myself,” Fort said.

Fort displays her true competitiveness during tight races when it counts the most. During the 2025-2026 indoor season, Fort was runner-up for the 60 meter high hurdles, and during the 2024-2025 outdoor season she placed sixth in the 100 meter high hurdles.

Even as just a sophomore she is making history and setting standards for those to come after her. Along with participating in track it is also important to remember that you are a student-athlete, so academics always come before athletics.

“Track goals also help me create academic goals. Trying to get a personal record in track relates to me trying to get a higher grade on a test,” Fort said.

Being a student-athlete can be challenging at times, but the balance between the sport and the school work is always worth it. Having a strong support system and teammates that encourage you to be a better person overall is something that sets the MHS Girl’s Track and Field apart.

“I love how everyone always motivates each other and stays positive throughout the season,” Fort said.