Lakeland High School’s boys’ and girls’ indoor track and field teams are seasoned with experience and carry confidence this year that they can compete for championships at all levels.

“We have very high expectations,” girls’ coach Melleasenah Rountree said.

The Virginia High School League’s realignment means Lakeland will now only have to compete against schools of similar size for conference, regional and state titles.

Previously, in the Southeastern District, neither Lakeland nor most other teams had much of a chance at defeating Western Branch High School, because its pool of athletes was so great. If the Bruins did not win an event, it often did not matter because they frequently placed multiple athletes in the top eight, earning points for each one.

Of the realignment, Rountree said, “I like it because it gives everyone an even playing field.”

In the new six-school Ironclad Conference 18, she sees a golden opportunity for her girls.

“I feel that with all of them working together that we should finish in the top two,” she said.

Lakeland has a couple of meets under its belt this year, but the first conference meet awaits on Jan. 8.

The girls’ team suffered no major losses due to graduation from last year and includes a group of 17 girls, with many in either the senior or sophomore classifications.

The team’s lone state qualifier last year, the 4×800-meter relay team, is back with seniors Alexis and Jamee Albright, Alexus Copeland and Kristen Vick.

Also expected to do well this year are the 4×200- and 4×400-meter relay teams, which include sophomores Kiera Rountree, Chaunsa Saunders and Teahney Walker, with senior Khadijah Clouden.

Kiera Rountree qualified for regionals last year in the triple jump. She continues to compete in that event this year, as well as the 500-meter run.

Copeland will be featured in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs this year. Melleasenah Rountree said she should generate a lot of points for Lakeland by staying at those distances.

The Albright twins are competing in the 1,000- and 1,600-meter runs while Vick also runs in the 1,000.

Clouden wears many hats, competing in the 55-meter hurdles, the 300-meter run, the triple jump and the long jump.

Walker also participates in the hurdles and the 300.

Freshman Abrea Perry represents Lakeland in the shot put, and Coach Rountree expects freshman Lauryn Baker to become a good contributor in the 300 by the mid-point of this season.

The coach’s husband, Gregory Rountree, is Lakeland’s activities director and its overall head coach of track and field. He expressed expectations for the boys’ team that were similar to his wife’s for the girls.

“If everything pans out, and we don’t have any injuries, I think we can actually finish in the top two this year,” he said.

As Lakeland fields a team of 21 boys this year, Greg Rountree said, “We’ve got a nice dose of seniors.”

Senior Antonio Boone made it to regionals last year in the triple jump and continues to star in that event this year.

The team also features a trio of seniors that have been running together since they were 7 years old: Gregory Rountree Jr., Deonte Demiel and Jordan Stokley. They all compete in the 500-meter run, while Rountree Jr. also tackles the triple jump.

Junior Rimar Williams is featured in the 55-meter dash, and sophomore Ja’Len Baker in the 300.

Senior D’Kente White is Lakeland’s principal shot putter.

Members of the teams return to action on Jan. 3 in an invitational at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.