Langston Hughes hungry for third state title

In four years of coaching track and field at Langston Hughes High School, head coach Roland Colvin has won two state Georgia High School Association (GHSA) championships. The championships were won in 2023 and 2024.

The first championship was won because the coaching staff aligned their goals with those of the athletes. And the athletes worked hard.

“We built a culture of accountability and competition,” Colvin says. “We put together a team that could score multiple ways. Standouts on that 2023 team included Torey Arnold, Jaden Barnes, Maurice Gleaton, Martavius Griffin, Caleb Heath, Kai Lewis, Robert Lockhart, Dorian Page, Dimitry Wells, Christian Williams, and Malachi Yehudah.”

Two members helped secure the first win.

“Dimitry Wells was a major key to our victory,” Colvin says. “His nine points in the hurdles was the difference maker. The fourth-place finish by Dorian Page in the 200 meter sealed our championship.”

The back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024 were the result of great expectations.

“We knew we had a lot of great athletes coming back and we knew this year could be special,” Colvin says. “We focused on training, technique and maintaining our athletes’ confidence.”

That confidence paid off. Langston Hughes’ track and field team won the Fulton County championship, Region 5-6A championship, and the GHSA state championship.

“The kids’ desire to win was key,” Colvin says. “They wanted to finish the season as state champs, and nothing was going to stop them.”

Maurice Gleaton

One 2024 standout was Maurice Gleaton, who holds the record of #1 in Georgia for the 100m, 10.14.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Colvin says. “He wants to be the fastest sprinter in state history.”

Gleaton agrees.

“I want to break all my school records and three-peat as state champion,” Gleaton says.

While Gleaton is a three-time Nike Outdoor National Champion and a three-time Georgia Individual State champion, there is one award he cherishes.

“The award that meant the most to me was Langston Track team’s most valuable player,” Gleaton says.

The sprinter, who also plays wide receiver for the Langston Hughes football team, is grateful to his track teammates.

“I work with my teammates to win,” Gleaton says. “They mean a lot to me.”

With a program based on structure, accountability and training, Langston Hughes’ state championship team is hungry and humble.

“Our goal is to continue to build off of our success and even improve the program,” Colvin says. “Hopefully, we will come out on top once again.”