Building Youth Character at Legacy Park

Legacy Park was instrumental in the J.L. Mann High School boys cross country team securing the state championship.

"We began using Legacy Park when construction at Reedy Laurel Elementary School forced us out of the J.L. Mann athletic complex," explained Head Coach Evan Jones. "Legacy Park was a natural choice for us, being close to the school and many of our team members."

The team rosters around 75 athletes in seventh through senior grades. They can be found training in the park most mornings.

The park environment is well-suited to the team's workout routine. Grass is a benefit for injury-free training. Proximity to the Swamp Rabbit Trail provides a clean, safe, flat surface for virtually unlimited distance running.

Legacy Park complements Jones' coaching philosophy. The athletic program is about "way more than winning." Coaching boys into being young men "is what I'm here to do," Jones said. "It starts with personal responsibility, accountability, getting up early and showing up when nobody else wants to do that. Starting your day doing something hard." These are basic life lessons and life skills "they will use in college, in their work life, in relationships."

The team won the South Carolina 5A Division I cross country championship for 2025-26, beating Lexington High School decisively and topping every other team in the state. "We had ten athletes who are as good as anyone in the state. I have a lot of respect for our competition, but more of our guys had a better day that day."

Coach Jones credits former head coach Jonathan Smith with building a solid team performance foundation with a "team before me" culture. Team members "believe in each other to the point where they run harder to make sure that their teammates do well, than for their personal satisfaction. When you can do that the sky's the limit."

Legacy Park too has had a key contributing role. "It certainly helps that the park is a beautiful place, inspiring and uplifting."