Bryan “Peanut” Lay of Quitman High School has been named the MileSplit LA Boys Indoor Athlete of the Year. Lay earned the coveted distinction after winning the LHSAA Indoor State Championship in the Pole Vault, and setting new personal best three times during the indoor season.

A relative unknown heading into the 2024 campaign, Lay first gained attention when he set a personal best by clearing 13’9″ at the LSU High School Qualifier 2024 on January 20th to finish in second place. The vault also set new QHS and Jackson Parish records, which he already owned. 

One week later, the two time defending Class B outdoor track state champion took the records to a never before seen in Jackson Parish mark of 14’0″ to finish in 4th place at the McNeese Indoor II High School meet, and tops among high school entrants. 

Back at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse on the campus of LSU on February 3rd for the Last Chance Qualifier Meet, Lay became the face of the LHSAA boys indoor season when he topped his previous best by an incredible 10″ to win the meet with a 14’10” vault, becoming the top high school pole vaulter in the state, regardless of classification. His exploits also earned him being named the MileSplit boys Track Athlete of the Week, an award that was voted on by track and field fans across the state. 

Lay followed that up by becoming the first boys track and field athlete in Jackson Parish to win a LHSAA state indoor title and his third state championship overall, when he cleared 14’6″ at the state meet.