Three generations of the Land family make their impact on the Panhandle High School track program

PANHANDLE, Texas (KFDA) - Steve Land could have never imagined his last name would carry the weight it does, even after coaching the Panhandle boys track team to their first state title in 1983, which was just the beginning of his legacy.

“It’s really indescribable,” Land says.

His three sons ran at Panhandle as well as his daughter-in-law, Callie, and now Callie and Mark’s three daughters are following in the family’s footsteps and have become superstars.

“They enjoy running, which it’s gratifying to myself that I can watch them do that and that they love doing it,” said Mark Land, the girls’ father.

Steve says the girls are always ready for competition.

“Mark’s three girls....I mean...they couldn’t lose,” he said.

The third generation started with Macklynn (Mackie), the oldest of the three sisters, finishing out her high school career with eight state medals.

“It all kind of started my freshman year after basketball,” Mackie said. “We went into track and I never really thought much of track and then I did well my freshman year and then junior year was kind of like where it all hit me. Like, wow...I really enjoy this. This is what I want to do.

Mark and Callie’s middle daughter, Leah, came next, and she got to run with both her older and younger sisters.

“It builds our relationship with each other and we get a lot closer and it’s just it’s different running with someone like your sister rather than like your friend,” said Leah.

She graduated in the Spring from Panhandle High School, ending her high school career with 12 state medals.

“I always worked my hardest at track workouts and track meets, and so I know I left my mark and worked as hard as I could and left everything I could out there,” she said.

The youngest, Carly, is adding to the family legacy. She already has eight state medals going into her junior year.

“That’s what we’re known for and that’s what my sisters are known for,” Carly said.

Next year, Carly will be the only Land competing for Panhandle and she says she’s ready for it.

“I’m going to have a lot of responsibilities...just to do my best to make myself proud and my family proud,” she said.

But when she graduates, the only Land name in the future are those on the wall, with eight school records between the three daughters.

“People will always remember us and how we ran and I hope that people look up to us and try to do what we did,” Leah said.

But you never know what the future holds.

“If we all come back here and raise our kids here...they’re going to they have a lot to live up to,” Mackie says.

The Panhandle girls track team finished in first place at the state track meet back in April.

The girls’ team took home gold in three event titles, with Carly and Leah a part of both the 2A girls 400m relay and the 1600m relay winning teams. Carly also won gold individually in the 2A girls 300m hurdles.

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