A native of Rowland, North Carolina, Leach earned three event victories in January while ranking among the top 12 in three events in the Conference Carolinas. On January 10 at The Burg Open, he earned first place with a time of 22.07 seconds in the 200 meters, which ranks 11th in the league. Additionally, Leach was a member of the 4x400 relay team that claimed first overall with a time of 3:25.23, which sits third in the Conference Carolinas. At the Finn Pincus Invitational (January 17-18), he registered the third-fastest time in the conference following a first place finish with a mark of 49.92 seconds.