by Ricky Quintana
Relays getting better every year; young squads assault records
The relays have gotten better and better each year as teams are able to showcase their best athletes in the two day format. This year’s relays are stacked with potential record breakers. The assault should continue for years to come as many of the teams are comprised of underclasswoman.
Girls 4x100m
Last year, Skyline ( Dallas, TX) traveled 1,192 miles by van to Raleigh, making intermittent stops at rest areas to stretch their legs and do drills. They arrived moments before the Friday qualifying heats began with just enough time to change into their uniforms. Despite the harrowing moments, Skyline lined up and qualified. They then proceeded to have one of the best relay team performances AOC meet history winning 2 relays and breaking 1 record.
This year, Skyline, one of the best long sprint relay teams in the country, added a new dimension as they raced to a scorching 44.60 at the Texas 5A state Championships in the 4x100m relay; a state record in the nation’s relaying hotbed. That was also good for the #2 performance All-Time, just missing Poly, Long Beach’s national record of 44.50 set at the Penn Relays this year. Frosh Tara Thomas has been a welcome addition to the already established trio of juniors, Krystin Lacy and Chanelle Curry, and sophomore Jazmin Greer.
Skyline has traveled even greater distances this post season with a 2 nd place finish at the Great Southwest and a win at the Golden West Invitational and are favorites to best their performance from last year.
MacArthur(TX), 3 rd at the Texas 5A state meet, also has a best of 45.66 which is better than the 4x100m relay meet record of 45.89 by JW North( Riverside, CA) set in 2001.
Girls 4 x 200m
Skyline( Dallas, TX) will try to repeat their record setting performance from last year. The team of Sha’Tara, Nina Ervin, Tara Thomas and Jazmin Greer won the Texas 5A State championship as top sprinter, Krystin Lacy, streaked to wins in the 100m and 200m dashes. With Lacy, Skyline ran to a season best of 1:36.13 at the Texas Relays finishing second to Wilson( Long Beach, CA). Their time ranks #4 in the US. The meet record time is 1:35.65.
Girls 4 x 400m Relay
Skyline( Dallas, TX) could get it’s third record and third title of the meet in the 4x400m. The defending AOC champs(3:38.45 last year) have finished 2 nd at the Texas Relays, 2 nd at the Texas 5A state championships, and finished 4 th at the Golden West invitational, their most recent outing. The team will have plenty of athletes to choose from. Frosh April Williams and Krystin Lacy will be available as will Ashley Harvey.
Northwestern( Miami, FL), AOC runner-ups last year, will be fresh and looking to improve on their Florida 4A state championship time of 3:43.21. LSU signee Sade Nero will provide the fire power that will give Skyline a run for their money.
The record of 3:37.38 set by Wilson( Long beach, CA) in 1997 may get a challenge.
Girls 4 x800m Relay
Defending AOC champs, Bayshore(NY) sped to the fastest time in the nation, 8:59.21, in winning the NYSPHSAA championship, June 5. Laura Cummings, Mary Liz McCurdy, Ryan Hoffman and Sarah McCurdy will try to repeat that performance at AOC.
Eureka(MO) will pose a big threat. Junior Shannon Leinert,800m state champ(2:10.26) and 4 th in the 400m(56.93), Meredith Snow, 1600m and 3200m state champ and 800m 4 th place(4:58/10:54.68/2:14.77), and Kasey kimball, 1600m/3200m runner-up(4:59.05/11:01.92) will be the backbone of a very formidable team.
Stevens, Allentown Central Catholic, Blazin Raiders TC and Minnetonka could also be in the mix. These four plus Eureka all have best within 5 seconds of each other.
Girls 4 x 1 mile
Kinetic RC( Saratoga Springs, NY) set the national indoor record March 13 with a marvelous display of depth and speed. The “A” team of junior, Ruby Solomon(4:59.3 3 rd leg) and sophomores,Cameron Vahanian(5:11.6 first leg), Lindsay Ferguson(5:05.8, 2 nd leg) and Nicole Blood(4:52 anchor) crushed the previous record set by Rockford,MI by 15 seconds with their stunning 20:08.72. The “B” team of Alysa McElroy(freshman), Jess Bellon(freshman), Kayrn DeLay(junior) and Caitlyn Lane(freshman) ran 20:48.30 for second.
The defending AOC champs have gotten even better during the outdoor season as nearly all have improved their times over the mile in the outdoor season. The likelihood of breaking the 20:11.56 meet and national outdoor record set by Bronxville, NY in 2002 is high. It’s just a matter of who will run. With the right combo, Kinetic can possibly break the venerable 20:00; an average of sub 5:00 per team member. WOW!
College Park(CA) will have sub 4:50 performer Lindsay Allen fresh for the race. Look for them to be in the mix as well as Runnin’ Gear( Clarkston, MI) who has for sub 5:20 performers.
Girls 1600m Sprint Medley
Defending AOC Champs, West Catholic( Philadelphia, PA) will have a great shot at the meet record(3:54.39, William Penn, Philadelphia, PA) and possibly the national record(3:53.28, Wilson, Long Beach, CA 2003.) Latavia Thomas, 2:07.51 at the Arcadia Invitational ( US#4), and Nicole Leach, 53.58(US#6) and 57.84(US#1 400mH), provide the necessary ingredients for the record assault. And the team may have one other advantage. Former William Penn and living legend, Tim Hickey, is now an assistant coach at West Catholic.
They are not the only ones who could challenge the record. A. Phillip Randolph(New York City, NY) has 400m US #1 sprinter(52.43), Nicole Leach, and US#2 400m hurdler(58.94), Selena Sappelton on their roster and Beaumont(Cleveland Heights, OH) has 2:08.63 800 meter runner, Maggie Infeld as a potential anchor.
Girls Distance Medley Relay
Last year, the national and meet record was taken down by the Trotter twin led Red Bank Regional(Little Silver, NJ) in the final event of the night. Several teams could possibly dip under their time of 11:37.86 in this year’s meet.
Concordia( Ft. Wayne, IN) has Alissa McKaig(4:49.62 1600m), Adele Mitchell(4:56.22 1600m),Christina Whitt(55.86 400m), and Amber Williams(43.93 300m hurdles) on their roster.
Bay Shore (NY) can counter with Laura Cummings(4:31.06 1500m), Mary Liz McCurdy(4:28.54, US#4 and NYSPHSAA state champ), Precious Moore(25.54 200m), and 4x800 m relay members, Sarah McCurdy(2:09) and Ryann Hoffman. They finished 2 nd last year in 11:45.61.
Kinetic( Saratoga Springs, NY) have Lindsay Ferguson(2000m steeplechase national record holder), Caitlin Lane(4:33.07 1500m), Nicole Blood(4:46.13 indoor mile), and Alysa McElroy(2:17.83). They just need to find a quarter miler amongst their distance laden roster.
Eureka (MO) has the strong trio of Meredith Snow(4:58.19 and 2:14.77), Shannon Leinert(56.93, 2:10.26), and Kasey Kimball(4:58.90) at it’s disposal.
Hammer TC (Southern Regional, NJ) has Lauren Lewis(2:13.66),and fastest 1600m US freshman Danielle Tauro(4:52.79, NJ All-Group champ) that will make them competitive.
Girls 800m Sprint Medley
Collinwood( Cleveland, OH) is the top entrant. Shantell Lewis(12.88), Sabrina Parr(42.70 300m H), and Joi Smith(42.75 300mH) anchor the co-state runner-ups that swept the 4x100m(47.81), 4x200m(1:39.87), and 4x400m relays(3:47.68) at the state championships.
Winslow Township(NJ) has Krystal Cantey(1:00.77 400mH) and Christina Smith(12.59)will lead the 4x 400m ALL Group champs(3:50.44).
Motor City(Mumford, Detroit, MI) set a new all-division record in the 400m relay. Porcha Ries, Shayla Mahan, Dana Hill, and Stephanie Porter will try and challenge for a top finish.
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