The girls’ team extended their long-time dominance in the 3200-meter relay capturing the league championship in the event by a wide margin. Their time of 10:26.11 was a season best by 28 seconds.
“The girls 4 x 800 relay team won with a huge season best,” Stiver said. “They ran with confidence and continued a great Talawanda tradition. In the last eight years, Talawanda girls have won a league championship in this event seven times.”
For junior Jessica Starrett, it was a meet to remember. She not only ran 800 meters in that winning relay, she also ran the individual 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters
“Jessica Starrett had the toughest meet of all our runners. She was the iron lady as she ran all four distance events,” Stiver said. “She was on the championship 4 x 800, finished second to the runner of the meet in the 1600 and 800 and was fourth in the 3200. She has never done this before and gave of herself for the team.”
Her 2:26.19 in the solo 800 was a personal best.
Senior Jenny Pritikin scored in her three events—the long jump, pole vault and 400 relay. Pritikin’s 7’6” pole vault height was a personal best.
“Senior Kundai Banda scored in both of her hurdle events. She set a personal record in the prelims for the 100 hurdles,” Stiver said.
The boys’ team came up short-handed this spring with a number of expected performers opting to not take part in track either due to injuries or other conflicts and Stiver said early in the season that would show in the final results. That came about in the league meet with the fifth-place finish, but he was pleased with the effort and accomplishments of those who were left.
“(Senior) Ethan Coffin and (freshman) Michael Phillips continued great seasons. Each dominated to win the 800 (Coffin) and 1600 (Phillips). Michael also ran a great 3200 to finish second in the 3200 in a very close race.”
“Senior Eduardo Rossi had a great meet. He placed in three different field events (a rarity) and was also on the 4 x 100 relay team that set a season best,” Stiver said.
Other members of that relay were seniors Shawn Stamper, Owen Bressler and Keenan Churchman.
Freshman Connor Schlade ran a personal best by over 20 seconds to place in the 3200.
The team was scheduled to take part in the district meet at Winton Woods this past week with a hope getting some through to this week’s districts and the ultimate goal of making it to state the following week.
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