Sydni Townsend & The Neumann Goretti 4x400 Meter Relay
The Neumann Goretti girls are on a historic pace. The Saints 4x400 meter relay dropped a 3:52.07 at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic, following up a strong performance at Bishop Loughlin where it clocked a 3:54.20. That time at Marine Corps is the fastest by any Pennsylvania squad in the month of December since the great West Catholic in 2004. That West Catholic team eventually won a national title in the event.
Neumann Goretti posted splits in that 4x400 at The Armory of 58.19, 57.99, 59.06, and 56.81---some crazy fast times for this time of the year. Many of these girls ran even faster in open races on that day. Sydni Townsend leads this group. The senior and Pitt recruit dropped a 55.99 for second place that day, a current PA#1. Mykala Perry went 57.06 for third, a PA#3. Dasia Wilson ran 58.10 for fifth place, a PA#3.
Yes, that's right. The top three spots in the state in the 400 meters hail from the same team! For Townsend, her sub-56 time is already faster than her previous indoor PR of 56.26 from last year's state meet. A hot start, indeed.
It's going to difficult to top this Neumann Goretti squad this season with that kind of talent. Dare we say West Catholic's seemingly unbreakable state record of 3:41.96 is in danger? Time will tell.