Photo by Kyle Brazeil
We are spending the next month or so counting down the top 20 moments of the 2015-2016 year in Pennsylvania track and field and cross country. After some great moments at 18-20, let's move to No. 17, when the North Penn girls took down the Pennsylvania indoor state record in the 4x800-meter relay.
--------
After winning the state title in the 4x800 indoors, the North Penn girls decided they weren't done with their indoor campaign. They travelled up to The Armory in New York for New Balance Nationals Indoor.
When all was said and done, the Maidens left with a new Pennsylvania state record in the event.
North penn ran 9:18.18 to take the state title at the end of February. But for NBNI, they decided to add Uche Nwogwugwu to the quartet. At indoor states, she was busy with open 400 meter and jumping duties (she came away with a sixth place in the triple jump and a state title in the 400). The addition of Nwogwugwu meant yet another strong runner to an already powerful group. Along with Ariana Gardizy, Phoebe Clowser, and Mikaela Vlasic, they were primed to make history.
In New York, they benefitted from a crazy fast race to help pull them through. Against some of the nation's best, North Penn was fifth. Vlasic powered through the anchor leg and the team clocked a 9:05.98, a new indoor state record, breaking Central Bucks South's previous record of 9:07.08. The splits were: Gardizy (2:20.02); Clowser (2:15.59); Nwogwugwu (2:15.84); Vlasic (2:14.53).
In unison, the team's reaction to breaking the state title? "Shocked!"
The ecstatic relay team spoke with MileSplit after the race. Watch the interview below:
Event 22 Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Championship
===================================================================
Natl, Armory: N 8:53.67 3/1/2002 Boys and Girls, Brooklyn, NY
A Vargas, K Fernandez, M Francis, S Livingston
Meet: M 8:54.11 3/15/2009 Southern Regional, Manahawkin,
K Bergin, E Horleman, J Kilcoyne, J Smith
School Finals H#
===================================================================
Finals
1 Mamaroneck Tc-Ny-Girls 8:58.86 2
1) Shari Rauls 16 2) Lauren Shpiz 18
3) Lauren Chapey 16 4) Katie DeVore 16
2:17.10 (2:17.10) 4:33.81 (2:16.71) 6:49.91 (2:16.10)
8:58.86 (2:08.95)
2 North Rockland Hs-Tc-Girl 8:59.63 2
1) Sydney March 16 2) Claire Tantillo 16
3) Katelyn Tuohy 20 4) Alexandra Harris 17
2:15.81 (2:15.81) 4:35.65 (2:19.84) 6:48.38 (2:12.73)
8:59.64 (2:11.26)
3 EC Glass Tc-Va 9:02.96 2
1) Holly Carrington 16 2) Kami DeCarmo 16
3) Libby Davidson 17 4) Maddie Rennyson 17
2:21.76 (2:21.76) 4:37.36 (2:15.60) 6:49.84 (2:12.48)
9:02.96 (2:13.12)
4 Lincoln-Sudbury Tc-Ma 9:05.95 2
1) Katherine Malone 16 2) Nicole Kerrigan 16
3) Alexa Babick 17 4) Ariel Keklak 16
2:19.88 (2:19.88) 4:40.84 (2:20.96) 6:54.57 (2:13.73)
9:05.95 (2:11.38)
5 North Wales Rc-Pa 9:05.98 2
1) Ariana Gardizy 18 2) Phoebe Clowser 16
3) Uche Nwogwugwu 17 4) Mikaela Vlasic 17
2:20.02 (2:20.02) 4:35.61 (2:15.59) 6:51.45 (2:15.84)
9:05.98 (2:14.53)