Girls' 4x400-Meter Relay Preview
It will be tough stopping Neumann Goretti in the 4x400-meter relay on Sunday. Very tough. Neumann Goretti is a squad built with quarter mile specialists (who can also succeed in a variety of other events) and that will be on display in the final girls' event of the day on Sunday. NG went 3:49.05 to win at last month's Dr. Sander Invitational, the fifth fastest time in state history.
The only things standing in the way of the Saints will be tired legs, but hey, it's the 4x4...who doesn't have tired legs? With nearly a 10-second seed cushion on the rest of the field, Neumann Goretti should roll to the win here.
Cheltenham clocked a quick 3:58.18 at the Kevin Dare Invite in early January. Cheltenham has a top two that can match Goretti's, perhaps just not the depth. But it will be interesting to see how much Cheltenham can improve upon that time from the same track it will return to on Sunday.
PA#3 Penn Wood has taken the indoor state crown the last two seasons; last year it set the meet record, running 3:49.25. But two crucial pieces have departed from that squad. Still, the Patriots have rebuilt nicely and should be able to throw down a fast time. The Baldwin School and Chester have also run sub-4 minute times this season and have the talent to run near the front.
Springside Chestnut Hill and Coatesville are a pair of squads with lots of quick runners at the quarter mile distance. Neither can be counted out of the top five conversation here. Hickory, Central Bucks West, and Butler will also be on the hunt for medals out of the second fastest section on Sunday.
Girls' 4x400m Entries:
Event 21 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay (24)
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Meet Record: 3:49.25 2/25/2017 Penn Wood, Penn Wood
J Pitt, E Moore, K Carroll, T Turner
School
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1 Abington
2 Baldwin School
3 Butler
4 Carlisle
5 Central Bucks East
6 Central Bucks South
7 Central Bucks West
8 Cheltenham
9 Chester
10 Coatesville
11 Hickory
12 Kennett
13 Mount Lebanon
14 Neumann Goretti
15 North Penn
16 Overbrook
17 Penn Wood
18 Saint Basil Academy
19 South Fayette High School
20 Springside Chestnut Hill Acade
21 State College Area High School
22 Strath Haven
23 Upper Dublin
24 Warwick