(Photo By Alan Versaw)
The 4x200 meter relay isn't an event that is contested in Florida, but that didn't stop the ladies of St. Thomas Aquinas from proving they have the best quartet in the country. The Raiders won the Texas Relays with a new meet record mark of 1:33.47 and improved on that the following week at the Florida Relays with another meet record and US#1 time of 1:33.43. The third time proved the same result as Khalifa St. Fort, Diamond Spaulding, Kendall Ellis, and Krystal Sparling set the Great Southwest Classic meet record in a time of 1:34.29. Ellis says despite the win, this one felt a little different.
"We came in pretty confident that we would win and it was just a matter of getting the baton around. Most of us haven't ran since states and the altitude kind of got to us so we really just ran the best we could. Also, they made us cut in and we didn't really know the exchange zones."
Several of the foursome will head to New Balance Nationals to run the 4x200 meter relay, but St. Fort might not be in attendance. Ellis, the lone senior of the group, says that is a sad thought, but she has no doubt about the future success they will have.
"It's kind of sad because I've never been with a group of girls who are so fast and talented so I'm going to miss it. I know they'll be fine though and go break more records next year."
Later in the evening Sparling, Spaulding, Ellis, and Miami Southridge freshman Symone Mason will put together a "mixed" Florida 4x400 meter relay team.
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