On and off the field, track and pitch, Madison has incredibly talented student athletes. Recently many school records have been broken by the track team, but the girls 4×4 relay team has taken a lead in the new records. With breaking the school records so many times, our girls team has been on quite the winning streak.
In a 4×4, there are four runners, and each athlete runs 400 meters (one lap around an outdoor track), handing off a baton to the next leg of the race. Lots of strategy goes into the race, and each leg of the race has different things to think about.
“The leg I run differs sometimes, but I am usually the 3rd leg for the 4×4. This is a pretty exciting leg to run, as I am expected to make big moves which tell our finishing place at the end of the race,” Mia Romer (25) said. “I have to make sure to sprint out of the starting line, and if we aren’t in first already, then I have so much fun ‘hawking down’ the runners in front of me, trying my best to pass them and set our anchor runner up to get us 1st place!”
Madison’s girls 4×4 team has been smashing records during this past winter season, and again at districts, regionals, states and New Balance nationals in Boston. The rotation of girls that have been in the 4×4 are Mia Romer, Gabi Antoine, Kate Butler, Nkechi Okpokwasili, Kiki Vanderweid and Lydia Mikhin. Who runs at which meets in the 4×4 changes depending on who is available, as each athlete typically has multiple other events to run. Being able to run their best is important, and having this level of flexibility is vital to the team’s success. With such an amazing pool of athletes, swapping runners in and out is no problem, and each girl has played a part in breaking records.
Due to their performance during the regular season, the 4×4 team had been given the opportunity to go to meets on the state and national level. At states, the 4×4 team continued their record break pattern, and with a time of 4:04.47, both beat their previous record, 4:07.59, by 3 seconds, and placed 7th against 25 of some of the best relay teams from around Virginia. In addition to that, they broke that record by 1 second at Nationals. This was the first time they had been able to go to indoor nationals and it was a big change from the regular meet environment they were used to.
“Nationals this year was amazing, it felt so cool to race against teams from all over,” Gabi Antoine (26) said. “It was definitely unexpected to make it and go both last and this year, but I’m glad we all worked together and got the time we needed this year to go.”
Approaching the Spring 2024 season, the 4×4 team will have to work harder than ever to achieve their goals and surpass expectations on the outdoor track.
Overall, the girls track team has been doing great things this past winter season, and are holding up the Madison sports standard.
“I have such a great team that has given me an amazing community to be a part of and to rely on.” Romer said.
As for this upcoming spring season, there are many expectations, but the team is sure to continue winning races and breaking records. With spring approaching, we should continue support for our teams, as the Madison community is what makes our sports shine.