After hours of withstanding high winds and cold temperatures, the Westfield’s girls track team only had one event left on the track: the 4 by 400 meter relay. As the teams lined up, one thing became apparent, only one girls team was competing and they would be going against multiple boys teams. While many assumed that a boys team would take the gold, the exact opposite occurred. Before the race reached the 150 meter mark, senior Anna Kylish already built up a substantial lead against multiple Westfield boys teams and split an impressive 1:02.60 in the first leg. Her phenomenal effort was followed by Rheagan Stevens 1:07.30, Vanessa Larkin’s 1:06.00 and Claire Sewald’s 1:05.10. The girls finished the race with a 60 meter lead in front of the next fastest team, and proudly took down every boys team in the field.
Although the 4 by 400 meter relay was arguably the highlight of the meet, there were various other great performances that led up to the victory. In one of the first events of the day, the 100 meter, senior Alexis Ray, captured gold and a third all-time performance with a time of 12.50. Senior Morgan Samet and sophomore Scarlett Goldman followed closely behind with times of 12.70 and 12.80 for 5th and 8th all-time performances.
Westfield captured gold once again in the 1600, as sophomore Anna Youssef took first place with a blazing time of 5:37.00 and finished slightly ahead of sophomore Jessica Zhou who ran a 5:49.00. The underclassmen continued their success in the 1600 as freshmen Audrey Sewald and Oriana Soloway both clocked times of 5:58.00, amidst tough conditions. Following her race, Sewald noted that, “I think this race went well because my goal was to get under six minutes, which I did.” Closely behind Sewald and Soloway followed freshmen Evangeline Van Brunt who clocked just under the six minute mark in a time of 5:59.80. “I tied my [personal record] so I’m hoping I can drop a couple seconds and get 5:50,” said Van Brunt.
In the 400 meter dash, distance-runner Kylish proved her event range as she split a 1:01.70 for a 13th all-time performance. Stevens and Abigail Wilson both raced to the line with identical times of 1:07.70 and closed out the open 400 well for the Blue Devils. On the straightaway, senior Lilly Petrie captured first place overall in the 110 meter high hurdles with a time of 14.90, which was enough for a fourth all-time placement in WHS history.
Back on the distance side, Larkin and Sewald set the track ablaze with times of 2:26.80 and 2:27.90 in the open 800 meter, and both captured spots on the podium as a result.
In the 200 meter, sophomore Heidi Foster led the way for the Blue Devils with a time of 29.30, as Abigail Morris and Lena Wangerin followed closely behind with times of 29.50 and 29.70 respectively.
Although the winds were strong and it was the first race of the season for many girls, multiple personal records were set and school rankings were changed. “Some girls ran some [personal records] and they did great on a very windy day,” remarked head coach Joseph Berardi.
Berardi also hopes that this meet will serve as a “confidence booster” ahead of the girls largest home meet, the Blue Devil Classic on April 12.
