Last weekend, Westfield competed at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, Massachusetts. The Blue Devil girls showed out at nationals, breaking records and continuing their remarkable winter season.
“With so many strong returning runners we were looking to build off the success of last year,” said Julia Schneider. “We had meetings in the beginning of the season to set the expectations and understand that with our talent we were capable of accomplishing a lot.” In order to achieve these goals, Schneider said that “as a team we always supported one another and pushed each other to be better. We really put in the work to help make our goals a reality.”
To kick off the day Sean O’Brien continued her stellar winter campaign, competing in both the sprint medley relay and the 60 meter dash. O’Brien finished the 60 meter dash in 7.79, an impressive time, but was unable to qualify for the final round.
In the sprint medley relay the Blue Devils finished in 4:15.84, placing them in 25th. The relay consisted of Darcy Scheiner, Gabby Demeter, Anna Kylish and O’Brien. The girls walked away from the performance after destroying their own school record—a mark made earlier in the season—by 10 seconds. The relay will stick together going into next year as well with no runner graduating, leaving head coach Joe Berardi with, he said, “A lot to look forward to over the next few years.”
The 4×800 was next. Kylish, Schneider, Ciara Dursee and Sonia Olson finished with a time of 9:35, giving them a season-best time.
“We really did not have many opportunities throughout the season to run the 4×800 relay because we were focusing on our personal events,” explained Schneider, adding that when “we had the opportunity to compete in the [4×800 meter relay] we always took advantage. In the relay you always want to perform your best in order to set your teammates up for the most success. Leading up to nationals we had a lot of good workouts and training, and in the end we trusted our preparation.”
The relay team broke its previous mark from the Meet of Champions, just a week prior, running 2 seconds faster in the national meet.
“We knew we were capable of getting a season best. Nationals is the biggest stage to compete in so we just left it all on the track and proved that we deserved to be there,” said Schneider.
The day was still not over for the Blue Devils. Lilly Petrie, Lily Norton, Grace Glenn and O’Brien crushed the 55 meter shuttle hurdles. Placing ninth, with a time of 36.15, was a huge success as it was on one of the biggest stages in high school track. Glenn, who returned for her first meet after suffering from appendicitis, really stepped up. A blow back in early February put a pause on the senior’s impressive season up to that point. However, Glenn was able to work her way back onto the biggest stage in an inspiring comeback story.
The Blue Devils had a tremendous season both on and off the track. With stories of returning from injury to the biggest stage in high school track, and of historic achievements on the track, the Blue Devils had yet another successful season.
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Way to go girls. Congrats Gracie!