Western Branch Over Lake Braddock for New VA State Record, U.S. No. 1 4x800m Relay
Lake Braddock entered the Virginia Class 6A State Championships on Friday as favorites for the girls 4x800m relay title, after a gutsy wire-to-wire run last weekend that saw them run 8:57.61, the nation's fastest time this season.
The Bruins led at the first exchange, but were usurped by Western Branch [also the Bruins] and West Springfield on the second leg. Reagan Bustamente put West Springfield in first at the second exchange, but Western Branch's Faith Ross powered straight to the lead on the third leg and put the Bruins back on top with a 2:09 split. Amanda Thomas anchored with another 2:09 split to give Western Branch a final time of 8:51.61 -- a new Virginia state record and U.S. No. 1 for 2016.
The battle for second place was just as fierce, as Lake Braddock's Kate Murphy and Patriot's Rachel McArthur received the baton at the same time. Both girls split about 2:10 on the anchor, but McArthur took the win by staying just ahead of Murphy -- even on the final straightaway, as both girls move into the second lane.
Watch the full race video below:
Event 34 Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Group 6A
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Meet Rec: $ 9:02.11 6/6/2014 , Westen Branch
F. Ross, E. White, A. Thomas, C. Joyner
School Finals H# Points
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Finals
1 Western Branch High School 'A' 8:51.61$ 2 10
1) Shockley, Adriana 2) Ross, Faith
3) Smalls, Martina 4) Thomas, Amanda
2 Patriot High School 'A' 9:07.85 2 8
1) McArthur, Emily 2) Yentz, Lindsay
3) Biber, Sierra 4) McArthur, Rachel
3 Lake Braddock 'A' 9:08.46 2 6
1) Browning, Shannon 2) Schwers, Samantha
3) Tippet, Madison 4) Murphy, Kate