PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - On Saturday during the Championship of America 4x800m the Union Catholic HS girls pulled away from the field to the roar of the Penn Relays presented by Toyota crowd.
Once victory seemed inevitable, all eyes were on the clock.
Peyton Hollis, Union Catholic's junior anchor leg, crossed the line with her arms raised, stopping the clock at 8:44.98.
Teammates senior Maameyaa Nyinah (2:12.30), freshman Jimmiea King (2:12.20), Kaleigh Gunsiorowski (2:10.76), and Hollis (2:09.73) put together a special performance, ranking US No. 2 all-time among high schools and they smashed the New Jersey state record.
Hollis was named the Most Outstanding High School Female Athlete of the Meet for relay races.
Jamaica's Edwin Allen, who won the previous two CoA races in 2019 and 2022, were second in 8:58.83.
Union Catholic's 8:44.98 is just off the national record of 8:43.12 set in 2008 by Roosevelt (MD) right here in Philadelphia during the Penn Relays.
The UC girls, who finished fifth in this race in 2018, second in 2019, and third last year, are the first American team to win the CoA 4x800m title since Shenendehowa (NY) did so in 2016.
They are also the first school from New Jersey to win since Columbia HS did so twice in a row in 2013 and 2014.
With Union Catholic moving to No. 2 all-time, the previous New Jersey state record-holders Columbia HS now sits at No. 3 in U.S. history based off that 2014 victory during Penn Relays when they ran 8:45.37.
