PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Union Catholic coach Mike McCabe has been saying all season that his 4x800-meter relay squad had the firepower to run the fastest time in U.S. history if all four legs ran the way they were capable of.
That's exactly what happened on Friday when UC's pieces all came together perfectly in electrifying, breathtaking and mind-blowing fashion as the combination of sophomore Jimmiea King, senior Peyton Hollis, freshman Sophia Thompson and freshman Paige Sheppard blew up the track at Franklin Field by stopping the clock at a sizzling 8:41.20!!! That shattered the national record as the Vikings left smoke all over the oval when it captured its second straight 4x800 Championship of America title at the 128th Penn Relays.
The Vikings, who threw down a masterclass and masterpiece, smashed the national record and meet record of 8:43.12, which was set at the 2008 Penn Relays by Eleanor Roosevelt of Maryland. UC is just the second US team to ever repeat in the 4x800. NJ power Columbia went back-to-back in 2013 and '14.
UC's record-smashing race capped of an epic day for the Vikings, who also finished third in the 4x400 Championship of America 4x400 in 3:41.75, No. 6 in NJ history, and placed 9th in the 4x100 Championship of America race in 46.19!!!! That's not all. UC freshman Cayleigh Kaiser ran a school record 9:53.93. in the 3K.
The outcome of the 4x800 race was never in doubt as the Vikings simply blew out a loaded field, just like they did last year. Edwin Allen of Jamaica was a distant second in 8:50.76.
UC put the race away after the first two legs when King (2:11.57) and Hollis (2:11.57) opened a 50 meter lead. After that, UC was racing the clock as they chased down Eleanor Roosevelt's record. UC, after so many close calls in the past, ran right past Eleanor Roosevelt and became the greatest high school 4x800 squad this country has ever seen!!!!
Thompson went out super fast on the third leg, 61.0 for the first 400, but through her strong will and toughness was able to hold it together and finish off a huge career-best carry of 2:10.02. Thompson handed the baton to Sheppard with about a 60-meter gap. Sheppard, who runs with so much poise and passion, ran a perfect anchor (63/64) as she split 2:07.86. When Sheppard charged across the line it ignited a wild celebration as the UC foursome all hugged and jumped around on the track in total euphoria.
Last year, UC ran 8:44.98 to win this race, just missing the national record.
"This means so much to me and our team after we got so close to the record last year,'' said Hollis, who along with King are the lone returners in the lineup. "Coach McCabe's plan was for us to really hammer the first two legs and try to get as much of a lead as we could. Jimmiea ran perfect, giving me a big lead, and I just kept pushing it. We have so much confidence in Sophia and Paige. We knew they'd keep the lead and would keep pouring it on.''
Breaking a national record usually requires a great duel up front as teams trade surges and push each other to fast times.
So taking down a national record without anyone near them makes UC's 8:41.20 even more impressive.
"We wanted to get this record for Peyton since this is her senior year and we know how close they were to breaking it last year,'' said Sheppard. "My teammates all ran great and I was determined to just give everything I had to get that record. I knew I had a big lead, but I ran like there was someone right on me. We weren't leaving her without that record.''
After UC's epic national record run and its red hot times in the 4x100 and 4x400 C of A races, McCabe said he feels his team produced the best day for a U.S. girls program in Penn Relays history.
He's not wrong!!!
46.19 - The lineup of Taylor Aska, Taylor Cox, Leah Gould, and Natalia Thompson finished 9th in the 4x100
3:41.75 - The lineup of Taylor Aska, Rhia Robinson, Sydney Chadwick, and Abriyah Thomoson combined to place 3rd in the 4x400
8:41.20 - First place and national record in the 4x800 as Jimmiea King, Peyton Hollis, Sophia Thompson, and Paige Sheppard shared the baton.
What US high school team ever had a triple like that here?
I can't find any!!!
"This has to be the best day a girls team has ever had here,'' said McCabe. "Three Championship of America races, one national title, a third-place in the 4x400, and the times we ran!! This is a special, special group. What they did here is just amazing. I couldn't be more proud of how all 11 girls who ran all stepped up and performed at such a high level.''
