The Union Catholic girls 4x800-meter relay squad didn't just come to Sunday's 118th Millrose Games for the win, they wanted to make a huge statement and destroy the national record!!!
They got exactly what they wanted as the electrifying quartet of freshman Abbey Robisky, and juniors Sophia Thompson, Aubrey Devers and Paige Sheppard dropped an absolute bomb at the Nike Track and Field at the Armory in New York, stopping the clock at 8:40.07 to take chop nearly 6 seconds off the national record. IMG Academy of Florida, who held the national record, was second in 8:49.18.
How did the Vikings do it?
Robisky, one of the greastest freshmen stars to ever burst on the scene in NJ, led off with a 2:11.53 carry, just a stride off the leader, IMG. Thompson then put the Vikings ahead to stay by throwing down a massive 2:09.02, which gave Devers a 3.95 second lead on IMG. Devers cranked out a 2:15.47 and handed to Sheppard with a 2.06 lead. Sheppard, who won the national title and smashed the NJ record in the mile last June, put an exclamation point on the mind-blowing performance with a jaw-dropping anchor carry of 2:04.06!!
The Union Catholic girls distance program now owns the national records in the 4x800 indoor and outdoors and the distance medley relay outdoors and has run US No. 2 all-time in the indoor DMR!! Sheppard and Thompson have run on all four of those squads!
In 2024, the Vikings ran a national outdoor record of 8:34.20 in the 4x800 at the New Balance National Championships. Last June, UC took down the national record in the DMR by running 11:12.20 at New Balance Nationals!!! And last month, the Vikings ran 11:18.75 at the Virginia Showcase, just off the national mark of 11:17.50 set in 2024 by Cuthbertson of North Carolina.