The school’s track team made an appearance at Nike Indoor Nationals this year. Our girls’ 4×400 meter relay team went out with a bang, breaking a school record and earning an All-American title. These athletes are among the most dedicated and talented runners at our school. Three of them are seniors, and one is a junior. They’ve been training together for years, and it finally paid off when they shattered the school record by nearly six seconds.

This incredible accomplishment wasn’t exactly planned. The girls had been training rigorously for the state meet, and the invitation to Nike Indoor Nationals came just a few weeks later. Senior Ella Kaplan ran the first leg of the relay, setting the tone for the rest of the team.

“It was a long time coming. We all specialize in different events, so our training was rarely together,” Kaplan said. “While we didn’t train specifically for nationals, I think when we got there, we knew what we could do.”

In track, runners are divided into heats based on their previous times. Within those heats, athletes are given a “seed” that corresponds to their expected performance and lane assignment. Senior Morgan Brown, who ran the third leg of the relay, shared how they overcame the odds.

“We were placed in the second-to-slowest heat, but we all ran PR [personal record] splits and won our heat. With our time, we also beat around 11 teams from the faster sections,” Brown said.

Each of them described the anticipation and nerves of waiting to see their final placement and times. They had given it their all and hoped it would be enough. While they believed it was possible, actually achieving it was surreal.

“We were in a slower heat, so we knew we had to run for time and then wait for the other heats to finish,” Kaplan said.

When the official results came in, the girls found out they had placed fourth overall. Every single one of them had run a personal best.

“Seeing our time and place come up on the board is probably my all-time favorite track memory,” Kaplan said.

Senior Therese Johanasson, who ran the second leg, agreed. For her, the 2025 indoor track 4×400 team represents more than just names in a record book.

“We’ve always worked so well as a team, and I always have so much trust in all of them when they have the baton. I think the fact that we’re all so close made the relay mean so much more,” Johanasson said.

Being invited to compete at Nike Nationals is an achievement in itself. Each athlete expressed their gratitude for the opportunity.

“[It] means you get to compete on the big stage against thousands of the best athletes across the country. So the fact that we placed and became All-Americans is incredible!” Brown said.

Junior Gabriela Netwall has formed a close bond with the seniors over the years. Their friendship was forged through countless hours of training and competition.

“I remember my first relay with them and being nervous because I was new, but I never would’ve guessed that the three of them would have such an impact,” Netwall said.

On the day of the race, the girls knew they had to give it everything they had. They all agreed that relays are especially nerve-wracking because they reflect the combined efforts of the whole team. Netwall ran the anchor leg, carrying the responsibility of bringing it home.

“As I got on the line to get the baton from Morgan, I thought to myself, ‘If you don’t feel well halfway through, keep going and do it for them—not for you,’” Netwall said.

And she did just that. Her split was 56.03 seconds. According to her teammates, seeing their final time displayed on the screen was their favorite track moment.

“[I felt] astonishment because of the time I saw when Gabi crossed the line, and excitement because we just broke our school record,” Brown said.

With drive, teamwork, and focus, each girl did her part. In the end, the relay team finished with a time of 3:54.99—officially earning their place in W-L Track & Field history.

“Being able to go to all these events and do so well would not be possible without them. They are three of the best girls anyone could ever ask for as teammates,” Netwall said. “Knowing that they are leaving is a really hard thing to grasp because of the impact they’ve had on me and my track career.”