Mustang Relays - 4x400m School Record Goes Down!

Thursday, March 2 2017 - Downers Grove South Mustang Co-Ed Relays


Mustang Relays - 4x400m School Record Goes Down!

2/27/17

The Mustang Relays once again has assembled some of the best teams in the State to throw down in only 3 relay races: 4x800m, 4x200m, and the 4x400m.  The boys field consisted of 34 teams with the likes of Lyons Township, Neuqua Valley, Batavia, Glenbard West, Minooka, West Aurora, Sandburg, and Whitney Young to just name a few.  Here we take a quick look at each race and provide links to

4x800m

               This year the Trojans have been fortunate enough to have great depth in almost every distance event.  So, this year we requested to enter in an additional relay for the 4x800m and we are thankful to DGS for allowing the additional entry.  The first group of Andrew Marek, Jacob Ridderhoff, Miles Christensen, and Sam McCool did not allow this opportunity to pass them by!  Andrew Marek got the Trojan harriers out with a physicality that was necessary to gain the position with the lead group and executed a perfect handoff with Jacob Ridderhoff to run a 2:01.2.  The next 3 runners all ran solid legs to set personal records of their own and run 8:14.55 which was good enough for 11th overall.

Link to Race Footage by ILXCTF and Mr. Birkmeier

               In the next heat Robert Falconer was the lead leg for the Trojans and in compared to recent years the field took it out unexpectedly slow.  Falconer was able to jockey his way to the back of the lead pack and get the baton to Ryan Birkmeier in a crazy exchange.  Birkmeier hammered to the lead and strung the field out (with a 1:59.5 split) until it was just him and the Whitney Young runner coming into the 3rd exchange.  Alec Danner blasted out with Clayton Mendez of Whitney Young but just couldn’t quite match the WY runners pace but Alec stilled managed a huge PR of 1:58.8!  Then Brendan Lockerby gave a chase to the WY anchor leg but just could not quite catch him.  So, the Trojans finished 2nd in 7:59.39, which currently stands as the 24th fastest time run thus far in the US and the 2nd fastest in Illinois.  

Link to Race Footage by ILXCTF and Mr. Birkmeier

Link to Splits

4x200m

After winning the mustang relays last year, I think our guys were confident about performing this year.  They ran a very good race, but also found out that there is a lot of heavy competition out there.  They knew that already, but now they have seen it up close and personal.  I think they learned that you can run very well and still get beat.  Past results are just that.  Past results.  Our future results will be a product of not what is owed, but what is earned.  They should feel very solid about their performance and effort, while also knowing that there is still work to be done.  I know this will make them even more hungry moving forward.

Link to Race Footage by ILXCTF

Link to Splits

4x400m

We talked about giving the indoor record a shot before the meet.  The record was previously held on the board was made up of some all-time greats, including Jordan Munar who arguable had the best single season of any sprinter in Norths History.  Either him or Triplett from last year.  Three of the guys from that team also were a part of the outdoor record team that went 1:27, so there were some heavy hitters on that thing.  They knew it would be a challenge but none of them shied away from it.  And I think the mentality they had and took in breaking that record is far more important than the record itself.  The three seniors, Joe, Marz, and Robert, barley broke 60 when they were freshman.  They were all 57 – 62 second guys.  Who would of thought?  These things don’t happen overnight.  It takes weeks, months, and years of concentrated practice and effort.  They are going to face more of these challenges and bigger challenges throughout this year and while records are fun, that record will eventually be broken.  Rather it is the mentality they can take with them forever if they choose.  If they do, then there will be even greater rewards for them this season and it their lives.  I’m very proud of the work they have put in to break the record, and I look forward to even greater feats this year. 

Link to Race Footage by ILXCTF

Link to Splits

 

By Coaches John Sipple and Eric Buhot