Polk County High School’s dominating women’s 4×400 Meter Relay Team exceeded expectations Friday, May 11 at the NCHSAA 2A State Championships held at NCA&T University.
Polk County won the state title in the event last year with a time of 4:10. Polk’s fastest time coming into championships this year was a 4:06. With several teams across the state posting equivalent and faster times this season, Polk’s runners had their work cut out for them.
Polk’s time of 4:17 at the regional qualifying meet barely put it in the fast heat and the team had to operate out of lane eight.
Senior Mary Kate Christiansen ran a strong first leg, passing the baton to sophomore Autumn “the Rocket” Miller, who passed four runners over her last 150 meters to bring the baton to third-leg senior Casey McDowell.  McDowell posted the fastest 400 split of her life and handed off the baton to anchor-leg senior Rebecca Elliott, who quickly established a lead and held off a late surge down the home-stretch from Cuthbertson High. Polk crossed the line in 4:02.37, setting a new school record.
Polk’s 4×4 performance qualified them for the Meet of Champions May 26 at WSSU, where the top finishers from all classifications 1A-4A will square off. The relay team also qualified them for Outdoor Nationals.
Elliott placed ninth overall in the 800 Meter Run at 2:25, and the Lady Wolverine 4×800 Relay (Elliott, Miller, McDowell and Shelby Wells) placed ninth in 10:59.
Markece Cunningham placed eighth in men’s shotput (47-01) and seventh in discus (137-03). Senior Cary Littlejohn placed eighth in men’s long jump (20-07.5) and ninth in the 200 meter (22.77). Senior Andy Conner ran a personal record, placing fifth in the 400 meter (50.06). Kevin Angier scored no-height in pole vault and the 4×400 relay (Mason Umlauf, Littlejohn, Kyle Whitson and Conner) placed 15th in 3:37.
Complete results are available at www.ncmilesplit.com.
The team was welcomed home by a cross-county motorcade local fire departments, police and other emergency personnel. Some met the team as far out as County-Line Road and many more joined at Laughter Pond and escorted them to Food Lion in Columbus at 11 p.m.
– article submitted by Jenny Wolfe