BATTLE MOUNTAIN GIRLS ROCK A NEW STATE STANDARD FOR THE 4X800
Typically, one of the best features of the R2J is the 4x800. Between Thompson Valley, Mountain View, Palmer Ridge, Battle Mountain, and The Classical Academy, there's a lot of 4x800 tradition that coverges at this meet.
The meet program didn't exactly say so, but it was Battle Mountain's turn to make a show of it nevertheless.
Thompson Valley's Kenadi Krueger led off for the Eagles and controlled most of the first two laps, but Katie Flaherty of TCA and Alex Raichart of Battle Mountain kept it close. The teams in contention each closed the first leg in under 2:25 (mostly well under 2:25), setting up the potential of a solid outing for all three teams.
It was, however, Elizabeth Constien of Battle Mountain who busted the thing open, dominating the second leg once she had reeled in TV and TCA.
Constien finished her leg at about 4:50, and the rout was on.
It was left to Lizzy and Naomi Harding to slam a couple of exclamation points onto the effort, and leadership of the race was never again in doubt from the time of the second exchange.
TCA's McKenzie Elliott managed to chip away a little at the Battle Mountain margin on the final leg, but it was very much a case of too little and too late. The Harding sisters weren't about to be overhauled.
With four legs completed, the clock stopped at 9:35.05, and that now stands as the top time of the season around the state, regardless of classification.
The relay roster appears to be set, barring injury for Battle Mountain, and this figures to be a very tough relay squad to beat in another month. Roosevelt, Niwot, and Canon City have each already made strong 4A cases for their 4x800s, and Air Academy seems certain to do so sooner or later, but Battle Mountain has clearly assumed the role of 4A standard bearers with this effort.