Laura Tremblay split what is likely the fastest girls 800 in the state this season to take Thompson Valley to a 9:04.94 4 X 800, second fastest in the nation this spring. All photos by Alan Versaw.
The St. Vrain Invitational started off in a memorable sort of way. Ended that way, too.
The first event of the afternoon was the girls 4 X 800. When the dust had settled, Thompson Valley's Laura Tremblay had split a 2:10-high anchor leg and the Eagles had finished the race in 9:04.94, second best in the nation for that event thus far this season. The time also fell only about 3.5 seconds short of the all-time Colorado record for the 4 X 800, held by Smoky Hill High School.
A little over twelve seconds later the 4 X 800 team from The Classical Academy crossed the line at 9:17.48. That finish catapulted the Titans into the #6 position nationally for the relay, missing the #5 position by a scant .03 seconds.
Running for Thompson Valley were, in order, Brooke Regan, Liz Tremblay, Karina Ernst, and Laura Tremblay. The team from The Classical Academy included Emily LaValley, Kaitlin Hanenburg, Kassie Mazzocco, and Kelsey Brown. The Classical Academy led coming off the first leg and Hanenburg maintained a narrow margin through most of the second leg before being overtaken on a furious finish by Liz Tremblay (photo below). Karina Ernst ran her best leg ever to open up a small lead for the Eagles, and there was no looking back once Laura Tremblay took tthe black baton.
The St. Vrain Invitational joins the Arcadia Invitational as the only meets in the nation with two top ten times in the 4 X 800 (MileSplit National 4 X 800 Rankings).
Thompson Valley didn't turn in their spikes after the 4 x 800, however. The Eagles closed out their night with a sizzling, state season-best time of 3:51.93 in the girls 4 X 400 relay. Littleton's 3:53.68 posts as the second-fastest girls 4 X 400 of the season thus far. LIttleton led through two legs but had no answer to the challenge laid down by the sisters Tremblay in the final two legs.
While on the subject of state season-best relays, add in a little recognition for Loveland High School's contribution to the parade, posting a 1:42.84 to climb atop the girls 4 X 200 rankings (photo below).
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As might be expected with any meet combining teams like Loveland, Thompson Valley, Cherokee Trail, Longmont, and Littleton, a lot of solid performances were put onto the board. In addition to the aforementioned relays, Sam Lewis of Boulder went 11.11.40 in the 3200 to win. Denver Lutheran's Blaise Lake surprised the field in the 400 with a 3A season-best 49.23 in the 400. Kevin Schwindt of The Classical Academy added another 3A season best by clearing 14-0 to win the pole vault. Aaron Praska of Longmont won the 300 hurdles in 39.09. Kaitlin Hanenburg soloed a 5:07.77 to win the 1600. And Michael Tasker of Cherokee Trail won the 300 hurdles in 14.50.