As distance runners, Mia Sirois, Abby Lewis, Scout Storms and Kaleigh Burns are no strangers to running a mile. With Lewis, Storms and Burns state being runner-ups in the 4x800m relay (and freshman Sirois a stand-out middle school relayer), they are not unfamiliar with running relays. But at New Balance Nationals Indoor on March 7, the four ran the two events combined for the first time: one, 20-minute-long relay on one of the world’s biggest stages.New Balance Nationals Indoor, held in Boston, Mass., is one of the premier high school and middle school track meets in the nation. Harralled as the “fastest party on the planet,” the best track athletes in the United States fought to qualify for events. Distances ranged from the 60m sprint (lasting less than 10 seconds) to the BHS girls’ 4×1 mile (lasting 120 times as long).
“It was definitely strange,” Lewis said. “It was such a long event, and I have never had to hold a baton for a full mile.”
Not only was running the event a feat (a daunting 8 laps around the mini 200m track), but for anchor (last) runner Storms, waiting around was just as difficult.
“Waiting for my leg was definitely hard,” Storms said. “And even when I was running, keeping track of the laps was quite difficult. It was definitely a little weird.”
After the relay, Storms had an even longer wait to compete in her next two events, which were scheduled on the two following days. The 2023 XC state champion tripled in the 800m, 1600m and the relay.
“I usually race the longer events, but I run anything from 400m to 3200m, and love the relays,” Storms said. “You get to run your leg with your teammates in mind and put all of your trust in your team knowing that everyone is also giving it their best efforts.”
With the winding-down of the school year and the winding-up of the track season, balancing homework and running can be a difficult combination, no more so than during a high-level (and high-stress) competition.
“Our race was on Thursday night at around 7:30, so we weren’t able to go to school on Thursday and Friday,” Lewis said. “I did kind of have a lot of schoolwork to do, but my teachers were pretty understanding and excited for me. I brought my school iPad and did my homework on the plane or whenever I had free time.”
In the end, the four returned home with special NBN backpacks, commemorative t-shirts and an 11th place finish, placing the Barrington running program among the top in the nation. The four attribute their success in what is usually an individual sport to the strength of their team.
“Running, especially relays, creates this bond that is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced,” Sirois said. “Not only are you trying to do your best, but you know your teammates are counting on you. The distance girls are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and they are the reason I keep running.”