GREENBORO, Nc. - It had to have been sweet redemption for the upperclassmen this year after falling just short in so many relays a year ago. Not only did they manage to win the relays they didn't last year but they also managed to to break the state records in each as well. Their performances this weekend have to go down in history as one of the most dominating ones ever with their victorious sweep of the sprint relays.
It started Saturday morning with the winning of the 4x200. The team of Goulet, Towe, Richardson, and Johnson got the stick around and clocked a state record 1:34.23 meet record. That time ranks #4 all-time in the country and it was anchored by Brandee' Johnson in 22.60!
If that wasn't enough they also did some work that day to advance in the 4x100 with Brandee' also breaking her state record in the 100H. So actually they broke three records on Saturday and then Sunday had some fun too.
When it was finally Championship Sunday Team War let everything loose. They opened up in the 4x100 with a blazing 45.08 to win the national title by nearly a second. This time shattered the meet record and bested their state record prelim performance of 45.09.
Even though they had some individual events to run and a lengthy award ceremony, they somehow managed to dip away and get ready for the final event of the year... the 4x400.
Before we tell you how they did you have to know some back story. Last year, they entered the meet as the low-key favorites and likely would have ran away with it. The team and coaching staff knew this but no one else did. They had been working all year towards that but unfortunately Kara Lyles (who splits 53) became injured just hours before.
They had to switch her out last minute and plug in an unproven leg. Despite that change they managed to finish 5th with a 3:39 clock to run VA #2 all-time.
They lost to their rivals, they had the race in their hands, and they split a 52.1 on anchor to still lose... that definitely fueled them this year.
"This race was special, it made up for last year" - Coach Justin Byron
This year they were not going to let anyone get in their way. Kori Carter opened for them in roughly a 56. She handed off to Syaira Richardson who then carried in a 54 to give the baton to Dajae' Goulet.
Goulet had to have been the ace up their sleeve. She was running basically a 60 last year and injured all indoor season. Today though, she split a 54.8!
Then anchoring was the team leader, the future gator, and the queen of VA sprints for years, Brandee' Johnson.
She has to go down as one of the greatest ever in Virginia history and was ready to bring the WAR to everyone once she got the baton. It was her against the clock.
After opening strong she never looked back. She blew down the straightaway as the crowd cheered and she crossed the line in just enough time as it read 3:38.05. She had not only won the national title but she had broken the state record as well.
This victory made it a complete sweep for the Nansemond River quartet and likely the first time ever just five girls have swept the relays with the same four athletes.