Night of PR's

There comes a time during the 10th hour of the 100th Saturday meet in a row where everything starts to blend together for even the most die hard of trackies.  "How many heats of the 4 x 1600 can there possibly be" you think as another heat takes off, another heat that doesn't contain any members of your team at that.  "And how many more times can these kids possibly use the word 'chim'." 

But then a night like Thursday comes along to re-instill a sense of clarity in your mind.  The lights are on, girly music is playing, and everyone comes together with one goal: Run 4 laps as fast as you can.  For one night rules are thrown out the window as rivals become friends in order to push each other to faster times and fans line up along the outside lanes of the track to cheer.  Pure pandemonium.  But it's oh-so-beautiful.

We had 7 athletes compete Thursday night.  We had 7 athletes leave Ridge HS with new 1600m PR's

• Kelly Griffin: 6:43.75 *biggest negative split of the night (3:27/3:16)*
• Caroline Onderko: 6:32.86 *could have a future in this event (1st 1600 ever)*
• Sophia Gonzales: 5:58.73 *Best race of the night, hands down.  Not just for us, for anyone*
• Ali Wehrhahn: 5:46.64 *2 sec PR, knocking on the doorstep of something special*
• Michael Blandino: 5:00.46 *AHHHHH .46 -- but 11 sec PR and never seen push harder*
• TJ Harkins: 4:42.21 *5 sec PR, see Ali's comment for more insight*
• Mike Paustian: 4:41.49 *biggest move over last 400m of the night*

It would be criminal not to highlight Sophia Gonzales's race for a second before we wrap this post up.  On Tuesday we had a tri-meet at Manville.  Sophia was running the 800.  She said before the race she wasn't feeling well and not to expect much.  She ran 2:43, a 6 second PR.  Thursday night on the way to the meet she said the same thing.  And on Thursday night she PR'd by 23 seconds.   But it's not just that she had a huge PR.  It's how she did it, weaving her way up from about 8th place after the first lap to 1st place with 300m to go, and then fighting all the way to the finish to secure 2nd place and breaking 6:00 for the 1st time.  Words can't do justice to the drive and determination Sophia displayed on Thursday night.  Even Mr. Leddy was so impressed that he abandoned his post of timing Bridgewater runners to come express his awe at how amazing she ran.

As we enter #ChampionshipSeason let's remember all it takes is One Night, One Race to change everything.  And suddenly all the sweat-filled shirts are worth it.

#MakeEmNotice