The Woodlands broke a state and national record yesterday in the 4x200 relay at the UIL 6A state track and field meet at Mike A. Myers stadium.
Last year, on the same day, The Woodlands set the UIL 6A state meet record when they ran 1:23.81 which was the #5 time ever ran and second best in the state behind the 1:23.52 that Port Arthur Memorial ran the day before as the top Texas time.
This time, the Highlanders left nothing on the track as they would run even faster this year and not only break the overall state record from last year, but the took down the time set by the legendary Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt.
The quartet of Ethan Bonner, D'Angelo Alexander, Jake Lanier, and Kesean Carter blazed a 1:23.25 around the University of Texas track to reach the pinnacle of the sprint relay.
After all was said and done, the four guys talked about what almost wasn't. "We almost didn't get the last handoff. Kesean had to turn all of the way around and get the stick, if he hadn't done that, we might have run 1:22 today," said Bonner.
U.S. All-Time Top Five 4x200 Meter Relays
| RANK | TIME | TEAM | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:23.25 | The Woodlands | |
| 2 | 1:23.31 | Fort Worth Wyatt | |
| 3 | 1:23.42 | Katy Seven Lakes | |
| 4 | 1:23.52 | Port Arthur Memorial | |
| 5 | 1:23.58 | Converse Judson |
Even before that, things were a little harrier. The 200m specialist Jake Lanier had been battling some hamstring issues, a bit of information the team kept in house. "I was feeling my hamstring as I was coming into the exchange, but I just had to battle through it," Lanier said.
Despite those two obstacles within the record setting performance, the one thing that assisted to the record was the chemistry between the four guys. Bonner, Lanier, and Carter are all returnees from last year's outstanding squad.
However, the addition of Alexander is the interesting aspect and maybe even the key to it all. Alexander transferred to The Woodlands at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year after Hurricane Harvey flood related complications.
Of all schools he transferred in from, it was actually Port Arthur Memorial that Alexander had to leave following the storm. Alexander is possibly one of few if any that can say they were a part of two of the best track teams in history.
Regardless, the thing that can't be overlooked is the unmistakable chemistry and bond between the four. With Alexander around, there is never a dull moment, as we quickly found out. Add that chemistry with the speed that they all bring and you have a new 1:23.25 4x200 meter relay National Record at The Woodlands High School.