The Woodlands runs US No. 1 time of 7:45.21 in the 4x800 relay
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The Victor Lopez Classic usually attracts the best high school track and field programs in the Houston area. After not having a high school division at the meet for two consecutive years because of COVID-19 precautions, the high schools were finally back in 2022.
The Woodlands is just one of the many programs who proved that this meet is still one of the best nationally; furthermore, they proved that they are one of the best nationally.
The quartet of Emilio Valencia, Pablo Lesarri, Kyle Easton, and James Edmond turned in America's top 4x800 relay for the 2022 season. They ran a time of 7:45.21 to win the event Friday on Rice University's campus. That's good for TX No. 3 all-time in the event.
Only one of the four runners ran sub-2:00 a year ago. The entire relay is now made up of bonafide half-milers. The capability of talent wasn't the question, but the order of how they'd run was. All Coach Juris Green did was keep it simple; he loaded it up in ascending order.
Valencia had a 2:00.86 SB this season and took the lead-off duties; Lesarri was second leg with his 1:57.03 SB; Kyle Easton (2021 UIL 6A 800m state finalist) was third leg with his 1:53.69 SB; and TX No. 10 Edmond was the anchor leg with is 1:53.0 SB and TX No. 3 ranking.
Now with an all-time No. 3 ranking, this quartet is still only No. 2 in school history. In what might be the only opportunity to run the event this season, don't be surprised to see an extra-motivated squad to go for the 7:42 school record and the opportunity to be the best Texas 4x800 in history before Valencia, Easton, and Edmond graduate.
BOYS 4X800 Relay Finals
1 The Woodlands 'A'7:45.21 2 Bridgeland 'A'7:57.77 3 Humble Atascocita 'A'8:01.36 4 Humble Kingwood 'A'8:03.98 5 Kingwood Park 'A'8:12.57 6 Fort Bend Ridge Point 'A'8:12.57 7 College Park 'A'8:18.45 8 Pearland 'A'8:19.40 9 Houston Carnegie Vanguard 'A'10:01.38 -- Fort Bend Marshall 'A'DNS