For the end of relay month, I simply had to recognize the most famous of all the relay teams in school history.
In 2003, these four became the FIRST Western Mass team to win a State Championship, and the first team in school history (that I know of) to secure such a title.
We had gone to an MSTCA event for the very first time earlier that season and beat Marlboro in the 4 x 200 meter relay at the Girls Invitational. It was our first exposure to the big time.
So when we returned for the State Meet later in the year, we felt pretty good about ourselves in the Championship race...our main competition was Algonquin Regional.
We had the then NEW Western Mass 600 meter champion leading off (mostly because she had difficulty taking a baton, but also she would run leadoff and stay with the leaders!).
She handed off to the Western Mass 55 meter dash champion, who we knew would put or keep us in a terrific position.
From there our 3rd leg was a finalist in the 300 meters that was interfered with during that race with a "hacky sack". but still managed to place. She also held the freshman record in the Outdoor 200.
The anchor was money. 3rd place in the Western Mass. 55 dash as well as the current school record holder in the pole vault.
FOUR of the best athletes of ALLTIME!
They are currently immortalized in our trophy case.
Cortney Bowen (Energizer Bunny) Birtwell - Undefeated that year in all dual contests. State Champ on the Soccer team. Undefeated Indoors and Undefeated Outdoors. She and Christiana Racicot are the only people in East Longmeadow School history to go an ENTIRE year without losing! (1 tie in Soccer).
Kara (Storm) Budd - School record holder in the 55,100, 200, 300 hurdles, Indoor triple, and long. Only our own Paige Suse out jumped her in the high jump. 2 time athlete of the week, and her 4 x 1 relay team STILL has the school record.
New England runner up in the long jump and Champion in the triple. State champ in the 55 and 200 meter dash.
Currently a member of the ELHS Hall of Fame.
Beth Kineavy (Tugboat) Honecker - Part of that school record holder currently in the 4 x 100. Still holds the freshman records in the Indoor AND Outdoor 200. Two time State Champion in the 4 x 200. Western Mass. Champ her rookie year in the 4 x 100
Erika Graham Sharp (Teddy Graham) - Was a two time bronze medalist in the 55 dash. School record holder in the Pole Vault and at one time was part of the school long jump relay team that won Steele's and the McIntyre (New England) Relays. One of the best leaders I ever worked with and currently a member of the East Longmeadow Sports Hall of Fame.
I shall post the video of this at some point in the future. It was an amazing race to watch, as we led from start to finish.
STORM, TUGBOAT,TEDDY GRAHAM, ENERGIZER BUNNY
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