LAKEWOOD–Although the Legacy Lightning girls’ 4-by-800 meter relay team started near the back of the pack, the squad of Gabrielle Shepston, Mia Meraz, Addison Dolan and Kendall Aragon worked its way through the pack. The four runners crossed the finish line of the Class 5A finals in sixth place with a time of 9:35.83 at Jefferson County Stadium May 19.
“I got boxed in early and was near the back of the pack early,” said Shepston, a freshman who led off the race. “I stuck to the race plan and stayed reserved until I had 200 meters left, and I just pushed through.”
All four girls were ecstatic after the race as they saw their time through the season dip.
“We have become such a tight-knit team, and we give our all,” said Meraz, who ran the race just a few hours after finishing in 13th place in the Class 5A 3,200-meter finals.
Aragon, who returned to the track team after taking two years off due to COVID-19 and to work, was happy with her choice to return.
“I’m so happy I came back. This has been the most fun season. We have become really close, and I just love this team,” she said.
hen asked how the season has progressed, all four girls explained the change from training with distance to training with the sprinters.
“It’s a whole new level of intensity. It’s good to try different workouts, and it has worked for us,” said Dolan.