School record-setters again in the 4 X 800: Annika Schmidt, Bristi Gerber & Grace & Lily Horst.
Freshman Grace Horst completes her leg of the 4 X 800 on Thursday.
While their fans erupted in cheers, the four members of the Vinton-Shellburg girls 4 X 800 relay team reacted to their school-record setting performance with tears.
It was an emotional end to years of teamwork, hard work and friendship among three friends and a little sister who have made running an important part of their high school routine.
As Lily Horst collapsed after crossing the finishing line 9 minutes, 37.08 seconds after Bristi Gerber began the two-mile, eight-lap relay, Bristi, Lily and their teamates, fellow senior Annika Schmidt and Lilys's freshman sister, Grace, gathered around, hugging and crying.
“It was really emotional because it was the very last high school race ever for Bristi, Annika and me, and it was a mix of being sad, tired, and so proud of how we had just done. We were all crying and just didn't know what to do,” says Lily.
"Our 4th place finish was a perfect ending on the Blue Oval for us three seniors. We have worked all year for a state medal, and getting one is the best feeling. Our 4 by 8 team created a special bond that I'll never forget," says Bristi.
The tearful finale wraps up years of running in track and cross country for the three seniors, who have toured dozens of Iowa golf courses and school campuses while running cross country, and covered most of eastern Iowa with bus trips for fall XC and spring track meets.
"It felt absolutely amazing to accomplish something that huge with them," says Annika. "We have been working so hard all season to break the record and place at state and getting 4th with a 9:37 time was more than a dream come true. I felt beyond blessed to be apart of the 4x8 team and I couldn't be happier with our performance."
Lily shares some of the history of the quartet.
“Annika was also in XC with us in middle school and all through high school, so she was always with us too! Bristi, Annika and I were all in the 4x8 because we only had like 4 distance girls at the time so it was the three of us and Karley Kenney. We just barely missed getting to State our sophomore year but we were very close! Then last year we had Payton Leonard try it because Karley graduated and we needed another distance runner,”
That team finished in 9th place at State last year; just one place from earning a medal.
The graduation of a team member presented a chance for Lily to welcome her younger sister to the team.
“When Payton graduated, that's when Gracie came up and joined our 4x8,” she says. “This year was definitely the most exciting, because we improved way more than any of the other years and with placing 4th at state and getting the school record, we really couldn't ask for more.”
The girls actually broke the school record two times this month. At the Wamac Super Meet, they ran the distance in 9:45.11. They improved that time by more than seven seconds at State.
Lily says running with her sister and her friends has made her senior season even more special.
Gracie and I started running together more once she got in middle school and started cross country,” says Lily. “We ran together the most this year with her being in high school with me and I'm so thankful for that! She definitely kept me motivated and I loved watching her succeed in everything she tried in high school this year.”
The tears are gone, and the girls continue to smile as they celebrate with the rest of the VSHS track family the success they and the boys team achieved at State last week.
“I feel very blessed to have gotten the chance to run with all of these girls and will definitely miss it,” says Lily
See photos below;
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