By Julia Hannon 

   The track meet for state qualifiers marks the end of the track season for many people; however, this is not the case for Tempe Prep’s girls’ 4×100 meter relay team.

   The four runners in this group are juniors Kaleeya Munoz and Jazzmyn Gonner and sophomores Emily Youngs and Leah Cady. They qualified for state at Red Mountain High School.

   At the AIA DV State Championships, the 4×100 team achieved a new record of 53.74 seconds. 

   This was the last event of a successful track and field season. Multiple students set new personal records including Emily in the high jump. 

   The coaches are Coach Lane and Ms. Romero for track and Coach Lewis for field events, though Coach Lane really helps all of the athletes. All of the coaches are flexible and really devoted to helping the team.

   TPA track and field is a welcoming and helpful group, according to junior Sayellor Taylor-Blackstone. “There was a lot of support within the team,” she said. “Track and field is, for the most part, a solitary sport, but there was definitely a sense of community among the athletes.” She said that through the help of both the coaches and her teammates she was able to improve her running form and speed during her first season.

   The meets provided opportunities for team bonding as well as competition. In between events, the team played volleyball while listening to music in the background. They also had the opportunity to sit and talk underneath the TPA tent, which encouraged students to switch up who they usually talk to.