Four young Lady Wolverines won the state title in the 4×400 meter relay at the 2A State Track & Field Championships held at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, May 21.
Juniors Rebecca Elliott and Mary Kate Christiansen, sophomore Maggie Phipps and freshman Autumn Miller dominated the race, finishing more than four seconds faster than the rest of the field.
Christiansen led off and came through the first exchange in the lead, Miller took the baton and opened it up, followed by Phipps, who stretched the lead even more, and the anchor Elliott cruised it home.  The team’s time was 4:06, setting a new school record.
“They truly deserved to win this honor,” Wolfe said. “We were second last year by a second and that has worn on them all year. They wanted to win. With remarkable dedication all season, these girls suffered through some really tough workouts. When other guys and girls were quitting they never did. This is one of the highest honors for prep athletes – once you are a state champion you are forever a state champion.”
Elliott also placed third in the state in the 800 meter open with a time of 2.22, and Savanna Mitchell placed second in the pole vault at 9’-0”. Markece Cunningham, Polk’s only male qualifier, finished ninth in men’s shot put at 44’-9.25”.
Volunteer fire departments from across the county manned a motorcade, with sirens, flashing lights and cheering crowds to pave the team’s arrival home around 11 p.m.
– Submitted by Jenny Wolfe with contributions by Bulletin staff