The Black Lightning Track Club continues to display how diligent practice and teamwork leads to success in the most competitive events. The 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the USATF National Junior Olympics proved to be their strength as the 11-12 squad dominated the two events.
The 4x100m relay squad consisted of Jeilynn Berryman, Saige Austin, Brooklynn Griffith, and Jasmine Wilson. The 4x400m relay team includes Jasmine Wilson, Carter Perry, Khloe McCoy, and Saige Austin. The 50.05-second time for the 4x100m and the 4:07.29-second time for the 4x400m are new personal records for Black Lightning TC.
“It feels really good,” Jasmine Wilson said about the new records. “We’ve accomplished a lot with the time we have been together.”
Wilson ran anchor for the 4x100m and the first leg in the 4x400m. Wilson enjoys being the first leg of the 4x400m because it allows her to set up her teammates to extend their lead.
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Last year, Black Lightning dominated the relays in the AAU Junior Olympics. Brooklynn Griffith wanted to build upon their success last year. Griffith noted how being with Black Lightning helped improve her stamina.
“It impacted me to keep on thriving, keep on going, to not let down,” Griffith said.
Saige Austin recently returned to competing in track after a two-year hiatus. She ran the second leg of the 4x100m and anchored the 4x400m.
“I just had to go to every practice and practice my handoffs with Jeilynn (Berryman) and Brooklynn (Griffith),” Austin said. “But when I got to the Olympics, I was fine.”
Austin was able to shave 11 seconds off her 400m record; her skills were put to the test when she had to compete in preliminary and final heats for both the 400m and the 4x400m.
“We had to run the 400m three times and we also had to run the 4x400m two times,” Austin said. “I just had to be mentally ready to run both of them.”
Black Lightning TC head coach Demetrius Wilson noted how the 4x100m relay team had not run together prior to the Junior Olympics.
“The team having level heads and being able to know what the task was at hand and just coming out being dominant,” Demetrius said. “If you look at any other age groups, you won’t see teams winning the 4x100m and the 4x400m typically.”
Competing on the national level inspired Berryman to build on her skills.
“When you go against people that are better, it pushes you to work harder,” Berryman said. “After [the Junior Olympics], I want to work harder.”