Sterling’s 3,200 relay squad successful from start

And what a performance it had in that lone race together. It was at the Sterling Night Relays on April 27, when senior Sarah Wolber, junior Emily Crossley, sophomore Charli Wike and freshman Mercedes Sanchez teamed for a time of 9 minutes, 58.01 seconds.

That time is 1 second faster than any other 3,200 team in the area, and more than 7 seconds below the Class 2A state-qualifying cut time of 10:05.04.

Sterling coach Tyler Gaumer will have the quartet together again at the Class 2A
sectional meet Friday, when it looks for more magic at Sterling’s DuWayne Dietz Track.

“This group has only run once together, so for them to be back together now is exciting,” Gaumer said.

“With it being the first race of the meet, it would be a great way to start our team off and get us sky high and the energy rolling,” Gaumer said.

Leading off

Crossley has running in her genes.

“My mom [Renee Tabor] was a really good runner in high school in Pennsylvania,” Crossley said. “She held every running record at her high school. She gives me inspiration to beat her times.”

Crossley admitted to feeling pressure as the leadoff runner.

“I have to go out and get a good position and hold that position and try to chase people down,” she said. “Sometimes if I mess up, I feel like it’s my fault.”

Next up

Sanchez didn’t know what to expect in her first 3,200 relay venture as a freshman at the Night Relays.

“I was scared because I didn’t know what a good time was,” she said. “At the end of the race everybody was like ‘Oh my gosh, it was under state-qualifying time.’ I was so excited.”

Sanchez has followed up a successful freshman cross country campaign at the varsity level with added success on the track.

“It’s just exciting to have all these amazing people in track and cross country and going up against them as a freshman,” Sanchez said. “It’s fun.”