It wasn't their first time running the DMR, but it was their first time running under 12mins this season. After four prior attempts, the Girls from Ursuline strung together four individual Seasonal Bests to capture the Outdoor National Title. They had taken 5th Indoors, good enough for All-American, but they wanted more.
Sarah Flynn leading off was just 0.60 seconds off the lead when she handed off to Claire Wilson after a 3:36.40 leg. That would be a 6-seconds improvement from indoors. Wilson ran the 400m leg at 63.29secs, keeping the girls in medal contention by handing off fifth. Haley McLean dropped a 2:19.43 on the 800m leg, another 5second improvement from Indoor Nationals. However, Lily Flynn on anchor, would receive the baton in 7th, eight seconds off the leader. It would take a big leg to seal the deal.
Seal it she did, as Flynn split a 4:47.95 final 1600m, to make up the deficit, and defeat West Springfield of VA, whose anchor went 4:53.87 after having a four second gap into the handoff. Flynn would make the pass with 120m to go, and never look back.
The mark is NY #29 All-Time, in the distance heavy state. It also is the first time the small Catholic School has ever earned a National Title, individual or otherwise. All four girls will return next year, as the defending Champs.
Top US Catholic DMR Marks Ever
Red Bank Catholic, NJ - 11:32.29 - 2011
Bishop McGuiness, NC - 11:44.80 - 2008
Ursuline School, NY - 11:47.05 - 2017
Academy Of The Holy Names, NY - 11:49.18 - 2013