LEXINGTON'S GIRLS PROVE TO BE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST IN 4x800 RELAY
Meet Information
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 2
June 20, 2025
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - While Lexington only competed in one event on Day 1 of New Balance Nationals, Day 2 featured a full schedule for The Minutemen at Franklin Field. The team was at the track bright and early as Rhys Behling competed in the Freshman 2 Mile before eyes turned to the throwing area where junior Ainsley Cuthbertson and freshman Evelyn Radcliffe competed in the Shot Put and Discus. Action wrapped up under the lights for The Minutemen as the 4x8s took center stage and delivered a pair of epic performances.
After what could be explained as inexperience getting the best of them on Thursday night in the 4xMile, the Lex girls were eager to back to Franklin Field on Friday to show what they were capable of against the nation's top prep talent. Running from the unseeded section of the 4x800m Relay, the team of sophomore Callie Glenn, along with the freshman trio of Natalie Bielat, Janie Conrad, and Amelia Whorton delivered a truly all-time performance. Glenn got things off to a great start as she dipped under 2:20 for the first time with a 2:19.93 FAT split, which put her team in 8th position. Bielat (2:20.80) did her part with a personal best split of her own that kept her team in contention as she passed off the baton to Conrad. From there, LHS's distance queen surged around the Franklin Field oval, picking off competitors along the way. After the freshman delivered a PR split of 2:19.63 that had her team in 6th, Whorton went to work. She blazed around the track with a sizzling 62.8 opening lap and continued her strong run in the final lap. As she approached the final turn, LHS's superstar found one final gear. Whorton charged down own the homestretch to chase down the anchor from Winslow Township (NJ) just before the line. That move clinched a fourth place finish in the section and held up to earn the team 11th place with a sensational time of 9:09.84. Along with the finish, LHS's time shattered the previous school record set in 2022 by over 14 seconds, and was the fastest time run by any Massachusetts team since Lincoln-Sudbury set the state record in 2011. As for Whorton, her split of 2:09.51 was a personal best and the fifth fastest split run by any athlete in the field. To put it plainly, the team was simply sensational.
The Boys 4x800m Relay featured LHS's team of seniors James Joseph, Max Zhang, and Zach Barry, along with freshman Matteo Sanchez de Rojas. While the seniors have trained and competed together for the past 12 seasons, across 4 years together, Nationals was the first time this quartet had ever run together. Despite the lack of familiarity, the group delivered what ended up being a great performance. However, things did not get off to a great start as Joseph was slow to react when the gun was fired. However, he fought to get himself back in the race and managed a 2:02.67 FAT split. From there the freshman took over and ran his team back up into contention. Sanchez de Rojas used a furious finish down the homestretch to hand off the baton with a 2:00.30 split. From there, The Minutemen's one-two bunch of Zhang and Barry were looming. Zhang cruised around the track to the tune of a brisk 54.8 split as he picked off team after team. On the final lap he dug deep one final time and got the baton to Barry after a huge PR split of 1:54.01. With that, The Minutemen now were running 5th in their heat. Barry then took the baton for what would be his final time in a Lexington singlet. The senior charged around the track and held on for a great time of 1:56.35, which gave his team a final time of 7:53.32. That mark landed the team 32nd overall in what was the second fastest time ever run by an LHS squad.
Other Highlights for the LHS
Up Next
Day 3 for New Balance Nationals begins tomorrow at 9:00am at Franklin Field. Cynthia Gu will compete in the Freshman Triple Jump before the Bomb Squad is represented in the Boys and Girls Hammer by juniors Franz Schroeder and Ainsley Cuthbertson. The day will conclude with Zhang in the Boys Mile and Conrad in the seeded sections of the Girls 2000m Steeplechase. Follow all the events live online HERE.
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 2
June 20, 2025
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - While Lexington only competed in one event on Day 1 of New Balance Nationals, Day 2 featured a full schedule for The Minutemen at Franklin Field. The team was at the track bright and early as Rhys Behling competed in the Freshman 2 Mile before eyes turned to the throwing area where junior Ainsley Cuthbertson and freshman Evelyn Radcliffe competed in the Shot Put and Discus. Action wrapped up under the lights for The Minutemen as the 4x8s took center stage and delivered a pair of epic performances.
After what could be explained as inexperience getting the best of them on Thursday night in the 4xMile, the Lex girls were eager to back to Franklin Field on Friday to show what they were capable of against the nation's top prep talent. Running from the unseeded section of the 4x800m Relay, the team of sophomore Callie Glenn, along with the freshman trio of Natalie Bielat, Janie Conrad, and Amelia Whorton delivered a truly all-time performance. Glenn got things off to a great start as she dipped under 2:20 for the first time with a 2:19.93 FAT split, which put her team in 8th position. Bielat (2:20.80) did her part with a personal best split of her own that kept her team in contention as she passed off the baton to Conrad. From there, LHS's distance queen surged around the Franklin Field oval, picking off competitors along the way. After the freshman delivered a PR split of 2:19.63 that had her team in 6th, Whorton went to work. She blazed around the track with a sizzling 62.8 opening lap and continued her strong run in the final lap. As she approached the final turn, LHS's superstar found one final gear. Whorton charged down own the homestretch to chase down the anchor from Winslow Township (NJ) just before the line. That move clinched a fourth place finish in the section and held up to earn the team 11th place with a sensational time of 9:09.84. Along with the finish, LHS's time shattered the previous school record set in 2022 by over 14 seconds, and was the fastest time run by any Massachusetts team since Lincoln-Sudbury set the state record in 2011. As for Whorton, her split of 2:09.51 was a personal best and the fifth fastest split run by any athlete in the field. To put it plainly, the team was simply sensational.
The Boys 4x800m Relay featured LHS's team of seniors James Joseph, Max Zhang, and Zach Barry, along with freshman Matteo Sanchez de Rojas. While the seniors have trained and competed together for the past 12 seasons, across 4 years together, Nationals was the first time this quartet had ever run together. Despite the lack of familiarity, the group delivered what ended up being a great performance. However, things did not get off to a great start as Joseph was slow to react when the gun was fired. However, he fought to get himself back in the race and managed a 2:02.67 FAT split. From there the freshman took over and ran his team back up into contention. Sanchez de Rojas used a furious finish down the homestretch to hand off the baton with a 2:00.30 split. From there, The Minutemen's one-two bunch of Zhang and Barry were looming. Zhang cruised around the track to the tune of a brisk 54.8 split as he picked off team after team. On the final lap he dug deep one final time and got the baton to Barry after a huge PR split of 1:54.01. With that, The Minutemen now were running 5th in their heat. Barry then took the baton for what would be his final time in a Lexington singlet. The senior charged around the track and held on for a great time of 1:56.35, which gave his team a final time of 7:53.32. That mark landed the team 32nd overall in what was the second fastest time ever run by an LHS squad.
Other Highlights for the LHS
- Radcliffe earned a spot in the finals of the Freshman Discus with a throw of 118'7"; her mark was just off her lifetime best and was good enough to place her 7th overall in a loaded field.
- In the Shot Put, Cuthbertson was the top thrower in her flight with a best mark of 41'1"; that throw held up to earn her 22nd place overall.
- Behling raced well in the 2 Mile and capped off a great freshman campaign with a 31st place finish in a time of 9:56.66.
Up Next
Day 3 for New Balance Nationals begins tomorrow at 9:00am at Franklin Field. Cynthia Gu will compete in the Freshman Triple Jump before the Bomb Squad is represented in the Boys and Girls Hammer by juniors Franz Schroeder and Ainsley Cuthbertson. The day will conclude with Zhang in the Boys Mile and Conrad in the seeded sections of the Girls 2000m Steeplechase. Follow all the events live online HERE.