Union Catholic Girls Break State Relay Record in Scotch Plains, NJ

Neighbors in Scotch Plains have been buzzing about a track meet three hundred miles away, and for good reason. Four Union Catholic runners turned in the performance of their season this month, and the result now belongs to the whole state.

Union County Life is following the story because Union Catholic, based at 1600 Martine Ave. in Scotch Plains, just rewrote its own record book. At the New Balance National Championships at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, the Vikings girls 4x400 meter relay team stopped the clock at 3 minutes, 35.81 seconds, good for third place and a new New Jersey state record.

The old mark stood for over a decade. Union Catholic ran 3:35.90 to win the event outright at the 2015 New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, anchored that year by then sophomore Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, now a four time Olympic gold medalist and the current world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles. This year's Vikings took down that record by nine hundredths of a second.

Bullis of Maryland won Sunday's race in 3:34.12, with Long Beach of California second in 3:34.67. New Jersey put three teams in the top six overall. Winslow finished fourth in 3:43.70, and Pennsauken, competing without Sianni Wynn, still placed sixth in 3:48.20.

The record breaking lineup for Union Catholic was freshman Abbey Robisky, who led off in 54.9, junior Sydney Chadwick in 53.3, junior Abriyah Thompson in 54.33, and junior Paige Sheppard, who closed it out with a 52.45 anchor leg.

Sheppard's weekend deserves its own mention. Two nights before anchoring the relay in Philadelphia, she was on the other side of the country winning the 800 meters at the USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field in Oregon. Turning around to run a sub 53 second leg on short rest is the kind of finish that has teammates and coaches still talking.

Union Catholic (1600 Martine Ave., Scotch Plains) serves a diverse student body working toward college and career goals, with a mission grounded in academic excellence and its core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, compassion, and community within the Catholic tradition. For more information, call (908) 889-1600 or visit www.unioncatholic.org.

Find more Scotch Plains events, arts coverage, and community news on Union County Life.

Photo Credit: Union Catholic

FAQ

What time did Union Catholic run to set the record?
The Vikings ran 3 minutes, 35.81 seconds in the girls 4x400 meter relay, finishing third overall.

What was the previous New Jersey state record?
Union Catholic held the old record too, running 3:35.90 to win the event at the 2015 New Balance Nationals.

Who ran on the record setting relay team?
Abbey Robisky, Sydney Chadwick, Abriyah Thompson, and Paige Sheppard, who anchored the race.

Where was the meet held?
The New Balance National Championships took place at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

What else did Paige Sheppard accomplish that weekend?
Two nights before anchoring the relay, she won the 800 meters at the USATF U20 Championships in Oregon.