GIRLS TRACK -- The possibility of Walther Lutheran winning the 800-meter relay for a second straight year was certainly very realistic with two of the four runners returning this spring.
The key was finding replacements for Emma Schmidt-Swartz, who opted not to compete this spring and 2008 graduate Jazzmyn Harvey.
"I thought we had the runners capable of replacing them," Walther coach Marcia Eberhard said.
That turned out to be true from Day 1 of the season thanks to sophomores Alexus Harrison and Jennifer Buenrostro.
Harrison and Buenrostro combined with returning junior Deanna Richardson and sophomore Morgan Ransom to lead the Broncos to another state title in 1:45.09 on Saturday at the Class 1A state meet at Eastern Illinois.
"I wasn't sure how Alexus and Jennifer would do at the beginning of the year," said Richardson, who was a last-second substitute on the state title winning relay a year ago. "As we went along they became more confident. We came together as a team, and got better and better each week.
"(Winning last year) made it easier for me because I was more comfortable. I was thrown in at the last minute and was real nervous. That was scary. My family didn't even know I was running."
The time was only a little bit slower compared to a year ago (1:44.10).
"I knew they would do well," said Ransom, who was the lead-off leg on each of the state champion relays. "The entire season I was confident. We were comfortable with each other all year. Everything came together at the sectional.
"The feeling is unexplainable to win it two years in a row. It was harder to win this year. (Schmidt-Swartz and Harvey) had better times and years more of experience. We're all underclassmen and had to work even harder."
Lisle was a close second in 1:45.38.
"There was a lot of pressure," said Buenrostro, who had surgery on her feet last winter. "Morgan and Deanna knew what state was like and were used to the pressure. It was all new to me. They had to calm me down. I was really nervous.
"We've run together the entire year. We just switched places a few times. I came as an alternate last year. I was determined this year to run and win the whole thing again."
The Broncos also had the fastest time in the prelims on Friday in 1:45.91.
"It was exciting to be part of this," said Harrison, who needed to see the trainer for exhaustion after the race. "I had never even run in the sectional before."
Harrison had a slight lead when she was handed the baton for the anchor leg.
"I never looked back," Harrison said. "The girl from Lisle was getting closer and closer, but I pulled it out by a couple of steps. There was a lot of pressure, but I just had to keep running. I knew someone was coming up on me at the end from all the cheering."
Expectations will be high a year from now with all four runners on the state title winning team being underclassmen.
"We should win again as long as we keep working hard and keep the right attitude," Ransom said.
Ransom also earned all-state honors with a ninth-place finish in the 200 dash in 26.61 seconds. The only other all-state sprinter for Walther was Pam Ashford (1985-88). Ashford earned all-state recognition four times in the 200 dash and three times in the 100.
The Broncos finished 26th as a team with 11 points.
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