Chagrin Falls girls 4x800 captures third straight Division II state meet title | Track and field

COLUMBUS >> No lock works without the right combination or key.

The numbers change. The twists and turns vary.

But with its combinations over the years, the Chagrin Falls girls 4x800-meter relay seems certain to be a lock on the vaunted stages of its craft.

June 1 during the Division II state track and field meet, the Tigers had their signature event under lock and key once more.

Chagrin secured its third straight D-II state crown in 4x8 with a time of 9 minutes, 19.40 seconds.

The Tigers’ 4x8 reloaded this spring with two returnees from their last two state champion quartets — junior Catherine Coffey and seniors Annie Zimmer — and two newcomers, sophomore Hannah Clark and freshman Tallulah Haskett.

Guarantees in life are few, but this relay’s prowess is quickly becoming one amid a three-peat and with its seventh top-four at state since 1988.

“Yeah, it means so much to me,” Zimmer said. “I never thought going into high school that I could be a three-time state champion in the 4x8 — or even anything. So I think it’s really exciting, like the perfect way to end my career.

“I have (1,600 on June 2), but going into the weekend on such a high note makes it so much more exciting. And getting to do it with a whole new relay is really fun, and having a freshman and sophomore — Hannah, I’ve known since she was born. So it’s really fun to get to race with her. And Tallulah, too, who really stepped it up this year never having run in such a competitive race. I was really proud of them.”

Haskett got the Tigers into sixth by the third exchange into Coffey, and the junior delivered a masterpiece of a third leg. Coffey hit her first 250 hard to take the lead, and by the time Zimmer got the baton, Coffey had opened a 40-meter advantage.

With Zimmer, who set the area 1,600 record at the CVC Chagrin meet, on the anchor, the rest was merely a formality.

“(Coffey’s leg) was so helpful for me,” Zimmer said. “Because honestly, going into that second lap, I could tell she was going to get us a big lead. I was yelling to her, ‘Open up!’ I knew she could do it because her regional race for example was like a 2:15 (split), so she has it in her.”

And Chagrin has plenty of history in its realm now.

Zimmer lauds the work highly respected Tigers distance coach Clay Burnett does in formulating the relay and ensuring they’re ready for every eventuality that may spring up.

This spring was a lot like the last few state title charges, starting with a strong Berea Kiwanis Relays, then a banner performance at the CVC Chagrin meet before building postseason momentum.

“Clay does a really good job of giving us each a plan for each leg,” Zimmer said. “So I think each of us went into it with a goal, especially Hannah getting into the race and Tallulah trying to pick as many people off — and then Catherine trying to blow it open like she did and then me, just kind of wherever we were at, just doing my thing.

“So I think Clay prepares us mentally really well, just giving us a plan. And our training — this week, we did 200s, like focus on getting out on the curves. So he set us up really well.”

The future seems to set up really well, too. Zimmer is one of the premier distance runners in area history and graduates, but the Tigers will return three veteran legs.

So the quest for a fourpeat will be there in 2019.

“This year, we had no idea coming in — just Catherine and I,” Zimmer said. “Losing Halle (McClintock) and Hailey (Lowe), especially Halle, who’s now running at Georgia, we thought it was going to be a huge disadvantage. But everyone stepped it up so much.

“And so honestly, I think next year is not out of the picture because Catherine is getting so much faster every year.”

The present and future is looking pretty good for Beaumont as well, as an all-underclassmen 4x8 of freshman Ella Lisac, junior Ashley Rulison and sophomores Addison Ciecierski and Mia Mlynek took a solid third with a 9:31.64. It is the 17th top-four in 4x8 all-time for the Blue Streaks at state but its first since 2008.

Rulison’s second leg was pivotal, as the junior rallied Beaumont from 11th at the turn to second on the exchange with a yeoman second lap. Ciecierski kept the Blue Streaks within striking distance before Mlynek did well to hang on with a quality anchor.

“I am definitely so happy about this,” Mlynek said. “It was beyond what we expected. I think everyone ran really well, and we killed it out there.

“It was so nervewracking, because this meet is so big. But I think Ashley did an awesome job getting us back in the race. I know I turned my head when she was coming around the stretch, because I wasn’t expecting her to be in second.”

The area’s other podium placer in a D-II final June 1 was Perry’s Justin Haywood, who took eighth in shot put (51-0 1/2).

Don’t miss

>> D-II 4x8 highlights

>> Video interview with Beaumont’s Addison Ciecierski, Ashley Rulison and Ella Lisac

>> Video interview with Pery’s Justin Haywood