Written By Aiden Dixon

The Boys 4x400 Meter Relay Team Is Making School History

The Mancelona High School boys track team has the potential to make school history. Their 4x400-meter relay team was only 2 seconds off of breaking the school record last year, and they are all returning this year. This 2024 track and field season will be one that’s remembered.

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These young men can break a school record with a little extra work and determination. People thought it would happen last year but fell short by only about two seconds. According to athletic.net, the current school record is 3:34.76, held by the 2018 team, and tied by the 2019 team. Last year, the 2023 team set a PR of 3:36.78 with 3 juniors and a sophomore and they will all return for the 2024 season to set a record at Mancelona High School.

The 4x400-meter relay is usually the highlight of every track meet. It’s the last event of every meet and everyone is excited to support their teams. But for Mancelona, it is more than just a “last event”. Elijah Westcott, the fourth runner (anchor), and senior on the track team said, “The 4x400-meter is like a platform to reach people. It used to be a race but now it is less about winning and more about sending a message concerning going places you never thought you could get”

I asked Elijah Westcott what he and the team will do to break the school record. “We gotta work hard. We always worked hard but now we have to eat right, be precise, and do the small things to succeed”. When I asked him who had helped his team through the process so far, he told me, “Each other. We haven't had very well-structured coaching. When we do break the record, it will mostly be our team. As of now we have no coach which puts us in a tough spot.” With further research, I learned that the runners of the 4x400-meter relay have had 2 different coaches in their last 3 years of the sport. Now they have no coach set in stone for the upcoming 2024 season.

Besides their potential to break the Mancelona School Record, they have the potential to be state finalists for Division 3 MHSAA Track and Field too, which will be a story in itself that you can expect at some point soon. The athletes of the 4x400-meter relay are still looking for a coach and may have to self-train to make school history. Besides their potential, these boys have worked hard. Jaymes Wildfong (first leg), Devan Hale (second leg), Aiden Dixon (third leg), and Elijah Westcott (fourth leg), have been through the ups and downs of high school athletics. They deserve to have their names displayed and recognized for the work they put in and the dedication they will continue to give the sport of Track and Field

Stay tuned for updates and new articles about the 4x400-meter relay team so you can also be a part of school history. If you see the athletes mentioned, make sure to thank them for the work they have done for Mancelona High School and the community. History is in the making right in front of our eyes.

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