Last season was both a humbling and revealing experience for the Warrenton 800-meter relay team.The Warriors became aware of their potential, but perhaps didn’t truly understand the extent of the work it would take to reach it.Not until a trip to the state meet turned up disappointing.“Our practices had been a little too relaxed,” confessed junior Jordon Washington. “So this year, especially at the beginning, we talked about working harder.”It paid off.On Saturday, the relay team stood on the awards stand after a fourth-place finish in Class 3 at the MSHSAA Championships.Smiles gleaming from ear-to-ear and medals draped from their necks, they had accomplished, possibly even exceeded, their goal. A new personal record of 1:29.88 had placed them one spot above their seeded position.“Last year we didn’t make it into the second day, and this year it was a whole different attitude,” said Washington. “It was a lot better getting medals instead of watching others get medals.”They had finished last with a time of 1:35.20 a year ago.“We came in seeded well and ran a great race,” added Coach Steve McDowell. “The guys did an excellent job of stepping up and performing, because you still have to come down here and earn it.”Washington, along with senior Drake Wagner, junior Carlos Lopez and sophomore Justin McBroom, placed second in their preliminary heat on Friday, moving on to the finals.“I feel very happy about how we performed at the state meet,” said McDowell. “The guys really stepped up to put themselves in position for state medals.”With Wagner and Washington also competing in open events, it called for a busy weekend.But the relay remained focused, reminded of how critical the most minor errors could be last weekend. The same group had hoped to be running in the 400-meter relay as well, but a botched handoff at sectionals cost them.“We were upset the day it happened, but we just shook it off our shoulders,” said Wagner. “We focused on what was still left.”They knew every move would have to be perfect at state if they wished to complete their goal.“Once we started running against bigger competition and got a taste of success, we realized what we could achieve,” said Washington. “It’s nice to know we finally reached our potential.”Wagner, who replaced Devin Ray as the anchor from last year’s team, made up three spots to push the Warriors from seventh to fourth in the final 200 meters.“It was a tremendous finish,” said McDowell.LANIGAN CAPS CAREER AT STATEFor senior Brian Lanigan, it took a few days to truly appreciate his accomplishments.After failing to make the finals during Friday’s triple jump, he lamented over not having jumped his personal best on the state’s ultimate stage.To boot, his teammates were heading to the medal stand while he was not.But reminded of his preseason goal, he gradually accepted that he had indeed succeeded.“I did what I set out to do at the beginning of the season,” said Lanigan. “I feel pretty good about that.”His best jump on Saturday was 42 feet, 4 inches, landing him in 11th-place and shy of the finals.“When it comes down to it, that was norm,” said Lanigan. “That’s what I should have expected, but sectionals had raised my expectations too high.”He had recorded a personal best by clearing 43 feet, 9.75 inches. But the distances at state surpassed that, with the winner leaping 46 feet, 10.75 inches.“Even with his PRs from last week, it would have been a challenge,” said McDowell. “I’m proud of him for having made it to state. It was a great accomplishment for our team.”

The Warrenton 800-meter relay team, from left to right, Drake Wagner, Justin McBroom, Carlos Lopez and Jordon Washington, placed fourth at the MSHSAA Championships last Saturday.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.