Mt. Pleasant 7th grade girls track breaks long standing records

Mt. Pleasant 7th grade middle school track and field had quite the run last week as three Panther relays wrote their names into the record books.

On Monday at the Fairfield Invitational, the Panther’s distance medley of Avery Fedler (800), Elodie Rawson (400), Gabriella Myers (200) and Delaney Anderson (200) shattered a record that has stood since 1998.

The quartet broke the previous record of 4:42.57 by 11 seconds, clocking 4:31.70. That record was held by Kim Daniel, Shana Coughlin, Alisha Weir and Allison Werner.

“After 26 years, I'd say it looks like it's time for a new era in Mt. Pleasant girls track,” Allison Malcolm (Werner), who was apart of the 1998 team, said. “We made our mark in history, and now this year's team is doing the same. It's exciting to hear about how well these girls are doing. I'd like to congratulate them on their achievements, and I look forward to seeing some more records fall over the next few years.”

That was just the beginning to an outstanding week on the track.

“This has been a very competitive group this year, ” Mt. Pleasant 7th grade girls coach Samantha Freeman said. “We actually started the season already looking at records and what our goals were. They’re just hungry for success.”

At the Fort Madison Co-Ed Invitational on Thursday, the Panthers brought the heat once again this time breaking two long standing records.

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The same four of Fedler, Rawson, Myers and Anderson set a new mark in the books with a time of 1:59.23 in the sprint medley. The previous time to beat was 2:01.77 held by Alisha Weir, Danielle Hutchinson, Amanda Nabb and Allison Werner in 1998.

“A lot of these girls have been together since elementary school,” Nhoth Myers, who’s daughter is apart of both the distance and sprint medley, said. “This just brings them together and creates life long friends. It’s a lot of pride and a lot of emotions. There’s a lot of hard work.”

Not only did the sprint medley set a record, but the 4x400 did as well. Fedler, Anderson, Rawson and Angelica Miles clocked a time of 4:25.53 for the record. Alisha Weir, Danielle Hutchison, Robyn Werner and Allison Werner held the previous mark at 4:34.57 dating back to ‘98.

“Just like in any team sport, working hard together builds intense comraderie, and running fast, winning, and breaking records makes it even more fun,” Malcolm (Werner) said. “I know we were all pretty competitive and wanted to push ourselves to faster times. When you put in the effort, great things can happen.”

For Freeman, it’s a joy to see both middle school girls’ teams support one another.

“As a mom of an eighth-grader, but still a seventh grade coach, it’s nice to see the older girls support the success of the younger girls,” Freeman said. “Even though their not racing with them, they still take on this mentoring mentality. They can help grow each other.”

While competing and winning is a main goal the sport holds a much larger meaning as well.

“These girls are at that middle school age where they get emotional at a lot of things,” Freeman said. “Just seeing them grow into themselves and their own individual person is what I love about this sport.”