A slight misstep can prove costly in relay events.
A late handoff of the baton, a slight bobble of the stick, getting caught in traffic can cost a team. But the Helias team of Ryan Tannehill, Jordan Walker, J.C. Szumigala and Josh Woodruff has been working like a well-oiled machine this season.
"They compliment each other very well," Helias coach Chip Malmstrom said as the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders bid for honors starting today in the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The foursome have qualified for the championships in both the 4x200- and 4x400-meter events. The 4x200 squad posted the fourth-quickest time of the 16 state qualifiers.
"Their numbers this season are really hot. They've really stepped it up," Malmstrom said.
The team is third among the 4x400 qualifiers.
"If everything comes together, the conditions are right, I really believe we have the ability to fight with the best teams," Malmstrom said. "I really expect to finish in the top three."
Woodruff will be busy today. In addition to running in the preliminaries for both relays, the sophomore will also run in the 110-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash.
Woodruff posted the best sectional time in Class 3 in the 200 with a 21.89, the only sub-22.0 among the qualifiers. Woodruff, who has competed on the varsity since the first meet his freshman year, also qualified in the event last year, but did not advance out of the preliminaries.
"Josh didn't do that well in the 200 last year, but he has a different mentality," Malmstrom said. "He's a lot tougher mentally. He's not your typical sophomore.
"He's seen some great competition, and he's ready for the weekend."
The Crusaders are in one other event in today's preliminaries - Walker in the 400-meter dash.
On the girls side, the Lady Crusaders will compete in four events in bringing their biggest group to state in recent memory
Kaitlyn Shea, a junior, will compete in three events. She will be in one final today, the 1,600-meter run. On Saturday, she will compete in the 3,200-meter run final as well as the final for the 4x800-meter relay.
Shea ran in the 1,600 and 3,200 last year at state in her first season out for track.
"Kaitlyn is ready to have a big state meet," Malmstrom said.
Despite being a freshman, Kylie Frank is another Lady Crusader with state meet experience.
Frank transferred to Helias from Montgomery Catholic in Alabama, where eighth-graders can run for high school varsity teams. She won the Class 3A 1,600-meter state title last year.
"We've seen her competitive drive. For such a young runner, she brings it," Malmstrom
Frank will run in in the 800 and 1,600 finals today and will join Shea on the 4x800 relay team Saturday.
"She's pushed the other girls," Malmstrom said. "Everybody has stepped on the gas, intensity at practices has really gone up. The other kids aren't intimidated, but they know they have had to work hard to get a spot with the varsity."
Macy Randolph and Molly Light will join Shea and Frank on the 4x800 team.
"I know with the tougher competition, we're going to bring our best," Malmstrom said.
Competition begins at 11 a.m. today and Saturday.