The Middletown Knights girls track and field team accomplished something most teams never do: they won an indoor state championship.
That’s nothing new for this team, which has won the last two indoor and outdoor girls state titles.
Four straight state championships is unheard of in the athletic world. The girls team won the latest title in dramatic fashion.
It came down to the second to last event to clinch states.
Head coach Frank Davis works his team hard. From past experience, he knows that things can come down to the last event, so all his runners are in the best shape of their lives.
“We work hard so we can peak at the right time and we did that,” said Davis.
Davis also has a great coach along side of him, Tom Stevens, who coaches the distance team. He has competed in the New York Marathon and brings his knowledge to the team.
Stevens has established a very good distance team in Middletown, which is led by senior captain Brittany Caudle.
Brittany won the 800 meter and the 1600 meter. Although these aren’t the first medals she has won in states, they are her most meaningful.
“It was really exciting; you always dream of winning at states. There are just so many good athletes to compete against,” said Brittany.
Being a captain on the team, Brittany keeps everyone together. She isn’t alone, though; her younger sister, Jenna, is also a key runner on the team.
Jenna ran on the gold medal 4×200 team. She ran the anchor leg for the Knights. When she received the baton, she was in second but soon caught the leader. Jenna beat Baltimore Poly by one step in a great race, securing the win for the Knights.
“It was cool. I thought she was too far ahead but I sped up and beat her by a step,” said Jenna.
Both Caudles believe the team is more important than themselves. Brittany and teammate Sarah Wrieden were on a local radio show to talk about their experience states.
Brittany said, “It was kind of cool but I wish the whole team would have been on the radio with us.”
States were close with the Knights edging out Baltimore Poly and River Hill. The Knights had fewer than ten girls score in states.
Brittany wasn’t the only individual winner; Liana Kopp won the pole vault with a great jump.
Many of the Knights wins included relays, which had a lot of younger runners. Wrieden and sophomore Tara Shafer, both young, proved something at states.
Shaffer was hurt for most of the season after injuring her ankle in the offseason. She fought back, though, because she knew this team was special.
“This team is a lot closer then most teams. We are very supportive and cheer each other on each race,” said Shaffer.
Wrieden participated in the long jump and most of the sprint relays. She did well in the long jump and was a big leg for the 4×200 team.
All the runners on the team know hard work is important. They work hard each practice and never give up, willing to do anything to win.
“From the start of last spring, we have been switching runners around. We want to be able to score in each event so we moved some girls around,” said Davis.
None of the girls ever argued with Davis’ decision. In the end, all his moves paid off.
Davis has a tough time having to coach along side the boys track coach Don Boyer. Boyer has won 43 state championships or state runner ups. When asked about catching up with Boyer’s record, Davis just laughed.
Four championships in a row is very impressive. Davis shows respect for all his runners and does what ever he has to do to get them to their potential.
“He really motivates us to do our best. He always told us we could win even when we thought we couldn’t,” said Brittany.
Davis’s most memorable moment of the state championship was the winning 4×200 team. It was such a close race he could barely handle it.
The reason the girls track team is so consistent is due to the fact that they are the same each year; not the same individuals, but the same goal. They want to be closer and work harder than any other team.
With outdoor track only weeks away, a fifth state championship is on the team’s mind.