Exeter High School’s 4x800 Relay Team Claims National Title

PHILADELPHIA — The girls' 4x800-meter relay team from Exeter High School has been crowned national champions. The talented group, consisting of Bri Paterna, Madie Poteet, Izzy Bremer, and Lexi Paterna, outperformed 75 other teams at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships, finishing with an impressive time of 8 minutes and 49.48 seconds at Franklin Field.

“Perfect execution, and every single girl did their job and competed their hearts out for each other,” commented Exeter coach Nate Leveille. “This is a very special group, and they did something absolutely amazing tonight.”

As noted by Joe Scascitell from Exeter High School, this time marks the quickest recorded by a New England team in championship meet history. The team from Shenendehowa (N.Y.), featuring Courtney Krawiecki, Anna McGaffin, Leyla Bhusri, and Riley Lynch, secured the runner-up position with a time of 8:52.23, while Long Beach, California's squad, including Kennedy Bryant, Riley Jones, Kimani Tindal, and Shirayah Lewis-Williams, finished third at 8:58.60.

Looking ahead, Lexi Paterna is set to compete in the girls' mile event at the New Balance Nationals on Saturday, June 20, and the distance medley relay team, which includes Bremer, Bri Paterna, Lexi Paterna, and Martelle McBride, will take the track on Sunday, June 21.