Jennifer Angles - photo credit: Andrew Everett
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The girls’ 4 x mile quickly became a two-team race Friday morning at the Kansas Relays as Lee’s Summit West and St. Thomas Aquinas pulled away from the field on the first leg. LSW’s Kennadee Williams and Elizabeth Nolke built an 18-second lead over the first two miles, but Aquinas’ Jennifer Angles wasn’t going to let the Titans get away that easily. Angles ran a 5:39 third leg, which pulled the two teams even at the final exchange. “Each lap I tried to get a little bit closer,” Angles said. “I worked this race focusing on her. Usually in races it’s tough for me to keep my focus the whole time, but I kept focused on her body and just continually tried to get closer every lap. “I had so much adrenaline going through me. I was kind of hoping for it because I really wanted to chase somebody the whole race because I knew that would make me run faster. When I saw her that much ahead, I knew I could close it.” Titans’ anchor Kourtney West ran side-by-side with Saints’ anchor Rachel Mahon until the final 200 meters when West pulled away for a seven-second victory in 22:03. Aquinas was second in 22:10. “I just tried to stay with her and use whatever energy I had left at the end,” West said. “It just felt like a normal race. I was trying my best to stay in there and not push it too hard so I died at the end. Once I got to the 200, I knew I had stuff left so I used it.” Lee’s Summit West set the Kansas Relays record of 21:17 in 2011 and has now won the event five consecutive years. KU Relays Live Updates |