Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Indoor Track & Field 4×200 Relay Team of Madison Jellema, Kessler Hirsch, Sierra Jones, Zoey Terpak and Rihanna Burgher, who have advanced to the NYSPHSAA State Championships with a combined time of 1:46.86 at the recent Section IX State Qualifier.

Having established a program record of 1:51.79 at the Section IX Invitational, Madison, Sierra, Zoey and Rihanna smashed their own record in the preliminary heats at the qualifier meet with a time of 1:49.96.

Eighth-grader Kessler took over lead-off leg duties in the finals, where the team was a close runner-up to Monroe-Woodbury, but advanced to the state championships by virtue of eclipsing the state standard of 1:47.54.

The girls 4×200 team becomes the second relay team in Minisink Valley program history to reach the state meet, joining the 2019 Varsity Boys Outdoor Track & Field 4×800 Relay Team.

The team will compete at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Saturday, March 5. The preliminary heats of the 4×200 relay are scheduled for 12:25 p.m. with finals to follow at 5:15 p.m.