Lions score title in 4x400 relay

Lynden’s girls team didn’t leave the Class 2A State Championships without making a little bit of history.

Never before had the Lions’ 4x400 relay team won a state championship, but Lauren Zwiers, Sierra Smith, Cassidee Barclay and Jasmyne Neria became the first Saturday, May 28, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

Zwiers led off the race, Smith got the Lions within striking distance, Barclay made the event a two-team race and Neria chased down Prosser’s anchor runner to win the race in a time of 4 minutes, 2 seconds.

“We’ve always needed that championship,” Barclay said, “and finally getting it, oh my gosh, so good.”

Juniors Neria and Zwiers and sophomore Smith said the race was dedicated to their lone senior, Barclay, and what a performance they put together.

“Once I hit the 100, I gave it my all, and I did it for Cassidee, because she is our only senior,” Neria said. “It’s a blessing to have her on our team.”

The 4:02.00 was a season-best for the Lions, who previously had ran a 4:03.28 during the Class 2A Sub-District Meet.

“Our team pretty much every meet kept dropping times and dropping splits,” Smith said. “We worked really hard to get here.”

This story was originally published May 28, 2016 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Lions score title in 4x400 relay."