Ethan Strand wasn't going to let Vestavia Hill (AL) High School lose on Friday at the Alabama State Track and Field Championships.
Facing a seven-second deficit on the final handoff of the Class 7A boys 4x800 state title-race, Strand would not be denied as he led VHHS to an incredible season-best and US No. 5 performance of 7:52.23.
A total of five teams were separated by just four seconds and the state's top three finishers were all within a second of one another.
Oak Mountain's boys were state runner-ups in 7:52.41, while Hewitt-Trussville was third in 7:52.43. Huntsville was fourth in 7:54.04, while Hoover was fifth in 7:56.50.
The squad included Strand, sophomore Alex Leath, Strand's brother, Henry, and junior Jared Eudy.
All together, it has been part of a very fruitful extended weekend for Ethan.
His anchor leg led to his third state title.
On Thursday, he won the Class 7A 1,600m in 4:11.77, which was a new class record, and then followed on Friday with his second win in the 3,200m in 9:12.88. That was also a new record.
The 800m remains for Strand on Saturday.
