Only seven boys teams in history have gone under 40 seconds in the 4x100.
Notably, all seven teams are from Texas.
In fact, there are two non-Texas squads who have run faster than 40.10 all-time, and one is from Georgia (Buford, '22, 40.05) and the other is from Florida (Boyd Anderson, '98, 40.09).
Well, which program is inching closer to entering that territory this spring?
The IMG Academy boys. On Saturday, the Ascenders executed to precision in the Division II final at the Texas Relays, clocking a winning time and new U.S. No. 1 time of 40.11 seconds to outlast Duncanville (TX), which was second in 40.61, and Fort Bend Ridge Point, which was third in 40.65.
IMG's boys are no joke. The squad is coming off a national title in the 4x200 at New Balance Nationals Indoor, and the team likely will be a pretty consistent lineup of Avian Edwards-Pla, Davonte Howell, Dylan Woodruffe and Jerrae Hawkins.
What's in front of the program now might be the potential for history.
That performance on Saturday stands tied for U.S. No. 16 all-time, alongside Klein Forest (TX). But notably it's the second-fastest Florida time in history behind Boyd Anderson.
Indications are pointing toward IMG Academy as one of the top teams in the U.S. over the 2023 season -- though they'll have plenty of competition from the likes of Archbishop Carroll (DC), Fort Bend Marshall (TX), former U.S. No. 1 Klein Forest (TX) and Ridge Point (TX).
* Dylan Woodruffe anchored the IMG Academy boys in the 4x200 at NBNI in March
Photo Credit: Charles Karam/IMG Academy