CLOVIS, Calif. – The St. Francis 4×400-meter relay team was seeded third entering the state meet and they did not disappoint in the preliminaries winning their heat in 3:47.91 and posting the third-fastest time.

“It is a great night for St. Francis track and field,” said Head Coach John DuCray. “This is only second time we have qualified a 4×400-meter relay for the state meet and now we are going to the finals with a legitimate chance to be top-five.”

The Troubie foursome has been on a successful run of late. They have won the Delta River League and Sac-Joaquin Section titles over the last two weeks, earning their spot in Clovis this week.

“We wanted to make a statement and get a good time so we could get a good seeing for the state meet,” said sophomore Kiani Reyna after the meet last week. “It is what we did.”

St. Francis closed the meet last week with a school-record performance in clinching the third win of the day for the program in 3:47.79.

DuCray credits their fearlessness for the team’s success.

“They are not afraid to run 400 meters,” said DuCray. “A lot of athletes, girls and boys, are afraid to run the 400 because it does hurt.”

The foursome has created a special connection running together this season especially the last two weeks practicing together while their classmates have started their summer breaks.

“It has been fun,” said Sydney Hunter, who anchors the relay. “We have been practicing for the last two week’s together after school is out. We are all individuals but we mesh together with our personalities.”

Reyna, Arndt and Hunter qualified as part of the 4×400-meter relay last season but did not advance to finals. They benefitted from the experience and are planning to put it to use this season.

“Going into this year’s meet, I am going to be confident,” said Hunter. “I was a little scared last year and it was not the best experience. I want to redeem myself and do the best I possibly can.”

Arndt, who also ran the 800 meters Friday night and finished 18th, led off Friday and took the lead around the back turn. Reyna, Enes and Hunter never looked back as they finished just 12-hundreths off their school record from the Masters meet.

“I am really excited because we have a really good team and good chemistry,” said Hunter. “I am excited to take the journey with them and seeing what we can do.”

The Troubies enter Saturday trailing only Long Beach Poly (3:41.00) and Piedmont Hills (3:44.60).