It was a run for the record books as the Whitehall girls 4x100 relay team took home gold at the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Track and Field Championships last week.

The foursome of Monica Manu, Rebecca Ganthier, Kate Bonshak and Amanda Crooks crossed the line in 48.86, establishing a school record and EPC record in the process. For the school record, they beat the previous mark of 49.37 set in 2010 as Kelsey Gregory, Danielle Smith, Brooke Hamscher and Erinn Bonshak combined for that finish.

That’s a great accomplishment in itself, but considering it was the first time that those four ran together as a team, it only adds to its stature. And when Crooks crossed the line, she let out a burst of excitement reflecting that joy.

The Zephyr girls finished in ninth place with 38 points. The relay win helped the Zephs climb to ninth, and that began with Monica Manu who ran the first leg. Manu was a new addition to the team, and her bolt out of the blocks helped set the tone for the rest of the race.

“I wanted to run fast so my team would be in first,” said Manu.

It’s also Ganthier’s first year running with the 4x100 team. She steps into a long history of 4x100 teams that have won gold during the postseason, including last years’s win at the District XI Championships where they were tops with a 49.75 mark. Once she heard that they set the record, she let her enthusiasm show.

“I was really excited,” said Ganthier. And to be a part of it is a great experience.”

Ganthier said that she told herself that they were going to break the record this season, and when they did, it was an exciting feeling.

Crooks, the veteran of the group, said that their chase for the record has been on their radar for a long time, having gotten close a number of times including last year’s district performance.

“I’m just proud of everyone,” said Crooks.

Crooks said that they hope to take this momentum all the way to states where last year’s hopes were dashed when they dropped the baton. She said that this group, including Helen Davis who’s injury sidelined her for the EPC meet, has the ability to go really far in the postseason.

Bonshak is another returning member from last year’s gold medal winning 4x100 team. She’s a top-flight sprinter in her own right, giving the Zephyrs another strong link in their 4x100 chain.

In addition to the 4x100 gold, Crooks also took home first in the 100 meters, finishing in 12.53. Logan Miller took home bronze in the javelin, earning a trip to the medal podium with a 109-03 mark.

Madelyn Mertz came in fourth in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 48.45, while Savanah Rivera was 10th in the pole vault with an 8-6 mark.

The Whitehall boys finished in a tie for tenth place with 21 points. They also had a number of outstanding performances led by Lucas Souders who earned a silver medal in the javelin. Souders, who’s become one of the premier javelin throwers in the area, took second with a 167-09 mark. Jacob Heffner also had a good showing in the javelin at the EPC Championships, finishing sixth with a 152-03 toss. Michael Bogucki was a third member of their javelin competitors finishing among then top ten, taking the 10th spot with a 142-01 mark.

Sprinter and jumper Dez Boykin was fourth in the long jump with a 21-07.75 mark, while Zahir Linton was tenth in the 400 meters at 52.06. Additionally, Izak Bright finished eighth in the discus with a 122-10 toss.