The DeSoto High School girls made history on Saturday, setting a new national record in the 4x100 relay at the University of Texas at Arlington, running 44.44 seconds.
The quartet of JaEra Griffin (sophomore), Jayla Hollis (junior), Taylor Armstrong (senior), and Rosaline Effiong (senior) broke the previous 15-year-old mark of 44.50 seconds, last set by Long Beach Poly in 2004.
The national record was a goal for the DeSoto squad all season long, , they said, and the team had run multiple 45-second efforts throughout the season, even during the stretch of weekends in the Dallas area that saw 30-degree and 40-degree temperatures on meet days.
Although DeSoto's two 44-second races are now in the record books, there is still more work to do as the Lady Eagles still have to break the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) state record -- UIL records are only recognized if performed at the state championship meet.
For now, the 2004 Dallas Skyline squad still holds on to the "state" record for a few more weeks. DeSoto will have to wait until May 11 before it can eclipse Skyline's 44.60 in Austin, Texas at the UIL 6A State Championship meet.
Stay tuned, because DeSoto will also be looking for their fourth consecutive UIL 6A team championship.
