By Chris Parker
On Friday, the El Dorado Springs 3200-meter relay team won their third consecutive state title on senior Neeley Schaaf’s 18th birthday.
On Saturday, the junior trio of Lainey Dody, Braylie Steward and McKinli Mays combined with Schaaf to send the senior out a winner.
The Lady Bulldogs came back on the anchor leg to win a third consecutive 1600-meter relay gold medal for the third consecutive season with a time of 4:03.52.
“That is exactly what I wanted. I couldn’t ask for a better team. Going out this way puts the cherry on top,” Schaaf said.
After the first two legs, El Dorado Springs was in third place with Schaaf and Mays still to run.
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“Going into it I was (thinking) this is it. This is the last time I get to run with these girls,” Schaaf said. “I just had that mindset that I am going to finish it how I want to finish it.”
Schaaf ran a 1:02.55 split to get El Dorado Springs into second place behind Lawson.
Then it was Mays’ time to shine.
“There was a point where there was a little bit of a gap (at the handoff). I know McKinli’s ability so I knew she would close that gap and finish that race for us,” Schaaf said.
Mays wanted the victory for the whole team but especially the senior.
“If I was in (Schaaf’s) position I would want the same thing. I was just trying to do my best and get that win for her,” Schaaf said.
Mays blazed a 58.16 to reel in the leader and give the Lady Bulldogs the title by just over a second.
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Schaaf got to stand on top of the podium one final time as a Bulldog, which is something that still hasn’t sunk in.
“I don’t think it is going to sink in until after tonight is over with. We have the bus ride, and we are going to go eat together. I think it is going to hit tomorrow morning when I wake up and I don’t get to go to practice with these girls anymore and see them every day,” Schaaf said.
The El Dorado Springs girls placed second as a team with 38 points. Of those 38 points, 26 came on relays.
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