Calabasas track and field’s girls relay teams thrive off of family-like chemistry
CALABASAS — Running takes up most of the time in a relay race, even in one as short as the 4×100. But the handoffs, which take up a fraction of the time, are perhaps the most critical.
A good handoff can shave off microseconds and make a difference in a relay race, and it’s built by the unseen work of communication and chemistry — something that the Calabasas 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams have plenty of.
“You gotta have that bond,” Calabasas senior Zoe Ray said. “You kind of know how your teammate is running. You know how to gauge their speed, what you need to fix.”
The Coyotes currently have the top 4×100-meter relay team in the state of California. The 4×100 team’s time of 45.94 seconds was recorded by Zoe, Lahela Ray, Paige Porter and Marley Scoggins at the Arcadia Invitational.
The 4×400 relay team is ranked third in the state. Lahela, Zoe, Porter and Arielle McKenzie logged a 3:46.30 at the Arcadia Invitational to reach the No. 3 spot. Zoe is the No. 10 runner in the 400, Scoggins is tied for No. 7 in the 200 and McKenzie is the No. 10 runner in the 800.
The 4×100 relay came in second at that meet and the 4×400 came in first place — a difficult accomplishment considering three girls ran in both races.
“I don’t think that’s something that we celebrate enough. How hard that is,” Calabasas sprints and hurdles coach Aria Betts said. “To win it is just amazing. And I think because of how we train and because of what we pour into the kids.”
Lahela and Zoe are twin sisters and are team captains as well as the heart of the relay teams. They’re both committed to run at Washington State, where they’ll continue to feed off of each other competitively.
Eyes always turn to the two sisters out of respect and anticipation whenever they have to run against each other in practice.
“It’s like living with competition every day,” Lahela said. “We’ve done everything together. Same sports, same things pretty much our whole lives. We were in competition like every day. We push each other consistently and it’s motivation.”
The sisters’ dad, Drew, is the strength and conditioning coach for the team. He sees more than just his daughters as family while Calabasas continues to make itself known in the high school track and field world.
“They’re more like sisters,” Drew said of the relay runners. “And even the coaches, we’re so tight. The parents, they come around and they help with the meets. Even cross country. A lot of times you don’t see cross country and the track team hang, but they’re cool. It’s a beautiful feeling.”
It has created a welcoming environment for even the youngest of runners to thrive in. Malia Rainey is an up-and-coming freshman who is one of the best 100-meter runners on the team. She came in first in the event at the Tiger Invitational at South Pasadena High School on April 5 with a time of 11.83 seconds.
She’s also starting to work her way into the 4×100 lineups as she navigates her first year of high school. Although she was intimidated at first, the chemistry that Calabasas has helped ease the transition.
“I’m used to running with people in my age group, so this is a big shift for me,” Rainey said. “They’re amazing teammates. They’re very helpful and so welcoming and they make you feel like family, especially their dad. He makes you feel like you’re his daughter.”
Zoe can still relive the moment of running through the tape at the finish line of the Arcadia Invitational, arms spread wide in exhilaration. But embracing her teammates felt even better, and was also an indicator of what the Coyotes’ chemistry could produce at the CIF Southern Section finals and eventually the state championships.
“Before, they didn’t really look at us all,” Porter said. “And I think people are pretty shocked that we have the best time in the state right now. We’re actually faster than people have thought before. We’re definitely good competition.”