Union Catholic Girls Win Championship of America 4×800 At Penn Relays With a Performance For The Ages

Written by: Jim Lambert

It was hyped up as an epic clash between Union Catholic and Edwin Allen of Jamaica, a race that had the potential to see the two powerhouses battle it out all the way to the line.

But Union Catholic had other plans.

Instead of a classic slugfest, the Vikings delivered a knockout shot that turned Saturday’s Championship of America 4×800 eagerly awaited showdown at the 127th Penn Relays into a blowout.

Edwin Allen was seeking a third straight title, but Union Catholic sent the defending champions reeling when Kaleigh Gunsiorowski blew the race apart with a 2:10.76 carry on the third leg to give anchor Peyton Hollis a lead of nearly five seconds.

With victory a virtual lock, Hollis kept hammering the pace as she slammed the door on any chance of an Edwin Allen comeback. Hollis then started racing the clock in pursuit of history.

Hollis, a junior, kept pouring it on over the final 400 as the crowd of 39,243 kept an eye on the clock as she chased the national record of 8:43.12 set at the 2008 Penn Relays by Eleanor Roosevelt of Maryland.

When Hollis came storming across the line to complete UC’s epic performance, she froze the numbers at 8:44.98!!! That smashed the NJ record and is No. 2 all-time in U.S. history, just off Eleanor Roosevelt. Edwin Allen was a distant second in 8:58.83.

Hollis split 2:09.73, the fastest of the meet, to earn the Most Outstanding High School Female of the meet award for relay races.

UC broke the NJ record of 8:45.37 set by Columbia when it won at Penn for the second straight year in 2014, and became the first American team to win since New York’s Shenendehowa in 2016.

The UC girls program, which has captured countless national titles, including the 4×800 at the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field last year, and broken multiple national records, had finally captured the one piece missing from its trophy case – a coveted Penn Relays wheel that is awarded to every team that wins a C of A race. Last yeat the UC boys won the DMR to win its first wheel.

“Just coming out here and winning the wheel, the one thing we really wanted, for us to do it, we made history,” said senior Maameyaa Nyinah, who led off. “What else could you want? We did it.”

While Gunsiorowski and Hollis did exactly what was expected, the first two legs were extremely vital to how this race played out.

UC Coach Mike McCabe felt if Nyinah, and freshman Jimmiea King could keep it close, there was almost no way they could lose with the 1-2 punch of Gunsiorowski and Hollis on the back end.

Nyinah (2:12.30 ) and King (2:12.30) came through big time by delivering personal bests to stay right in the back pocket of Edwin Allen every step of the way.

When King handed off to Gunsiorowski just a few meters off the lead, it was game over! Gunsiorowski simply powered away from Sanya Gibson of Edwin Allen to start the rout.

This victory is especially sweet for UC after placing fifth in 2018, second in 2019, and third last year in the 4×800 here at Penn. Last year, UC finished behind Edwin Allen and runner-up Cuthbertson (NC). Cuthbertson, who edged UC at the national indoor championships last month, didn’t run at Penn.

“One of the biggest things we’re leaving here with is a smile on our face,” Hollis said. “Last year we were so super happy, but it’s one of those things where it’s bittersweet because you didn’t come home with a wheel. Now that we have it, we can now parade in the streets with it.”

Gunsiorowski, who along with Hollis and Nyinah, ran on the 4×800 at the Penn Relays last year, said that it was finally UC’s time to get that elusive wheel.

“I think this is the year we deserved it most,” said Gunsiorowski. “We’ve worked hard since last year, and for the last six weeks since losing at indoor nationals, so we wanted this so badly and were lucky enough to get it. God was on our side today.”