4x400: Running for Each Other

rust, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”

Although track and field is a team sport, often times the athlete takes the runway, circle, sand pit or starting block as an individual, the performance impacted by no one but his or her own efforts.

In the relay, however, there needs to be that reliance and that trust on the other members of the group to make the unit successful. For the 4x400-meter relay team of Ama Pipi (first leg), DayeShon Roberson (second leg), Daunicia Demerson (third leg) and Payton Baker (anchor leg), their cohesion has been a process years in the making, and one that has brought them on the verge of the school record of 3:31.81 set in 1998.

It was when they learned to trust the process and each other that they were able to fully reach their potential, leading them once again to the ultimate stage at TrackTown. The four of them shared what it is like running on a relay team, the process, and the sought after school record.

On the expectations going into the season:

Pipi: Definitely to get to nationals.

Roberson: That was the goal because we have done it in three years now, so it is an expectation.

On how they define their role:

Pipi: Everyone just hold her own and run her hardest for each leg.

Demerson: I think Pipi in the first leg puts us in a good spot. That's her job, and she does it well. And we just maintain it or try to extend the lead if we have it.

On Payton's role as the closer:

Baker: I do feel like sometimes I have the most pressure because if they put me in the lead, that's pressure to keep that lead. I know that my teammates know that I'm going to do what I can no matter what the outcome is.

On some of the challenges of working as a relay team:

Roberson: Probably the fact that you aren't aware of what your other relay legs can do. You're not 100 percent sure of what kind of effort is going to come out of them that day and what's going to happen. At the end of the day, we have enough trust and enough faith in each other to know that the 4x4 members are going to get it done.

Demerson: I think we've worked together long enough so I know that every time I give the stick to Payton, I know in my heart that she's going to give what she has on that day. Ama was super tired at conference and regionals, but I knew that she was still going to give everything she had to this group. I don't doubt them at all.

On the learning curve that they went through to form that trust:

Demerson: It's been very gradual.

Roberson: I would say that I learned that it's a team effort and no individual on that relay makes the relay. Every person plays her part and every person has her role, and that's how we get where we are.

Baker: Every one has to contribute or else the relay isn't going to function properly like it's supposed to.

On how they were all able to develop this trust in each other:

Demerson: We've been through a lot. We used to not trust each other and not get along. I don't really know what happened, but something happened and we click now.

Roberson: We've been through a lot of ups and downs, trials and tribulations.

Baker: I think we realized that we can actually do this working together as a team, realizing that “Wow, we can actually run really fast if we work together and put differences aside.”

Demerson: I think we're actually pretty decent. I feel like we're always ready to go when the time comes.

On if they enjoy running the relay together:

All:Yes.

Demerson: This is fun for me. The team gets so hyped for it. I know I cheer for Payton as soon as I get off of the track, and I imagine that they do it too.

Pipi: Out of both relays, this is my favorite one because of the intensity. I like it; it's fun.

Roberson: After they run their leg and they come over and see you, we're all out of breath, but we're all there to support each other and tell each other good job.

On the school record:

Demerson: The school record was not a thing until we ran that time at Penn Relays (3:31.90) and then it became, “You all should get it!” Hopefully, we can get it. If we make the finals, I'm pretty sure we're going to have that. We're going to break it at this meet, hopefully.

Roberson: It hasn't been broken for 19 years, right? It needs to be broken. We have to.

Pipi: That would be awesome and amazing. I think we have a really good chance.

On the differences in the 4x100 and the 4x400 for Ama and Daye Shon (Ama hands off to Daye Shon in both):

Pipi: On the 4x4, I'm dying at the end of the leg basically saying, “Daye Shon, don't leave me!” The 4x1, it's fast and we have so much trust that I know I'm going to give it to her in the same place.

Roberson: I just think Ama and I have a certain level of trust and chemistry on the track that we just know each other well and know how to make it happen when and how it needs to happen.

On why this year is different:

Demerson: We haven't had much success at this meet, and this year we are really looking to turn that around. We have the ability to do it. We just have to do it.

Roberson: This track meet provides a really great atmosphere. There's no way to not go out there and do something amazing.

Pipi: It really does. It's so fun.

Demerson: It's our last meet and we're (Demerson, Roberson and Baker) never going to run with Ama again after this, so we have to do this.

Roberson: It's the last one, so we have to make it count.