The Red Raiders’ 3,200 relay team gave it their all in the Class AAA competition. They were hoping for a podium finish, perhaps even a PR and school record, but instead they walked off the track just missing out on being one of the top eight relay teams in the state.

Bellefonte’s runners knew they performed well, however, and even without medals, they got to make their mark. Bellefonte’s 3,200 relay team was the first-ever relay team for Bellefonte girls track and field to reach the state meet in its history.

“It means a lot (qualifying) because I’ve been working for this since I was a freshman,” Miller said. “To come my senior year means a lot.”

“I think it’s so surreal because we’ve been working really hard this season,” Tyson added.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Bellefonte competes on Saturday at Shippensburg in the girls Class AAA 3,200 relay.

Bellefonte’s four runners performed well against solid competition in the Class AAA 3,200. The Red Raiders ended with a 12th-place finish in 9:31.17. Bellefonte started strong, sitting in sixth place after the first split in which the Red Raiders ran a 2:19.26 to get out in front. However, the rest of the field started gaining on Bellefonte.

“It’s always better to bring relays. It’s more special, more people come,” Bellefonte’s Helms said. I feel like it can also be more pressure because if you do bad in your single event, like I run the 400 and I ran yesterday, that’s not as much pressure because that’s just on me. But if I run bad, it affects all of them.”

By the second split, the Red Raiders were in tenth and weren’t able to climb back into the top eight from there.

“I think that we’ve definitely been talking about this for the past two or three seasons,” Helms said. “It’s something that we have a team have all been thinking about. All of us wanted this.”

Bellefonte’s third split was a 2:28.97 which had Bellefonte in 14th place. The final split saw Bellefonte finish in 2:16.92 to move up to 12th place down the stretch against a lot of talented runners.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Bellefonte competes on Saturday at Shippensburg in the girls Class AAA 3,200 relay.

Bellefonte was just behind Altoona as well: a team they’re more than familiar with. Bellefonte and Altoona saw each other numerous times as both are District 6 competitors. Altoona beat Bellefonte by just 0.04 seconds for 11th place.

“Having Altoona in front of us when we usually run with Altoona was a big motivator because we know we can run with them,” Fry said.

Upper Dublin won state gold in the 3,200 relay with a time of 9:05.75, Central Bucks East took silver in 9:07.56, South Fayette finished third in 9:14.18 and JP McCaskey took fourth in 9:19.51. Upper Dublin’s team consisted of Bree Hall, Brady Kullmann, Kerrigan Kullmann and Faith Castronuovo.

“I think we definitely wanted to get a PR. That was six seconds off our PR, so it wasn’t our best, but I think just running at the state met under these conditions helps,” Miller said. “We definitely wanted to break the school record again and PR.”

Easton took fifth in 9:21.33, Dallastown took sixth in 9:23.00, Williamsport took seventh in 9:25.26 and Fox Chapel was eighth in 9:26.80. Williamsport had a late push to get to the podium. The Millionaires started in 17th place after the first split before climbing back late to reach the podium with a great final push.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Bellefonte competes on Saturday at Shippensburg in the girls Class AAA 3,200 relay.

While Bellefonte left Shippensburg without a medal — the 3,200 relay team was the Red Raiders’ only competitors on Saturday after Victoria Schellenberg competed on Friday in the Class AAA pole vault — they were still more than happy with being able to represent Bellefonte at states and compete well together.

“I think it’s good that we want to come out and medal, we didn’t, but nobody’s mad at each other,” Fry said. “We’re probably gonna go get ice cream after this and just be happy that we came.”

“Keeping a positive spirit and being ready to run and our teamwork (is our strength,” Tyson said. “We bring each other up.”

That was evident by the team laughing and joking after the relay wrapped up. Bellefonte wasn’t upset they didn’t reach the podium, but rather glad they were along for the ride and get experience among the best in Class AAA.

As for what helped Bellefonte get to this point?

“Just having Addy and Althea because they both run under 2:20 having that really helps,” Miller said. “Without them, we definitely would not be here today. Having those two who can run that time (is huge).”

“I think our stregnth, some of us — me — are very bad staying calm before races but they’re dancing and trying to distract and I’m just so quiet,” Helms joked. “The goal was to just make states and everything else is extra.”