State record in 4x1,600-meter relay falls in South Carolina

By Jason Gilmer Mar 28, 2011, 9:05pm

Race isn't run during championships, but Lexington breaks the state record.

There isn't a 4x1,600-meter relay held during the state track and field championships in South Carolina, but there is still a state record.

Before this season, the record was 18:33 and was set by Spartanburg High School in 1985. On March 5, Hilton Head (Hilton Head Island) broke the record with a time of 18:26.

Last week, that mark was topped by 2.5 seconds as Lexington runners Colby Coulter, Eric Wendt, Blake White and Tony Morales set the state record at the Mellow Mushroom Relays in Wando to set the state record.

Those four runners helped Lexington win the 4A state cross country championship in the fall.



COACHES INDUCTED INTO HALL
The South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association added two new members to its Hall of Fame over the weekend, as Gaffney's Whiteford Smith and Pelion's Mark Bedenbaugh were inducted.

Smith coached both sports at Gaffney and guided the Indians to their only cross country state championship, as his boys won the crown in 1975 with a one-point win over Wade Hampton.

Bedenbaugh has won 14 region titles in boys track, 23 region titles in boys cross country, state championships in boys cross country (1995) and girls cross country (2001) and four state runner-up awards.