By PatrickNewell

Sun Sports Editor

pnewell@evesun.com

CICERO – It all fell into place for Oxford Academy and its four young ladies Friday afternoon.

Not only did the 400-meter relay set more records, but it became the first relay in school history to capture a state championship.

Senior Amanda Brown teamed with junior Amanda Marks and sophomores Emily and Katie Woodford to win the Division II state title at Cicero-North Syracuse High School Friday at the New York State Track and Field Championships.

Katie Woodford capped a banner day for a program that does not have its own track facility winning the Division II 400-meter dash state title. “The girls are excited and definitely thrilled,” said Oxford coach Irene DeJager.

Oxford’s relay came from behind for the victory with Katie Woodford taking the last leg and finishing in a school-record 49.44 seconds. It was nearly a quarter-second faster than the team’s school-record time a week ago, and Blackhawks edged top-seeded Woodlands by a mere .14 seconds. “Everything they did in the race went according to plan,” DeJager said. “Katie leaned nicely at the end of the race.”

Katie Woodford entered the 400-meter final as the number one seed, but had made up the stagger and was leading clearly after the 100-meter mark. She finished in a school-record 57.01 seconds to nip hard-charging Erika Kisel of Waverly, who timed 57.58. That same pair finished first and second respectively a week ago at the Section IV state qualifier.