The girls relay team, comprised of Natalie Tedesco, Marielle Plunk, Allison Agbasoga and Marissa Naab will compete in the 4×400 relay at the state meet Friday. The girls will run at 9:05 p.m. which can be viewed live online at www.flotrack.com.

How do you feel about making it to state?

Allison Agbasoga:  I feel really good and that all of our work that we’ve been doing since August has paid off.

Natalie Tedesco: It is very overwhelming because I am just a freshman, and I feel very privileged to have made it this far.

 Marielle Plunk:  I’m excited, I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity and I hope that it pays off.

 Marissa Naab: It is such a blessing, especially since this is the second time I’ll have been there.

Have you ever been to state before?

Agbasoga: I went last year for the same events which I think prepared me for the competition I’d see at state.

Tedesco: I am beyond nervous. I feel so lucky though that my team has carried me here, I wouldn’t be here without them.

Plunk: This year is my first time going, and I’m really nervous to see the stadium where so many great people have ran before me.

Naab: Yes, I do think that it prepares you because the crowds and the stadium and just the sheer amount of pressure you feel can be overwhelming, but now that I know what to expect, I think that the nerves won’t be as big of a factor.

Are you going to Prom which is Saturday?

Agbasoga: I am going to prom, and hopefully with some good cool down I won’t be sore.

Tedesco: No, I wish.

Plunk: Nope, and I’m going to sleep in all day.

Naab: Yes, it doesn’t matter much, considering we run the night before. We’re lucky we aren’t 5A, or we wouldn’t get to go to prom.

Who are your biggest competitors?

Agbasoga: I think myself and Cedar Park.

Tedesco: Lake Travis, their third leg is really fast— I just want to stay ahead of her.

Plunk: Myself because I’ve struggled this season with being confident in my running abilities.

Naab: Lake Travis, they’ve been our competition since district. Lancaster as well, we barely beat them last year and they’ll be out for blood.

Why do you think the relay team has done so well this year?

Agbasoga: When Justine [Franklin] and Adriana [Reyes] got hurt others had to step up to the plate and I think that is the reason we have been so successful.

Tedesco: We switched people a lot to try and find who is the best at what positions and we have had lots of practice with technique.

Plunk: We’ve done well because we are all talented runners and we want it.

Naab: All the legs are so close this year. We act more like sisters and that adds to the team’s chemistry.

What areas have you worked on since regionals?

Agbasoga: My running for the triple and I have also worked on my handoffs a lot trying to get them faster and cleaner than ever before.

Tedesco: We’ve worked on handoffs, and getting out fast was major, as well as finishing all the way through the line.

Plunk: Handoffs has been a big thing and pacing ourselves throughout the race so we have a strong start and finish.

Naab: Our handoffs have improved; we’ve been working mostly on mentality and telling ourselves that we can do well, we can succeed, we are capable of success, and now we just need to work on realizing it.

What are your team goals and personal goals?

Agbasoga: I would like to jump 39 feet and run a low 55 split in the mile relay.

Tedesco: I want to break 60 on my 400, even though I know it’s hard, but really I just want to stay ahead of the other third legs.

Plunk: To run a 57 or 56 in the mile relay would be awesome and also, hopefully, to impress some college recruiters that will be there.

Naab: Breaking our district record from last year and placing so that we get to stand on the podium.