I will never forget their names: Mark Sullivan, Chris McKenna and Scott Smith.
Together, more than a quarter century ago, the four of us joined forces and took turns carrying a metal baton around a 400-meter track -- finishing second during the 1982 Maine State Class C track and field championship meet in Saco, Maine.
We were our school's 4x100 relay team and as I look back on that spring day so many years ago, it was definitely one of the highlights in my own sports career.
Relay teams are a unique group in the world of track and field.
It is the team sport within an individual sport, usually placed at such key strategic moments of a track meet to bring out the most excitement.
Indoors, the season we are in right now, the meets start with the 4x800. They end, sometimes with an entire championship on the line, with the 4x400.
The Wilton High track program has a long and proud tradition of strong relay teams and this year is no exception.
Two girls squads -- a 4x800 and a 4x400 -- were sent to Friday night's New England Indoor Track Championship at the Reggie Lewis Center, just outside of Boston.
Seniors Celeste Hoelzl and Cailey Fiesel joined juniors Sarah Guth and Brynn Hansson in the 4x800 while Hoelzl, Fiesel and Hansson were joined by senior (and first-year runner) Amy Drummond in the 4x400. Grace House and Julia Broach attended the meet as alternates.
Those making the trip -- be it veterans like Hoelzl, or a rookie runner like Drummond -- have come to know, appreciate and love how special being a part of a relay team is.
"I just like how it's a team effort in a relay, whereas when you're running an individual event, it's just you," said Hoelzl, who has been a part of multiple successful relays in her career. "It's more fun to run with a bunch of girls and it's exciting to run in a big meet like in Boston."
Drummond might be best known for her exploits in other team-oriented sports like field hockey and lacrosse. But she has found being a part of a relay team can produce just as much camaraderie as any ball-and-stick sport.
"I think the thought that you're trying your best to benefit the entire team is still as important as the other sports," said Drummond, who never imagined she'd be competing at New Englands in his first year of running. "You're not just doing it for yourself. Other people are depending upon you."
As teammates wait for their shot at carrying the baton, or try to recover from their own performance, there is a helplessness of standing and watching and being out of control.
One person's individual leg, however, can boost or bring down the team's overall morale.
"One thing about the relay is you're doing it together and you're all connected," added Fiesel. "It's the mentality that you have to run well because there are three other girls running hard and you don't want to let them down. It's a lot of pressure."
This year's Wilton relay squads have shined.
The 4x800 team of Guth, Rebecca Craig, House and Hansson won the state Class L championship. The following week, Hoelzl jumped in and replaced House and the team placed fourth in the State Open.
At the New England meet, Fiesel will slip into Craig's spot and Wilton coach Jeff Gee is hoping the foursome can put together an even stronger time.
"We always want to put our fastest runners in there," said Gee. "It's been one of our strengths with state and New England champs in the past. At one time, we even held a New England record, so it's always something we shoot for."
And the pride the Warriors take in their relay success is noticeable.
"Relays are important and as a group we're really proud of our teams," Gee added.
I'm still proud of that one season we put together so many years ago.
So too will these girls be proud of their effort on Friday at this year's New England championship meet.
