BLAINE -- The Austin girls' 4×200-meter relay team ran a state finals time similar to what had gotten the group that far, but there the Packers saw what they needed to take them a little farther.

The Austin foursome of Staci Tucker, Emily Johnson, Jenny Tucker and Theresa Hirsch finished eighth in the 4×200 relay at Saturday's State Track and Field Meet at the National Sports Center, clocking a time of 1 minute, 46.71 seconds. The group set their season-best record of 1:46.54 in winning the Section 1AA championship, which qualified it for the state meet.

And even though the Packers ran close to the same time, the rest of the Class AA state field was not impressed.

"I felt fast, but those girls are nuts," said AHS senior Theresa Hirsch, who anchored the Packers to the eighth and final spot. "I bet a lot of teams would take our place.

"It was such an honor to be here with all the top athletes and runners in the state. I'm just glad we could make it here."

Added fellow senior Jenny Tucker, "At least we got here."

The Packers capped an incredible three-week run to the state meet with nothing left to be desired, scoring two points for their efforts.

"We had an awesome season," said Johnson, a sophomore. "I would never change anything."

Austin ran out of Lane 1 with the rest of the 4×200 field in front of them the whole time.

"It made me feel like we were way behind," said Staci Tucker, also a sophomore on the relay squad.

"The experience of being at state is something to push you for next year," Johnson added.

Anoka won the 4×200-meter relay race in a time of 1:43.43, with Mankato East also representing the Big Nine Conference in fifth with a time of 1:44.37.