Clearly, It’s no surprise that given how Hannah DeBalsi 16’s season has gone that she had an equally strong performance at this past weekend’s national meet. DeBalsi anchored the Wreckers’ 5000 meter distance medley relay, running 1600 meters in an incredible 4:46:16.

But it was not just Debalsi’s skill on display. The relay team of Erica Hefnawy ’15 (1200 m), Olivia Wiener ’15 (400), and Tyler Scanlin ’14 (800), anchored by Debalsi, took third place at the New Balance Indoor Nationals with an overall time of 11:45:79. With that time, the girls broke the Connecticut state indoor record in the event. It was also a new school record, and helped all four runners receive All-American awards.

Scanlin said she and her three teammates had no idea they broke the state record until being told well after the race.

“Our relay went in knowing what we were capable of and each leg pulled their own weight,” Scanlin, the future Lehigh University competitor, said. “Walking away with an All-American status was just an insane experience, and hopefully we can further improve our time by outdoor.”

DeBalsi was also named an All-American for the 2-mile, finishing in fourth place, which did not quite meet her expectations, as she was tripped up shortly before the finish line, slowing her time.

“Unfortunately, the 2-mile didn’t go the way I wanted it to with being tripped, but I can use it for fuel in outdoor,” DeBalsi said.

The triumphant performance at nationals capped off a magical season that saw the Wreckers hoist the state championship trophy for the first time in the program’s history.

“We couldn’t have had such a great season without the effort of everyone on the team,” she said. “Everyone contributed and everyone worked as hard as they possibly could.”DeBalsi added, “You need a really well-rounded team to get a team record, so it definitely reflects well on our program.”