Photo by Margot Kelly
The Arcadia Invitational not only draws athletes and relays from all over the United States, but saw an international flavor to the meet this weekend with the Ruyton Girls School track team from Australia making the long journey across the Pacific to join some of the best US preps in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a successful and busy weekend for the Ruyton girls in the distance relays as they garnered high finishes in the 4x800 (2nd, 9:15.11), 4xmile (3rd, 20:51.89) and DMR (5th, 12:09.35) as their depth was showcased with few of the same runners on each relay. MileSplit US spoke to one of their several relay quartets (girls DMR) this weekend about their trip, meet, and experience in America.
MileSplit US: What made you girls decide to make the trip to America and the Arcadia Invitational?
Ruyton Girls DMR: Well we made the trip two years ago with a few of same girls and I just the grandeur of the meet and the competition that it all brings. We all are just looking to go to the next level, so we thought this trip and meet in America of these kinds would be great ones to do.
MileSplit US: What is high school track & field like in Australia?
Ruyton Girls DMR: The atmosphere is very different in Australia. We definitely never see these kinds of crowds [in Australia].
MileSplit US: How is the track season structured back home?
Ruyton Girls DMR: It is a summer sport over there, so we started in September and just finished right before we came here. Our season was sort of a ladder and nice leadup of meets to use before our trip over here.
MileSplit US: For those who competed at the meet two years ago, what was about the meet experience then that made you want to come back to Arcadia?
Ruyton Girls DMR: The people are just the nicest people you'll ever meet. They are just welcoming and friendly. They are just encouraging and the sportsmanship between all the girls.
Everything is so exciting and everyone gets into it [track and field] so much. People are all on their feet on the backstretch [as you are racing].
MileSplit US: In the US, the high school teams are a bigger deal than the club teams, while in many other parts of the world, there are no high school teams and only clubs. Which is more important or stronger in Australia?
Ruyton Girls DMR: Its a bit of both. There are school competitions, but we compete as a club now as our school became a club team. That is sort of how we qualified to compete at Arcadia. More of the serious athletes join the club competition.
MileSplit US: Are many of you considering coming back to run at a college in the United States?
Ruyton Girls DMR: Definitely!
MileSplit US: Outside of the meet, what you most enjoyed out of your trip to the States?
Ruyton Girls DMR: We were at La Jolla Beach all of the last week, which was beautiful. Disney Land! Training on the Santa Monica Beach. Seeing the difference between the two countries.
MileSplit US: The distance relays seemed to be the events which the team excels the best at.
Ruyton Girls DMR: We definitely wanted to focus on the relays and being part of a team together while we were here. I think that is the most important to us. We are so close as a group and such good friends. Everyone just competes so well together.