Eastern High School (Greentown)
2013

Jessie Sprinkles, Sarah Wagner, Brittany Neeley and Bethany Neeley

Eastern High School (Greentown) was the first 4x800 relay team in state history to beat the historic 9:00 barrier when they ran 8:53.74 to become the 2013 IHSAA state champions.  This time broke the previous state meet record by 10 seconds and was the fastest time in the nation in 2013, as well as the ninth-best time in U.S. high school history.

The relay team representing a high school of just 400 students consisted of Jessie Sprinkles, Sarah Wagner, Brittany Neeley and Bethany Neeley. Bethany anchored the relay team with a 2:06.6 split after receiving the baton in first place from twin sister, Brittany, who had just split 2:07.7.  Both were recorded as the fastest splits in state history at the time.

Hours after this historic run, Bethany won the state championship in the 1600, while Brittany won the state championship in the 800 in a state meet record time 2:07.91.  Since Eastern’s performance in 2013, only one other relay team has broken the 9:00 barrier and no team has come within five seconds of their state record.

All members of this record breaking relay team went on to achieve graduate-level degrees in their career fields while completing their track and field careers.  Jessie Sprinkles continued her running career at Indiana Wesleyan University and the University of North Carolina and now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Sarah Wagner continued her career at Lipscomb University and now resides in Houston, Texas.  Brittany Neeley continued her career at Indiana University and Indiana State University and now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.  Bethany Neeley continued her career at Indiana University and North Carolina State University and now resides in Denver, Colorado.