In team photo, left to right - Joan Hunter, Jane Brooker, Maryline Roux and Julie Hayden. Courtesy of Joan Hunter.

The Millrose Games at Madison Square Gardens, New York always produces excitement. A host of big names, relays and an enthusiastic crowd packed into an indoor arena, means drama is always on the cards. This year's Games on Friday, January 30 were no exception. Australian Olympic Champion Steven Hooker produced the highest indoor vault in history and Bernard Lagat spectacularly equaled Eamonn Coghlan's seven victories in the famous Wanamaker Mile.

For the ladies of Athena Track Club the main event of the night was the women's masters 4x400M Relay. In their first appearance at the Games in 2007, Athena set a new meet record of 4:27.2 and in 2008 they successfully defended their title. A close and exciting race was anticipated this year with the emergence of a strong foursome from hometown favorites Millrose AA and a mere second difference in the posted seed times.

Nerves were obvious as the leadoff athletes jittered at the start. Athena's Jane Brooker (44) from Spring Mills, PA benefitted from her former elite experience. After rounding the first of Millrose's tight curves on the undersized track built to fit in the arena, Brooker struggled to stay on her feet as the front runners jockeyed for position. Settling into the race, Brooker got in to full stride and handed off in the lead to Maryline Roux (42) from Davidson, NC.

Born in the Ivory Coast and educated in France, Roux became an American citizen in 2008. Running for the first time at Millrose, Roux was not overwhelmed by the occasion and increased the Athena lead. Also a naturalized citizen, British born, Julie Hayden (49) of Ashburn VA, running in her second Millrose Games, took the baton from Roux. Hearing both the Millrose runner's footsteps and cheers from the crowd, Hayden knew the chase by the younger Sonya Badger (41) was going to be dogged. As Hayden's legs began to buckle in the final meters,

Badger closed on the inside, but dramatically, her legs gave way and she tumbled to the ground, leaving Hayden clear to pass off to Athena anchor Joan Hunter (45) from Purcellville, VA. Badger swiftly regained her feet and exchanged with Terry Ballou (41). Running with control and confidence, Hunter left no doubt that the title was Athena's for a third consecutive time. Hunter brought Athena home to victory in a new meet record of 4:23.73.

Women 4x400 Meter Relay Masters

    Team                                 Finals 
  1 Athena Track Club                	 4:23.73  
  2 Millrose Athletic Association  	 4:25.86  
  3 Fleet Feet                           4:41.57  
  4 Nike Central Park Track Club 	 4:41.59  
  5 Bohemia Track Club             	 4:56.33  
  6 Greater Philadelphia TC       	 5:00.03 

2009 Millrose Games