Montverde Academy makes history: Girls’ track team sets new national record in 4x200 relay

Achieving greatness: Montverde Academy Girls’ track wins national championship

Montverde Academy continues its legacy of athletic excellence as four members of the girls' track and field team recently captured a national championship at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. The relay team, consisting of DaQuana Howell, Adriana Rodriguez, Nakira Hudson, and Dasia Reed, set a new national high school record in the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:34.25.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The bar is set at greatness for a Montverde Academy Eagle. 

Montverde Academy – whose previous graduates include the New York Mets' shortstop Francisco Lindor to the Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg – continue to encourage their students to strive for greatness. 

That includes the school’s girls’ soccer team, which has won three state titles in four years. Additionally, the girls' track and field is winning races of their own. 

What we know:

Four Montverde Academy track and field students won an indoor track national championship. 

Greatness is something Track and Field Coach Dustin Spanbauer said they've "normalized around here."

Four players on Montverde's girls' track team recently captured a national championship at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.

The four girls – DaQuana Howell, Adriana Rodriguez, Nakira Hudson, and Dasia Reed – combined to run 1:34.25 in the 4x200 relay. That time represents a new national record for the fastest time ever recorded at a girls' high school relay.

"Having that mindset that no matter how well it’s going or how bad it’s going, you need to go out there and handle your leg," described Dasia Reed, who ran the fourth and final leg. She had to surge from behind to secure both the national title and the record.

The race began with DaQuana Howell, the youngest and newest member of the group. Having moved to Florida from Ohio just this past January, Howell sought out Montverde specifically for its reputation.

"I looked into the school and saw what was done the last few years," Howell said. "I thought I’d fit right in and do the same thing or better."

Passing the baton to the next level

While the record will stand in the history books, the team itself is preparing for a transition. Seniors Adriana Rodriguez and Nakira Hudson are preparing to take their speed to the collegiate level. Rodriguez is committed to the University of Iowa, while Hudson will be heading to the University of South Carolina.

"It’s going to be weird coming back here and not seeing the same faces," said Dasia, who will return next year alongside DaQuana to chase even more records. "Guess I’ll see them at the next level."