Team WAR bought home a national title in the 4×200 relay as they competed in the New Balance Indoor Nationals meet over the weekend.

The Warriors went up to New York to compete in the annual meet. The 4×200 team of Brene’ Donaldson, Tre’breh Scott-McKoy, Kori Carter and Lauryn Freeman ran a time of 1:37.94 to come home as national champions.

WAR has taken home the national title in the 4×200 three of the last four seasons, having finished runner-up last season. Coach Marco McKoy said he and the team had been feeling confident all year about the 4×200.

“Just knowing the caliber of the four seniors we had returning, we felt good about our chances,” McKoy said. “It was nerve-wracking at times figuring how to go about it. But once we figured out the girls were confident, and they took care of business.”

McKoy said it was difficult to put the lineup together for the 4×200. It sounds easy to do, but there is a lot of thought and science that goes into it. As a first-time head coach, he was glad it all worked out in the end. However, he described his first national meet and national title as a head coach as a surreal feeling.

“It’s definitely different when you have to make these types of decisions,” McKoy said. “Your emotions are on a roller coaster, because the decisions you are making directly affects them. So just like any coach, you want to do what’s best for the team. We worked hard. I had high expectations for myself and for the girls.”

Not only did the seniors compete at nationals, but also WAR took up some younger athletes to compete as well. McKoy felt it would be beneficial for those returning next year.

“The younger athletes got to see how the seniors prepare for a meet like that,” McKoy said. “You see things like how to race and recovery day after day. It’s tough, but they can see how mentally those vets prepare and what it takes.”

Nansemond River finished the indoor season with a team state title and a national title.