The Bristol Central boys 4×100-meter relay of senior Pat Kjornrattanawanich, senior Dathan Hickey, sophomore David Bowes and senior Nigel West has been through an incredible season together.
Medals have been won and records have fallen in their wake. On Saturday, the Ram relay team reached a whole different level of exposure and accomplishment. Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West represented Bristol Central in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor high school championship meet at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.
The Ram relay competed against some of the best teams around the country on the Division I track at Aggie Stadium. Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West combined for a time of 42.67 seconds, the 34th best in the country. Their time beat out fellow state schools Hartford Public and Danbury. The Ram relay just missed its school record of 42.64 seconds, which happened when they came in second at the State Open on June 4.
“BC T&F 4×100 meter relay rocked at NBNO Nationals! 34th in the nation and just off their own school record. We are so proud of these boys!” read a tweet from Bristol Central coach Tamara Stafford-Kirk.
Those sentiments were echoed by fellow Ram coach Kiara Bonilla.
“Great race for the 4×100 relay at the NBNO Championship race! Way to finish strong!!” Bonilla tweeted.
It’s been an amazing journey for Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West. There was a win in front of all of Bristol at the 3rd Greater Bristol Invitational on April 27 at Bristol Eastern High School. The quartet won the 4×100 relay at the 87th Greater Hartford Outdoor Invitational on May 13, which helped the Bristol Central boys claim the team championship.
After a silver at the CCC South Championships and bronze at the Class L meet, the Ram 4×100 put together a strong effort for another silver medal at the State Open. Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West ran a 42.64, which broke the 2002 record of 42.67 established by Tim Washington, Elisha Zabel, current BC track coach Kevin Taylor and Stephon Jordan. The 2002 4×100 relay also ran their record time at the State Open.
Next up for the 2018 version of the boys 4×100 was the 73rd New England Interscholastic Track & Field Championship meet on June 9 at the University of New Hampshire. Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West ran a 42.81 and beat out three other Connecticut relays in the race, includintg the Bunnell one that took first at the State Open ahead of them.
The final run of the season for Kjornrattanawanich, Hickey, Bowes and West came on Saturday at the national meet. Before that could happen, a GoFundMe account was created and T-shirts were sold to help pay for the expenses of the trip to North Carolina. The Ram relay made their final run together, and they made the Bristol Central community proud.
