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How this Druid Hills High School relay team smashed the state record - twice

The girls 4x1 team is lighting up the track at Druid Hills High School, inspiring athletes and fans across the state.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Fast off the blocks and flying around the track, Druid Hills High School senior Sanaa Frederick sprints to meet the challenge.

"I feel the force, the power. I think the pressure makes me want to go harder," Frederick said. 

She opens the race in the girls' 4x1 relay, handing off to Jadyn Bolden.

The athletes add up win after win by counting on each other. The girls' 4x1 team smashed the state record and then broke it again just before they headed to the state finals.

"Our chemistry works; we know each other on and off the track, so we know each other's speed," said Bolden. 

Handing off to legs 3 and 4, the girls are first to the finish.

"It takes about 100% of your dedication. It taught me a form of discipline that I wouldn't have got in any other sport or going to school," said sprinter and long jumper Miya Carthan. 

Credit: 11Alive

Their coach said she witnessed that dedication every day.

"The work ethic increased, the intensity, the drive - they were hungry, they just wanted success. They continued to believe in themselves," said Head Coach Henrietta George. 

She has believed in them since freshman year when they started running together. She's built the team slowly and now coaches the fastest female high school athletes in Georgia.

"No one really believed that Druid Hills High School had a track and field team that would break records," said George. 

She said the team always had the talent to succeed, even when the training was off track.

"No, we do not have a track at the high school. It is a circle of asphalt - no lanes, no markings," she said.

George said this lot shows their commitment — leaving the high school after a long day of class to get on a bus and head to the middle school to train.

The coach said the girls drive each other.

"It's really fun. In practice, we are always going head-to-head, so it's really good competition," said Sole Frederick.

"When we run, it's identical; the times are exactly the same," said Sanaa Frederick. 

The exact same. Sanaa and Sole are twins.

Sole runs the last leg, Sanaa runs the first - and yes, she’s older by a minute. They succeed together.

"Me and my sister represent Trinidad and Tobago and we are going in June to run the trials and hope to make it to the Olympics," said Sole.

Caribbean Sports Channel SportsMax captured the twins competing at a recent event.

The girls' father ran professionally for the country and coaches their relay team now.

"It just feels great to make him proud," said Sanaa.

George said all of the girls should be proud of themselves for how long they have worked to run this fast.

"It shows others that if you believe, work hard, stay the course, trust the process, you can make it to the Olympics. Your dreams of being an Olympian can come true," said George. 

The team will compete in the state championship in Albany, Georgia in May. 

All of the girls will run for Division I colleges next year. 

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