At the State meet the only relay run until 1968 was the 880 yard Relay (4X220).
In 1968 the 880R was dropped and the 440y Relay & Mile Relay replaced that event as the official relays for the state meet.
Those races changed to our current metric races (400R & 1600R) were the only non exhibition relays until the 3200 relay was added in 2023.
So the 3200 or 2 mile relay have always been just exciting and fun bonus races like the sprint and distance medleys until then.
One of the major producers of fast 2 mile relays have come from the Santa Rosa Relays.
Eight of the fastest local 3200’s were run at the SR Relays. That meet started in 1966 when the Santa Rosa JC put in a new rubberized track, which was state of the art at the time. Over the next few years the SR Relays became one of the major relays in all of California, even drawing schools from out of state. 1991 was the last year for that meet to run.
The first truly outstanding local 2 mile relay happened at this meet in 1967.
Far behind an incredible Pittsburg high team that broke the meet record and stadium record, held by Modesto JC, they ran 7:50.5 for 2 miles or about 7:48.01 for the 3200. In second, with what is still a top all-time top 40 time mark, was Montgomery. The team of Gary Silveira, Dave Gott, Bill Matz and Joe Shelton ran 8:11.7 or a converted 8:09.09.
That mark held as the Empire record until 1971, at the same meet, when the Santa Rosa foursome of Steve Holmes, Mike Fitzgerald, Manuel Mendoza 2:00.9y and Joe DeDora ran 8:08.2y.
Two years later, 1971, at the SR Relays a Petaluma team came close to breaking 8 minutes with an 8:01.6 clocking. At 3200 it would have been the first as it converts to 7:59.05.
The following year at the meet was the biggy.
The team of Jim Judd, Dan Aldridge, Phil Bond and Jon Sisler destroyed the field and the Empire record with a 7:52.7, converts to 7:50.10 for 3200. And the amazing thing was they ran virtually alone as second place was back at 8:21.1.
Aldridge was a junior that year and finished the season with a 1:54.0 880 best. Aldridge would end his senior year with a 1:50.3y best and 2nd at state. Sisler broke the individual 2 mile record that year with a 9:14.8. Judd and Bond were both sub 2 minute 880 runners.
That mark lasted 52 years.
With the state meet adding this event in 2023 it slowly picked up around here but took off in 2025.
Of the current 50 fastest times ever run 10 are from 2025 (Analy 7, Maria Carrillo, Casa Grande and Vintage 1 each).
Then came this season with 11 of the top 50 times. (Maria Carrillo 7, Analy 4)
Early on came attempts at the record.
7:57.88 Maria Carrillo 3/14/26 Gaucho Relays-Rath, Petrik, Kearns, Jones
7:54.32 Maria Carrillo 4/10/26 Arcadia-Rath 2:00.40, Treinen 2:01.05, Petrik 1:58.89, Jones 1:54.01
7:59.79 Analy 4/10/26 Arcadia-Dawson 1:57.27, Gonsalves 2:01.26, Dickson 2:04.95, Holman 1:56.31
5/5/26 NBL finals saw
7:51.19 Maria Carrillo Rath 1:56.5, Cochrane 2:00.2, Petrik 2:00.2, Jones 1:54.2
8:05.63 Analy Dickson, Holman, Dawson, Gonsalves
5/16/26 NCS Redwood produced
8:01.32 Analy Dawson, Holman, Gonsalves, Dickson
8:07.78 Maria Carrillo Rath, Cochrane, Petrik, Jones
After NCS Redwood meet the Puma boys decided to make their attempts at qualifying for state all in the relay and those that had a chance to make it in individual events dropped those to save themselves for the relay.
Then FINALLY at the NCS MOC the Pumas took down the long standing record Empire record and the meet record.
7:49.68 Maria Carrillo Rath 1:59.41, Cochrane 2:00.18, Petrik 1:57.67, Jones 1:52.42
7:53.39 Analy Dickson 1:59.71, Gonsalves 2:00.08, Holman 1:57.81, Dawson 1:55.79
Video: Watch Boys NCS Meet of Champions 4×800 meter relay
At state they too came close again.
7:51.06 Maria Carrillo placed 10th with Rath 1:57.79, Petrik 2:00.63, Cochrane 1:58.69, Jones 1:54.03
Lowered record again at 6/20/26 Nike Nationals
7:49.54 Maria Carrillo Cochrane 1:59.23, Rath 1:56.56, Petrik 2:00.43, Jones 1:53.32
Boys 3200m Relay Top Performances
Evolution of Empire record
2 Mile Relay
8:46.4 Sonoma Valley 1961
8:39.8 Montgomery 1962
8:11.7 Montgomery 1967 Gary Silveira, Dave Gott, Bill Matz, Joe Shelton
8:08.2 Santa Rosa 4/17/71 SR Relays Steve Holmes, Mike Fitzgerald, Manuel Mendoza 2:00.9y, Joe DeDora
8:01.6 Petaluma 4/14/73 SR Relays
7:52.7 Petaluma 4/20/74 SR Relays Jim Judd, Dan Aldridge, Phil Bond, Jon Sisler, avg 1:57.53 = to 7:50.10 3200m Relay
3200 meter Relay
7:49.68 Maria Carrillo 5/22/26 NCS MOC Rath 1:59.41, Cochrane 2:00.18, Petrik 1:57.67, Jones 1:52.42
7:49.54 Maria Carrillo 6/20/26 Nike Nationals-Cochrane 1:59.23, Rath 1:56.56, Petrik 2:00.43, Jones 1:53.32, avg 1:57.39