MOKANE - About 48 hours before its state title would make school history, the South Callaway girls' 400-meter relay took a short but necessary trip.
While practicing handoffs on the track at Lincoln University's Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City on May 16, the day before the start of the Class 2 state track and field championships, two members of the relay - sophomore Paige Brown and junior Bailey Ward - had a simple request.
The pair, who team on the relay with junior Taylor Howard and sophomore Hannah Oberdiek, wanted to walk over to the first turn on the third lane. It was there that a botched handoff between Brown and Ward disqualified the Lady Bulldogs' same 400 relay at the 2012 state championships.
Once they reached that turn a week ago, Brown completed a symbolic handoff of the baton to Ward.