Patterson is sending 4x4 relay to state meet

The Patterson High School track and field team’s 4x400-meter relay has made quite the strides in the last six weeks.
And now, the relay will get a reward Saturday in the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Track & Field meet for classes 3A, 4A and 5A at Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge.
The Patterson track and field program was taken over by new head coach Marvin Dantzler in March. Dantzler, who also will be the school’s new football coach this fall, had a successful run in track on the prep level at his previous stop in Oklahoma.
While he said he only has worked the relay team for six weeks, he said they have trimmed around a considerable amount of time their time.
“It was just getting them to buy into, ‘hey, guys, trust me. We’re not going to work a miracle in six weeks but we can at least qualify for state,’” Dantzler said of the improvement.
The four legs of Patterson’s relay are Ian Hayes, De’Sabrian Benjamin, Dillon Giandelone and Anthony Gant. Hayes, Benjamin and Gant are seniors, while Giandelone is a junior. The team’s alternate, Shay Ragas, is a senior, too.
The team is seeded sixth at state after running a 3:32.43 at regionals.
However, the team achieved their personal record at the District 8-3A meet with a 3:31.73.
Obviously, the team’s goal at state is another PR, as Dantzler said he would like to see his team run under the 3:30 mark.
Field events start at 10 a.m. Saturday for all classes, while running will commence at 2:30 p.m.