New U-D Jesuit relay team sets records in league meet

The quartet of U-D Jesuit runners who broke league records together on Saturday, May 9 had not run together in a race all spring, but they had a pretty good idea of the potential they shared.

In the first race of the Catholic League Bishop Division championship meet at Detroit Catholic Central High School, the Cubs' potential shone through.

The quartet of junior Justin Mkrtumian, sophomore Nick Formosa, sophomore Aaron Wilson and sophomore Eli Kujawski set the Catholic League record and shattered the U-D Jesuit school record with a time of 7:54.14 in the 4x800 relay.

It was the first time the Cubs had run a sub-8-minute 4x800 relay, according to coach Carl Brock, since he began coaching in 2011. Their time beat their previous best this season by 18 seconds.

"I feel like absolute crap, but it's worth it," said Wilson, the anchor leg, after the race.

U-D Jesuit junior Justin Mkurtumian, sophomore Nick Formosa, sophomore Aaron Wilson and sophomore Eli Kujawski set a league record in the 4x800 relay on Saturday, May 9 at Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School.

As Wilson made the final turn into the home stretch, he found himself alone on the track. The closest relay teams to U-D Jesuit were nearly 30 seconds behind. The Cubs teammates crowded the track and ran alongside Wilson over the final 50 meters before erupting into celebration.

When the official times popped up on the Catholic Central video board, the team celebrated together again.

"I'm just so proud of everyone," Formosa said. "This run really reflected the work that we've been putting in over the past couple of months."

Those four runners have all participated in the relay at earlier points of the season, but Brock decided to put his best lineup together for the league championship as they prepare for the regional and state meets.