Sachem Schools Plans Special Event For Olympic Hopeful

The Central School District will be hosting a special event to support district alum and Olympic hopeful on her way to making her dream come true this summer in London.

A walk-a-thon is scheduled for Sunday, June 10 to raise awareness of Michta’s journey to London and to bring the community together in an interesting and unique way. Registration begins at Sachem High School North at 8:30 a.m. with a race walk clinic scheduled for 9:15 a.m. and the walk-a-thon starting at 9:30 a.m.

"I couldn't think of a better way to bring together people in the community, to both raise support for my Olympic dream as well as provide an excellent opportunity to educate people about the event of race walk,” Michta said. “I am extremely thankful for all the time and effort that has gone into planning this event by the Sachem track community as well as the district at large. I take great pride in saying that I graduated from Sachem High School. After all, it's both where I learned to race walk and where my Olympic dream began.”

Michta is a 2004 graduate of Sachem High School and is the No. 1 prospect to represent the U.S. at the upcoming Summer Olympics in London in the sport of race walking. Currently, Michta is the three-time indoor National Champion and two-time outdoor National Champion. She will be competing in the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon on July 1 for the right to represent
America at this summer’s Olympic games. If she qualifies she will be the first Sachem alum to compete in the Olympics.

The school district has asked each of its 18 schools to embrace a country that has been assigned to them for the day. Students, parents and staff from each school who arrive with t-shirts decorated in their country's colors will be seated in the bleachers by their country's flag, held by a member of the Sachem track program. Students will also participate in the march onto the track behind their country's flag to the Olympic theme, and participate in the “race walk-a-thon.”

The school with the most participation from students, parents and teachers, will receive the Maria Michta Day Trophy to display in their school's showcase and have a visit from Maria herself to address students.

The Olympic distance for the race walk is 12.4 miles, which Michta averages in 7:40 per mile. She has completed a mile in 6:40, so district officials asked that buildings choose their volunteer very wisely.

“We truly believe this is the most important aspect of the day,” said Sachem Athletic Director Pete Blieberg. “Each school will be on hand to cheer their home grown talent in this celebrity mile.”

Article submitted by Chris R. Vaccaro, Sachem Schools