All-Americans Honored at Sachem East

Four members of the Sachem East girls varsity track team were honored Thursday for gaining All-American status during their winter season.

Rachel Paul placed second in the two-mile run, and East's distance medley relay of Laurie Semetsis, Ally Figalora, Melanie Notarstefano, and Paul finished sixth at the New Balance National Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Armory Track and Field Center earlier this month.

“When we’re surrounded by some of the athletes we have on our team, we sometimes forget about how lofty the accomplishments are,” said Sachem East coach Dan Schaub. “These types of accomplishments start with big time goals. This is what happens when you actively work towards those big goals and the dreams that you set for yourselves. There are a select few in Sachem that have achieved that status and you’re looking at four right now.”

The quartet of Semetsis, Figalora, Notarstefano, and Paul ran brilliantly, their 11:57.06 final time crushing the old school record to become the first Sachem relay team (North or East) ever to earn All-American status, placing sixth overall as the top New York team and just seconds behind the winners from Gross Point, MI.

Paul's 4:49 split for the anchor mile set the stage for her highly anticipated two-mile championship final two days later.

“What impresses me so much is the constant dedication I see,” East Principal Dr. Rory Manning told the entire girls track squad who gathered in the Little Theater. “All-American is a big deal. Keep that in mind when you’re practicing every day. When you’re out there with blood, sweat and tears, trying to make it happen, just know that the person you’re running against or throwing against is working just has hard. You have to work hard each and every day. These four were definitely prepared when they walked to that line.”