League Champions: Sachem East Girls Track and Field

The Sachem East girls track and field team wrapped up an undefeated season, taking home the League II crown with a 100-50 win over Ward Melville on Tuesday.

With the meet at home, and the senior day celebration awaiting the outcome, the oportunity for this storied group of seniors to showcase their talents was laid out like the red carpet at the Academy Awards. Fitingly, they put on quite a show.

Rachel Paul was the only two event winner, taking the 1500 and 800, but three other seniors also won their events. Kelly Maranchuck won the 1500 racewalk, Danielle Vasquez the 3000, and Sam Maurice took the high jump. Sam Eng ran a lifetime best to place 2nd in the 55 hurdles, Pam Emengo placed 2nd in the discus, and Alysssa Furlani closed out a racewalk sweep with a 3rd place finish. 

Certainly one of the highlights of the meet was watching manager Carly Freeman run a leg of the 4 by 400 relay. With her teamates cheering wildly in the stands, Carly's mixed expression of joy and pain will long be remembered. As will that of Ady Vierling and Dana Cody who also ended their day in the featured 4 by 4 relay!

Seniors featured in the throws were Elora Phillips and Jen Artusa, while Amanda Catherall also pulled double duty competing in both the racewalk and 4 by 800 relay. Gabby D'Angelis and Alyssa Picascio both ran legs on the 4 by 100 relay, with D'Angelis clearing 7'6" in the pole vault and A Pic hitting a season best 13.7 in the 100. All in all, a great day for the seniors and an exceptional curtain call in their last home meet.

Pacing the underclass women was Maddy Egan, who won the long jump and placed 2nd in the high jump, and the throwing squad of Brittany Sepe, Gabby Trejo, and Diamond Jackson who scored 17 of 18 possible points in the shot and disc. Ashley Mercado and Ebonie Lewis both broke 13 in the 100, and Meaghan Murphy impressed with a 72.1 2nd place finish in the 400 hurdles behind speedster Ally Figalora's win.

Also scoring points were Essence Sterling, who won the triple jump, and Amanda Sluzewski, Christina Schretzman, Paige Picascio, Holly Lindoe, Amanda Zaput, Laurie Semetsis, Nicole Silvestre, and Jess Tracy.

Congratulations to the entire team for an outstanding dual meet season, marked not only by great performaces, but by demonstating class and sportsmanship at all times.

The team will be competing in two invitationals this coming weekend, the elite Loucks Games in White Plains, and the John Glenn Invitational in Elwood, as they gear up for the Division Championship meet in just two weeks.

Also on the schedule for next week is an opportunity to perform community service as the girls get to serve as meet officials at the district wide Charlie Johnson Memorial Track Meet, open to all elementary and middle school students in the district. The Charlie Johnson Meet is the major fundraiser for the Charlie Johnson Scholarships, awarded annually by the Sachem School District in memory of this much loved teacher and coach.

Article courtesy of Pete McNeill, Sachem East girls track coach

Have photos/info on Sachem sporting events? Email them to ryan@patch.com