Michta, Furlani Earn All-American Honors at Track Nationals

Both Sachem North and Sachem East were represented at National Track and Field Championship competitions this past weekend with both schools celebrating All-American performances.

East distance runner Rachel Paul and East racewalkers Kelly Maranchuck, Holly Lindoe, and Sarah LaPorta traveled with North racewalkers Katie Michta and Natalie DeQuarto to Indiana University to compete in the U.S. Track and Field Junior National Championships.

The Junior Nationals is open to those under age 20, with this year's meet also serving as the qualifier for the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain. With the top 2 in every event earning a spot on the U.S. Team for Worlds and very strict qualifying standards, the fields were made up of mostly collegians- with a few high school standouts mixed in.

The Sachem contingent again demonstrated its racewalk strength with Katie Michta leading the group with her silver medal performance over the 10 Kilometer distance (6.2 miles). Maranchuck (7th), Lindoe (8th), LaPorta (11th) and DeQuarto (12th), completed the stunning Sachem showing in the event.

Unfortunately for Michta, the oppressive heat made hitting the World Championship standard impossible so she will not be going to Barcelona. But as one of the top 6, she was named All-American and selected to the Junior National Team that will compete against Canada in July. 

Maranchuck and Lindoe were named 1st and 2nd alternates to the team and are also eligible to travel to Toronto. East distance runner Rachel Paul was competing in the 1500 meter run against an elite field of 25 athletes including 3 of her future teammates from track power Georgetown.

Running a season best 4:27.39 Paul advanced from Fridays trial to Sundays final, where she placed 8th overall and was the 3rd High School athlete across the line (and 2nd from Georgetown). Meanwhile down in Greensboro, North Carolina, another National Championship was held. The New Balance National Scholastic Track and Field Championship is only open to high school athletes and draws the best from around the country other than those few elite high school athletes that met the even tougher Junior National standards.

East racewalker Alyssa Furlani completed her high school career with an outstanding race over the 1 Mile distance to place 4th and he named a high school All-American with a time of 7:50.99. North high jumper Kristie Michta (Katie's older sister) placed 17th in the Emerging Elite division of the High Jump as she cleared 5'5" in her last meet as a Sachem student.

The girls from both programs will now take a short break before beginning their buildup towards their fall sport (soccer, cross country, field hockey, volleyball, etc.) at the 6 week SYAG Conditioning Camp conducted by the Sachem Boys and Girls Coaching Staffs beginning in early July. Go to syag.com for more info.

Submitted by Pete McNeill