North Girls Track Finishes Third in League II

The Bay Shore and Northport teams provided the big challenges for Sachem North's girls winter track and field program at Suffolk County Community College this Sunday morning. North coach Alex Young was not surprised that those teams ended their proper seasons where they did (Bay Shore won with 157 points, Northport took second with 124), but he expressed pride in the Arrows performances that let it take third place (72 points) in League II.

Keira Wood, who had reset two school records at the New Balance Games on January 22, came away with the win in the 600-meter run (1:39.40), exploding ahead on the final stretch to clock in first.

"She moved up to the lead and didn't give up for one of her best times of the season," said Young.

Teammate Stephanie Richer scored in several events: The senior anchored the 4 X 200-meter relay team with Shanice Futrell, Melissa Michels, and Rachel Steinberg (1:53.49), grabbed fourth in the triple jump (34' 8 3/4") and took sixth in the 55-meter dash (7.84 seconds). Scoring in the other two relays, The other two teams for the 4 X 400-meter and the 4 X 800-meter placed third and fourth respectively.

Other second placements included freshman runner Katie Michta, who finished just behind Bay Shore senior Jennifer Halloran in the 1,500-meter race walk (7:24.83). In the high jump, Kristie Michta cleared 5' 1" for a second-place and season-best performance, just ahead of teammate Carly Swinford's third-place jump (also 5'1", placed third due to number of attempts) that matched her season best. Shot putter Brittany Wienclaw threw a second-place distance of 30' 7".

"We picked a good day to put our best foot forward," said Young, adding that pacing the team's peaking was crucial. "The girls prepared, despite the weather challenges, and it was good to see them handle the pressure."

Fourth placements included Samantha Swift in the 55-meter hurdles (9.50 seconds) and Shanice Futrell in the long jump (15' 8 1/2"). Kelly Lavan took sixth place in the 3,000-meter run, timing 11:07.60.

At the pole vaulting meet held at Shoreham Wading River High School Jan. 31, which was rescheduled due to inclement weather, Kayla Cataldo had her best clearance of the season, going 9' 6". Young said Cataldo's performance gives the senior a very solid chance for the upcoming state qualifiers - a big confidence boost given that training is made more difficult without a true indoor setup.

Gearing up over the last two days for Saturday's county championships, where a lot of North athletes qualified, Young's outlook was positive. More athletes would be attending the county championship than it the last few years, and the recent delays and cancellations on account of snow storms allowed North to fine-tune its approach.

"This will determine what happens for the state qualifier," he added, highlighting the team's capabilities in relays. "For a lot of the girls, going to counties sets up their next race. If they go one more week, it's because they ran or threw for their life."

Both North and East traveled to the Section XI Girls Large School Championships at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood Saturday, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.