North Girls Track Passes Mid-Season Test at Suffolk Coaches

The North Arrows hit the mid-season mark at Saturday's Suffolk Coaches Meet held at Bay Shore High School.

While several athletes were being tested at new events, most team members were entered in events in which they had competed in previous meets.

There were some outstanding performers as measured by a team medal ceremony at the conclusion of the meet. Gold medalists included Nikki Fogarty (Frosh-Soph 100 m. hurdles), Alyssa Leto (Frosh/Soph 100 m.), Sunja Joseph (Frosh/Soph long jump), Katie Michta (Frosh/Soph 1500 m. racewalk) and Oriana Howell (Frosh/Soph 3000 m.).  

Silver medalists included Nikki Fogarty (Frosh/Soph triple jump) and Melissa Michels (Open 100 m. dash). Bronze medalists include Kristie Michta (Open high jump), Gabriella Czerw (Frosh/Soph high jump) and Natalie DeQuarto (Frosh/Soph 1500 m. racewalk). Sachem also earned top 6 spots in five other events against outstanding Suffolk and Nassau County competition. Athletes ran, jumped and threw to 45 season-bests today. Not a bad mid-season review.

Sachem begins the busy part of its meet schedule next week with 12 meet days over the next 4 ½ weeks. The foundation built by athletes in the first half of the season will be tested against a very competitive League 2 dual meet schedule as well as national-class invitationals.  Go Arrows!

FOOTNOTES

• North’s distance squad continues to impress as Kelly Lavan had a career-best in the 1500 m. Teammates Mackenzie Coleman, Elise Ramirez and Katie Michta blasted around the track in their 1500 m. section.  Oriana Howell had a career-best by 34 seconds in the 3000. Brooke Foltmann led Sachem’s 800 m. squad with a personal-best.
• Sprinters flexed their muscles with 17 season-best times in the 100 m. dash alone.
• Soph Gabriella Czerw returned to track and field action for the first time since fracturing her wrist in February where she left off in the winter season as she cleared 5’ 0” in high jump.  
• Rookie pole vaulters showed promise of future success as three rookies cleared opening height or better in the Frosh/Soph division.  Soph Katie Pfeil had a personal-best (PB) in the event. Madalyn Iadanza drew some “oohs” as she almost cleared 7’ 6” on her third attempt only to strike and knock down the crossbar with her shoulder on her turn.
• The Open and Frosh/Soph divisions of the racewalk competed simultaneously on the track with the senior circuit racing on the outside three lanes and the Frosh/Sophs racing on the inside three lanes. Spectators cheered as Katie Michta closed the stagger on her last straightaway and chased down all open racewalkers as she had the fastest time of the day for all three racewalk divisions.
• Emily Rathmann, Sunja Joseph and Melissa Michels medaled in three events today. Kelly Lavan, Alyssa Leto and Nikki Fogarty medaled in two events each.

Article and photos courtesy of Alex Young, head coach of the Sachem North girls track and field team

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