Sachem High Jumpers Set Record at Rhode Island Classic

Sachem North hoped to gain big meet experience and put up some solid results at the Rhode Island Classic. The team accomplished its goals with season-bests in many events and with a meet highlight as the high jump relay of Kristie Michta, Gabriella Czerw and Carly Swinford shattered the Rhode Island Classic record. 

The Sachem squad edged out Bay Shore by two inches to claim the new record and win the event. Michta and Czerw (in a career-best) both cleared 5’ 0”. Swinford, in her third day back with the team after a bout of pneumonia, cleared 4’ 10”.  The squad quietly celebrated breaking the school record of 14’ 2” after Swinford cleared 4’ 10 to temporarily set a new meet standard of 14’ 4”.  The trio then got back to the task at hand.  Teammates cheered loudly as Sachem took to the podium to accept their medals and first place plaque.

Sophomore sprinter Melissa Michels placed fifth in the 55-meter dash in 7.46 seconds. She ran a career-best 7.44 in trials. Minutes after finishing the 55-dash finals, Michels ran her first 300 of the season in 44.29.

Junior Kelly Lavan had a tough battle on her hands in a stacked 3,000-meter race. She used smart racing tactics and gutsy running to hold off a chase pack as she finished third in a career-best 10:49.56. 

Sophomore Sunja Joseph placed third in a career-best 35’ 4” in triple jump.  Gabriella Czerw – less than one minute after her career-best 5’ 0’” high jump – had a personal-best indoor triple jump of 33’ 8 ¼” as she placed 5th in triple jump.

Sachem broke its shuttle hurdle relay (SHR) record for the first of three times of the 2010-2011 indoor season at the 2010 Rhode Island Classic with a time of 39.22. Senior co-captain Andrea Hegarty is the only holdover from the talented squad as the team graduated Samantha Swift (SUNY Oneonta), Mishaina Joseph (Hofstra) and Krystal Cheng (Cornell). 

The 2011 squad of Hegerty, senior Rachel LaSorsa, junior Siobhan O’Gorman and freshman Nikki Fogarty ran a blazing fast (and palindromic) time of 38.83 as anchor Nikki passed Farmingdale’s anchor just before the finish line to take third by .01 seconds.  

"Outstanding performances by Sachem athletes, many who were tested under the bright lights of a big meet for the first times in their careers, made the trip to Providence, exciting, successful and fun," said Sachem coach Alex Young. "Sachem’s experience at the Rhode Island Classic will continue to pay off as Sachem looks ahead to competitive meets as it enters the second half of its season in January."