Sachem North Girls Track Opens Strong Against Ward Melville

The Sachem North girls track team defeated a strong Ward Melville team by a score of 85-65 in a League 2 dual meet opener for both teams at Ward Melville on Wednesday.  

The North Arrows were strong where they expected to score big points as Sachem took 33 out of 37 points in the 100, 200, high jump and racewalk.

Kelly Lavan placed second to All-State distance runner Caroline O’Hea in the 1500 and 3000. Long and triple jumpers edged Ward Melville 10-8 and throwers traded points in discus and shotput by a score of 9-9. Ward Melville was strong in distance events as it took 20 out of 27 points in the 800, 1500 and 3000.  

Sachem scored points in mid-meet events that began to turn the tide against Ward Melville. Eighth grader Mackenzie Coleman’s third place run in the 800 prevented a Ward Melville sweep in the event. Emily Rathmann’s third place in the 200 in the next event as she chased down three Patriot rivals coming off the turn in the half-lapper giving Sachem a sweep.

Nikki Fogarty’s win in the 400 hurdles charged up her teammates as Nikki held off a Ward Melville rival.  In three straight events – the 800, 200 and 400 hurdles, Sachem took points that it needed to take control of the meet as Ward Melville was running out of events in the same manner that a baseball team runs out of outs in the late innings.

Sachem secured a team win following its victory in the 4x100 relay.  Sachem won the 4x400 as well with strong efforts from Ashley Williams and Aprilrose Marasco – both running their first events of the meet – and by Becca Duffy and Kelly Lavan.

FOOTNOTES

• Melissa Michels scored in all four events in which she was entered with a wins in the 100, 200 and 4x100 and third place in long jump.  Melissa’s time in the 100 was the fastest since 2007 (matching Gina Medici’s time).  Her 200 time was the fastest since 2008 (Ramona Carryl).
• Nikki Fogarty (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, triple jump), Kelly Lavan (1500, 3000, 4x400), Emily Rathmann (100 hurdles, 200, 4x100) and Alyssa Leto (100, 200, 4x100) each scored in three events.
• Sunja Joseph (triple jump, long jump), Kaitlyn Okvist (shotput, discus), Becca Duffy (400, 4x400) and Carly Swinford (high jump, 4x100) each scored in two events.
• Kristie Michta (5’ 4”) and Carly Swinford (5’ 2”) matched career-bests in high jump.  Lisette Martinez had a career-best in high jump (4’ 8”).  The North Arrows set another team record in high jump as 14 Sachem athletes competed in the event.
• Sachem and Ward Melville won 9 events each in the meet.  Sachem won the battle for second place points taking 11 of 15 seconds in open events.
• Coach Tom Youngs of Ward Melville was impressed with Sachem’s show of team spirit as many Sachem athletes cheered on Sachem athletes in field event areas and along the homes stretch in track events. So were Sachem coaches.

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

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