Seniors Lead North Girls Track to Win on Senior Day

Sachem closed out its dual meet season with a win over Lindenhurst by a score of 108-42 Tuesday. Twenty-nine North Arrows factored in team scoring as Sachem won 11 of 15 open events and swept the relays.

Sachem seniors dominated relay squads as Alyssa Smith and Danielle White ran legs 3 and 4 of the 4x100, Aprilrose Marasco led off and Andrea Hegarty anchored the 4x400 and Kristi O’Hagan and Becca Duffy ran on the 4x800.  

Kristi O’Hagan was surprised to see her name listed on the 4x800.  A sprinter and long jumper in all of her six winter and spring seasons on Sachem teams, Kristi asked Coach Young if the lineup was correct. Kristi quickly learned that she would be closing out the meet by running her first ever 800 meter distance. Kristi raced well and kept the baton in the race for the last two legs of the relay.

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Andrea Hegarty was not surprised to see her name listed as anchor on the 4x400 relay. She did have a question for Coach Young shortly before the relay took the track. “Did you know my cousin was running anchor for her team?” challenged Andrea.

Young answered in the negative as coaches do not exchange lineups in dual meets. That Alyssa Barthelmes was anchoring Lindenhurst’s 4x400 was not a surprise, though, as Alyssa is one of the top long sprinters in the county. Alyssa won the open 400 meter dash earlier in the meet and set a new Lindy record as she won the 200 meter dash today.

Andrea and Alyssa exchanged hugs and best wishes before the relay. Then they put on their game faces as the relay began. Andrea’s parents and aunt (Alyssa’s mom) were among the crowd cheering for the two anchors. Andrea took the baton from teammate Gabriella Czerw and took off like a rocket.

Andrea ran a 68.9 400 split earlier in the season but, like Alyssa, was in her third event of the day having already run both the 100 and 400 meter hurdles. Alyssa has a season-best 400 meter run time of 60.53. Would Andrea’s seven second lead be enough?

Alyssa took off in a dead sprint after her cousin after receiving her handoff. By the 200 mark, Andrea’s lead had shrunk to 4 seconds. With 100 meters to go, Andrea was showing signs of fatigue and her lead had grown smaller. Andrea lifted her knees with 50 meters to go and held on to her two second lead and crossed the finish line in a time of 66.9. The cousins were cheered loudly and Andrea and Alyssa exchanged congratulations before heading over to their combined families for hugs.  

A highlight of a Senior Day meet that stands out in a meet containing many highlights and season-bests was sophomore Melissa Michels’ win in the 100 meter dash in a time of 12.2 seconds. Melissa tied one of Sachem’s oldest records as she matched the time run by Crystal Jones in 1985.

Melissa is enjoying an outstanding sprint and long jump season and is one of the elite athletes in Suffolk County. Melissa will run the 100 meter dash at Loucks Games in White Plains on Friday as she prepares for post-season meets.

Sachem will split its squad at Loucks Games and the Bellport Invitational this weekend.

FOOTNOTES

• Senior scorers Tuesday included Kristie Michta, Danielle Dragotta, Andrea Hegarty (in three events), Becca Duffy (in two events), Jess Heymach and Lisette Martinez.
• Senior co-captain Kristie Michta won the high jump today and in undefeated in high jump in dual meet action this spring.  Senior Jess Heymach won pole vault.
• Senior Melanie Makinen career-bested in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Senior Gabriela Garcia season-bested in the 200 meter dash and long jump. Senior Lisette Martinez matched her career-best in high jump and career-bested in the 200 meter dash.
• Senior Danielle Shine ran the tough distance double of both 1500 and 3000 meters, nearly matching career-bests in both events.
• Middle distance runner and senior Becca Duffy showed her sprint speed as she placed third in the 100 meter dash in 13.6 seconds.
• Senior co-captain Aprilrose Marasco ran a season-best in the 800 meter run.
• All six seniors on Sachem three “A” relays were part of winning efforts today.
• Congratulations to the Class of 2012.  You will be missed.

Article/photos courtesy of Alex Young, head coach Sachem North girls track

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