As if you needed more reasons why Sachem and race walking are forever intertwined.
Sachem East’s Holly Lindoe captured a national championship in the one-mile race walk at the New Balance National Championships at the Armory in New York City on Saturday. Her official time was 7:26.07.
A disciple of Sachem alum and Olympian Maria Michta, Lindoe has the perfect role model and mentor. Michta is also the finance of Sachem East coach Joe Coffey. It’s one big race walk family.
Michta’s younger sister Katie, a junior at Sachem North, also competed at nationals and finished fourth with a time of 7:32.84. That was good enough for All-American status as well.
Executing a perfect race plan, Lindoe maintained a position between third and fifth for much of the race, entering pursuit mode in the last three laps where she began to steadily gain on the leaders.
With 300 meters to go, having moved into second place, Lindoe began her charge, though she was still trailing race leader Katie Kang of Townsend Harris by 20 meters. From there it was all guts, with Lindoe finally pulling within striking distance on the final straightaway, and then charging to nip Kang at the line, 7:26.07 to 7:26.42.
“I just saw it and went for it,” gushed an excited Lindoe after the race. “I’m ecstatic.”
Lindoe’s performance capped an exciting weekend for Sachem East, as the 2 relays and 6 individuals competing all represented Sachem with class. Seniors Val Auciello (8:37.31) and Sarah LaPorta (8:39.78) placed 31st and 32nd, respectively also competing in the one mile Racewalk. Senior Diamond Jackson (35’1.25″) placed 20th in the Emerging Elite Shot Put.
Brittany Sepe (37’9.5″) and Taylor Kern (36’2″) both threw personal bests to grab 16th and 22nd in the Emerging Elite 20 Pound Weight Throw.
Long Island Champion Gabby Trejo competed in the Championship Weight Throw, placing 26th with a heave of 42’7″.
Sachem East’s Sprint Medley Relay team of Essence Sterling, Ashley Mercado, Allyson Figalora, and Laurie Semetsis placed 28th with a season best 4:24.30, and the Shuttle Hurdle Relay team of Shannon Haberkorn, Paige Picascio, Katy Sullivan, and Dana Tyner set a new School Record, placing 19th in a time of 36.13 that ranks them 4th in New York State.
Also competing for Sachem North was Melissa Michaels, who set a Sachem record in the 60-meter dash with a 7.95.
Natalie DeQuarto finished ninth in the one-mile race walk with a time of 7:52.07.
Sunja Joseph competed, but did not place due to a foul in the triple jump.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro