Melissa Michels broke the Sachem North 100-meter dash record in the finals at the Suffolk Coaches Track & Field Invitational at Bay Shore High School this past weekend.
Skies were clear and sunny and there was a gentle tailwind blowing as Michels waited for the starter’s commands at the 100-meter finals in lane four. North Babylon senior Teena Mobley waited in the lane to her right in a highly anticipated showdown between two of New York State’s top sprinters.
Both sprinters got off to strong starts. As Michels and Teena approached the halfway mark of the race, the rest of the field seem to fall back as the middle lane sprinters took command of the race and continued a fierce battle down the track. For a moment, Michels seemed to nudge ahead but Teena got right back on Melissa’s shoulders and outleaned her as the two surged across the finish line to loud cheers from athletes and spectators that filled the bleachers and ringed the track. She took second in the race in a time of 11.9 as she shattered her own record set at Loucks Games in her sophomore season (5/11/12).
Sachem had an outstanding day at Suffolk Coaches despite the absence of the Senior Trip-missing Class of 2013. Only one senior – Kelly Ingarra – made the trip with Sachem, which won five events. Event winners include Nikki Fogarty (Frosh-Soph 100 m. hurdles), Alyssa Leto (Frosh-Soph 400 m.), Rachel Heymach (Frosh-Soph pole vault), Open Texas Relay (800 m. SMR) and Frosh-Soph Texas Relay “A” squad. Silver medalists include Melissa Michels (Open 100 m. Dash), Frosh-Soph long jump Kelly Gardner, Open 1500 m. race walk Katie Michta and Frosh-Soph Texas Relay “B” squad.
Sachem resumes its League II dual meet schedule following last week’s bye week with Long Island’s biggest meet of the week versus the Connetquot T-Birds on Thursday, April 18.
FOOTNOTES
- Elise Ramirez placed third in the 1500 m. after unleashing a fierce kick to overtake three rival runners in last 100 meters of her race.
- Frosh-Rookie long jumper Leah Blackall placed fifth in Frosh-Soph long jump with the first 15’+ (15’ ¼”). Kelly Gardner placed 2nd with her 15’ 9 ½” jump. Coach Young declared that Kelly’s leap is the equivalent of Kelly leaping over any three of her team’s 5’ 3” tall teammates – jumps always sounds more impressive with a good visual!
- Sprinter Kimberly Longboat suffered a severe case of track burn as she was wiped out by a rival who ran outside her lane and knocked over Kimberly in the 100 m. dash. The collision had the force of an open field tackle and Kimberly’s legs, hips, hands and arms took the force of the fall on Bay Shore’s hard track. Thanks to the Bay Shore trainer who took good care of Kimberly. Our wounded team member showed great courage in the aftermath of her fall as she suffered a variety of injuries from a painful hand and wrist injury to other bruises and abrasions.