The Sachem East girls varsity track team was outside cheering on the competitors in the First Annual Celebrity Mile Fundraiser last week. Held at the conclusion of the team’s first Saturday practice of the Spring season, this fundraiser helped raise money for the Tom Toscano Foundation, which helps the girls track team pay for meets, awards, supplies, and equipment throughout the school year.
Competitors in the first annual race were Coach Joe Coffey, Coach Pete McNeill, Coach Ashlee Ortiz, Coach Dan Schaub, Mr. Desmond (Assistant Principal, Samoset), Lindsay Lafleur (Sachem East alumni), Maria Michta (Sachem alumni and 2012 Olympian), and parents Mr. Curtin, Mr. O’Hehir, and Mrs. Rommeney. Each participant had a different staggered start time to allow for a close finish, and there was plenty at stake as each East track athlete had sold raffle tickets in the hopes of choosing the correct winner.
The sale of raffle tickets was a huge success, and there were plenty of eager parents and athletes on hand to find out who would claim the victory and thus put them in the drawing for a big prize! Athletes enjoyed watching their coaches prepare and compete, several happy daughters watched as their parents toed the line, and all were glad to see the return of successful alumni.
Seniors Frances Napoli and Anika Amin took the role of the lead timers, while veterans Shelby Trentini, Ciara Murphy, Rebecca Carroll announced the event. Each competitor was designated an athlete to get their time and lap splits. Athletes that timed were seniors Jayda Allen, Caroline Hanson, Kathleen Hempfling, Ashley Lurie, Brenna McGuire, Paige Picasco, Shannon O’Hehir, Nicole Silvestri, Amanda Sluzuski, Ashlee Rommeney, and veteran Rachel Miller.
Throughout the race, Sachem East seniors and veterans helped with starting the waves of runners, timing, announcing, organizing, and cheering on the competitors. The whole team, including parents, lined the track to cheer. Fighting through a wave of staggered starts and tons of loud cheers, Mr. Desmond claimed the first ever Celebrity Mile victory, sending each raffle with his name on it to a grand-prize drawing. The winners included Mrs. Hannigan, Jean O’Hehir, Karen Maier, and Andrea Saitta.
The team looks forward to holding this fundraiser annually. They hope to expand the race day field next year for more competitors, offer more prizes, and help to fundraise even more for the East Girls track program.
