First meet goals do not vary much from year to year for the Sachem North Flaming Arrows Girls Winter Track & Field team. The first meet allows veterans to shake out the rust and to challenge new events and for rookies to get rid of the butterflies that often accompany first-time competition on the high school team.
Coaches also look to see a team of 89 athletes behave like a team in its approach to everything from event warm-ups to veteran leadership. Coaches, team captains and veteran team members especially looked out for the 27 team rookies and others, despite outdoor track experience, who were competing in their first-ever indoor meets at both St. Anthony’s Developmental Meet (for 24 team members yesterday) and at today’s Crossover A (XO A) Meet for the entire team.
Today’s meet was even exciting for our four year veterans as all were getting their first look at the new-track Suffolk West. A fast Mondo track replaced the more than decade old rubber track. Faster times and further and higher jumps will result from the vastly improved competition surface at Suffolk West. Senior co-captain Rachel Heymach started the PB (personal-best) parade at St. Anthony’s in the high jump yesterday. Hurdlers-sprinters Emily Watson, Val Goding, Krista Goodman and Amanda Carlson, sprinters Isabel Martins and shotputter Danielle Bongiorno also PB’d yesterday.
Hurdlers Emily Watson (for the second straight day), Kayla Goodman and Alyson Harsch had PB’s in the first event of XO A. Senior Brigid Rattiger shattered her previous 3000 meter best (indoor and outdoor) with her 12:12.56 mark in the distance event. Gabriella Mott also had an indoor PB in the 3000 with her second place performance in 11:18.95.
Tatiana Arango (55 m. dash) and Krista Goodman (600 m.) PB’d in their respective events. Senior Emily Okvist PB’d at shotput with her first-ever 25’+ indoor mark. The 300 meter dash saw veterans of the long sprint in an early season test following some tough workouts designed to increase strength and sprint endurance.
Senior co-captain Alyssa Leto placed 2nd in the event. Senior co-captain Nikki Fogarty finished less than a second behind All-State sprinter Alyssa with a PB mark. Right behind Nikki were Leah Blackall, Ali Van Sicklin, Lauren Driscoll, Nicole Costanzo and Kayla Goodman with PB marks. Kaitlin Goodman, Isabel Martins, Catherine Janda and Alyson Harsch also PB’d in the event.
Racewalk veterans Kaitlin Martins, Meghan Tozza and Denise Barrera PB’s in the 800 meter racewalk dash. All-County distance runner and senior co-captain Elise Ramirez took on pacing duties for teammates in the 3000 and did not get to chase a PB in one of her best events. When Elise learned that an alternate was needed to anchor the 4×200 relay, she quickly stepped up.
“I’m bored. I need something to do,” said Elise.
Elise tore up the track in the fastest one lap split of the day for Sachem in a PB 29.3. Elise may join the sprint relay pool in future meets if she keeps getting bored like this!
The team will take some lessons from the meet that need to be learned before future contests. Most notably will be learning where break lines are (all are visibly marked with cones during races. A lack of awareness and failure to follow officials’ instructions led to DQs in the 600 and 300 meter runs. Team warm-ups and post-race warm-downs will be addressed.
Despite the crowded track conditions, pre-and post-race prep are essential parts of the meet day for us. Sportsmanship was, as expected, a highlight of the day. It was also a good day for family and friends to turn out to cheer on the North Flaming Arrows.
Sachem will continue to train through tough workouts in the early part of the competition season as it prepares for January invitationals and an exciting post-season. Sachem returns to Suffolk West for XO B next Saturday.
-Submitted by Sachem North coach Alex Young