Sachem East sophomore Lauren Harris finished her spring track and field season with a flourish earning All-American status in both the high school (grades 9-12) and junior (under age 20) classifications in consecutive weekends.
On June 27, Harris competed in the USATF Junior National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, placing sixth in the 10K (6.2 miles) Racewalk. Sachem North Alumna Katie Michta (Molloy College) placed second to also be named All-American in this event which was dominated by collegians.
Only one week earlier in Greesnboro, N.C., Harris placed second in the Mile Racewalk at the New Balance High School Nationals. Her time of 7:12.96 broke Olympian and Sachem Alumna Maria Michta’s High School Sophomore Class National Record.
Harris now possesses both the freshman and sophomore class records in the event.
Senior Jen Campbell placed eighth in the same event (8:14.41), and the quartet of Alex DeCicco, Val Romero, Rachel Ruggiero, and Jill Manfredi placed 25th in the four-by mile relay (21:35.93) to highlight the Sachem East action.
Sachem Alumna Maria Michta placed second in the 20K (12.4 miles) Racewalk in the Senior Division at the USA National Championships held concurrently with the Juniors (in which Harris placed 6th) in Eugene, Oregon.
Michta and Miranda Melville of the NYAC dueled throughout the race, with Melville pulling away in the last mile for the win. Michta will next represent the USA in the Pan American Games later this month in Toronto.
