Strong and memorable finish to sophomore campaign for Trejo
On a hot and humid day in Middletown, N.Y, sophomore Lauren Trejo stepped to the starting line in what would go down as the fastest 1,500 meter race in New York State this year. Having only run the race three times in her career, and all in a three-week span that included a Frosh-Soph Championship and a Division Championship, Trejo entered the race with an open-mind but with her sights set on one goal: finishing on the podium at the New York State Championship meet, a feat that is rarely accomplished in the sport.
When the dust settled, and athletes staggered to the ice-cold misters awaiting them just beyond the finish line, Trejo finished 6th place in the Large School section of New York State, running a 4:42.73. Despite having run a personal-best of 4:39.36 the week before at Suffolk County’s State Qualifier, the podium finish was more than a consolation prize for Trejo who endured both a blistering early pace and a blistering hot sun.
The State Championship Meet marked the completion of a successful string of Championship Meet performances for the East Arrows Girls Track squad. In late April, they wrapped up their 4th consecutive League Championship, in mid-May they finished 4th in a hotly-contested Division Championship by scoring 66 points (behind only Longwood and Ward Melville with 78 and Bay Shore with 76), and in early June they walked away with four All-County athletes from the Section XI State Qualifier Meet, including Lindsey Dodenhoff (3,000 meters), Jasmine Ahmed (Pentathlon and Academic), Trejo (1,500 meters), and Julianna Mercado (Academic).
Standout performances from these Championship Season Meets include Dodenhoff’s 10:23.03 for 3,000 meters, Ahmed’s 2651 School-Record point total in the Pentathlon, Mercado’s 68.67 in the 400 meter Hurdles, Sabrinna Mena’s 4:58.90 in the 1500 meters, Trejo’s 2:13.27 in the 800 meters, Farah Kuchicki’s 102′ throw in the Discus, Marissa Scimeca’s 101′ throw in the Discus, Arianna Moore’s leap of 5’1″ in the High Jump, and the 4 x 800 meter Relay squad’s run of 9:34.59.