Sachem moved to the starting line for its final pre-race run-outs 5 minutes before the race start. Along the starting line were three of the nation’s top teams. Four teams on the line were ranked #1 in their state. Four were ranked No. 2.
Sachem knew the records and achievements of all of the 26 teams in the Eastern States Championship Race. The North Arrows would have been among the race favorites in any one of the six Varsity races to follow Eastern States at today’s 41st annual running of the Manhattan College Invitational.
Coaches made a decision to enter the Eastern States Championship Race to test the team’s strength and mettle against some of the top teams in the nation. Respectful of but unfazed by their all-star competition, co-captains Dowon Hwang, Oriana Howell, Elise Ramirez and teammates Katie Michta, Mackenzie Coleman, Monica Abrams and Gabriella Mott waited for the starter’s pistol in Sachem’s most exciting race since the 1998 county championship season.
Sachem knew that it was also racing every team in the Varsity races to follow. State rankers would look at merge results of the entire meet to see how all NYS teams at the meet stacked against each other. In a race preview article, Perry King of ny.milesplit.com commented that Sachem “will be looking to get fired up for a top 15 place at [Eastern States].” The North Arrows were also fired up to beat some of the Top 25 Class A teams ranked ahead of Sachem for most of the fall season. Sachem’s varsity squad knew where they stood against each of the other runners in their race. Speed ratings were studied over the past two days.
Packs would develop during the race. The start would be faster than anything the team had experienced all season. Sachem harriers would help each other move through the course. Except for Elise Ramirez. She would have to mix it up with some of the nation’s top runners at the sound of the starter’s gun if she was to be positioned to have the race she and her coaches believed she could have today. A poor start for Elise would be difficult to overcome in the roller coaster-like back woods section of Van Cortlandt Park’s 2.5 mile course.
Elise was in the top 35 as she approached the 1000 meter mark and the bridge crossing into the back woods – a great race start and a look of focus and determination as she passed Coach Young and spectators roaring encouragement at the racers. Mackenzie Coleman, Katie Michta and Dowon Hwang led the rest of Sachem’s runners across the bridge seconds later. The next 2000 meters of the race would take place in near solitude as few spectators wanted to miss the exciting finishes of the race. Sachem’s attack against rivals would begin in the back woods. Elise moved up steadily in this section.
Mackenzie – in her first race at Van Cortlandt Park in her third season on the team – passed more runners than she could count in this loop. Mackenzie was the last Sachem runner to arrive at the meet today. She swam two races with her swim club at Eisenhower Park’s pool this morning. Coaches had been aware of Mackenzie’s commitment to the swim meet all season and knew that the five hours between races would not be a problem for Mackenzie. Katie and Dowon moved through the back woods only seconds and a few spots behind Mackenzie.
Eighth grader Gabriella Mott was one of the last runners to enter the trails just over three hundred meters from the start. Gabriella began a relentless pursuit of rivals as she moved up the incline leading to the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass. Gabriella would continue passing rivals in the back woods with teammates Oriana and Monica close behind.
Elise emerged from the back woods in pursuit of more rivals. Her eyes were locked on the jerseys of several runners as she passed Coach Young and other spectators with only 600 meters to go. Young’s calls of encouragement to Elise and the rest of the Sachem squad may or not of been heard by any of the girls. Coach O’Brien and the rest of the Sachem team were near the finish line. Their cheers would be heard above so many others packing the finish line area. Elise finished 27th in the race. Elise was the #49 runner in the race based on pre-race speed ratings. Coach Young and O’Brien believed that Elise could be a top 30 finisher today. She achieved that goal as she ran the fastest time of any Suffolk County runner at today’s meet.
Mackenzie, Katie and Dowon continued their own race battles as they tore through the downhill section leading back into the park’s flats leading to the finish line. Mackenzie is not considered to be one of our kickers in close-to-finish line battles. She knows that she needs to sap the strength out of rival kickers earlier in her races with strong race efforts. Mackenzie was not passed by any runners in the flats leading to the finish. “I had a kick today,” Mackenzie said with a small smile after her race. Gabriella’s finish – she was the fifth finisher for Sachem – 18 seconds after Dowon crossed the finish line sealed Sachem’s scoring fate for Eastern States as the top five finishers determine the team score. Gabriella’s finish along with that of her teammates would also impact Sachem’s merge score and NYS rankings in the week to follow.
Coaches studied race results of all varsity races following the conclusion of the meet today. While some of NYS Class A top 25 did not compete at Manhattan College today, most did. Sachem ran a better team average than eleven teams ranked in the top 25 including #10 Shaker High School and #11 Monroe-Woodbury High School. Sachem also picked off #14, #16, #18 and every team from #20-25. The varsity squad – 17th in team scoring in Eastern States – had an outstanding race in its biggest race of the season to date.
When merge results were posted, Sachem North received the exciting news that the North Arrows were the top Long Island team at Van Cortlandt Park’s historic course today. A team that has been on the outside looking in on NYS team ranking list stood out today as it bested all Long Island rivals as well as other powerhouse team from around the state.
JV races were equally exciting today. The JV “A” squad was in the lightning fast JV C Race today. Rookie sophomore Emily Lin had her finest race of the season as her 7:12 per mile pace was more than 20 seconds faster than any other race pace in previous races. Emily (49th) and race teammate senior Patricia Romano (67th) earned top 75 medals awarded to all runners in every race today as they led Sachem to an 11th place finish in the JV C race. Patricia ran a career-best per mile pace (7:21) in her best-ever race for Sachem.
Hailey Lynch was Sachem’s lone entrant in the Frosh C Race today. She stood at the starting line with the same stoic look of determination seen in all her races this season. Freshman races at Manhattan College Invitational – only 1.25 miles long – are more like sprints than distance races. Hailey bolted at the sound of the starter’s pistol and ran her best race of the season. Hailey earned Sachem’s first medal of the day in our first race of the day 8:54.1 (7:07 per mile pace) after the race began to team cheers.
Sachem has two tests next against Ward Melville on Tuesday (Senior Day at Sachem North’s 5K course) and at the Brown University Northeast XC Championships in Warwick, RI next Saturday before beginning its post-season meets.
-Submitted by Sachem coach Alex Young