Two teams with two very different race plans took to the starting line in the final dual meet of the season for both teams. Sachem East, fresh off of an outstanding day at Saturday’s Manhattan College Invitational, wanted to run fast enough to win the meet and clinch a League 2 title but also leave a little in the tank for Saturday’s Championship Race at Brown Invitational. Sachem North’s approach was to get into a race.
Like East, North competed in Saturday’s Eastern States Championship Race. And North will be on the starting with East next Saturday. The advantage was to East today. But North was game.
As the race began, it was clear that East was going to allow its top guns to sit and kick. North senior Elise Ramirez would be left alone today. Elise cruised ahead of the lead pack by the halfway mark in the race on her way to a course record. Mackenzie was stalked by East’s top guns Alexandra DeCicco, Valerie Romero and Rachel Ruggiero. After the race, Mackenzie admitted it was a little unsettling to hear an East coach command to his runners “Go when you’re ready!” as the trio of East kickers made strong moves over the last quarter mile of the course.
Tactical racing by East runners kept Gabriella close to the lead pack. She began her surge with a 1000 meters to go and was in the lead pack as five runners turned onto North’s track for the final 120 meters of the race. East took places 2-4 (DeCicco, Romero, Ruggeiro) and North took 5 and 6 (Coleman, Mott). East’s Tiffany Ly placed 7th and North’s Krista Goodman took 8th. East won the meet when their fifth finisher, Caitlin O’Hehir crossed the finish line. The meet’s final score was 25-30.
Elise’s time of 19:34 bested her own Sachem course record by two seconds. Elise now holds the Sachem North sophomore, junior and senior records on Sachem’s 5K course. Her senior record set today is now the Sachem North mark. Athletes running times of 23:00 and faster are listed on Sachem North’s Top Times List. Fifteen runners earned a spot on the list today. Sachem North finished the dual meet season with a 3-2 record. Sachem East is 5-0.
Coach Rich O’Brien and his wife Debbie “Mrs. O’B” attended today’s meet. Team members rushed over to their beloved (and recently retired) coach to exchange greetings and hugs before the start of the race.
Thanks and congratulations to Sachem North’s wonderful senior squad members Elise Ramirez, Brigid Rattiger, Jean Colgan and Susan Omar. Congratulations and continued success to Sachem East’s senior squad.
-Submitted by Sachem North coach Alex Young