Open to the state qualifiers and top non-qualifiers from Nassau, Suffolk, and the CHSAA, the Long Island Elite Invitational allows the qualifiers for the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships an opportunity to not only get one more high level effort, but a chance to be named to the All-Long Island Team.
This years meet, held on Friday evening at St Anthony’s, featured many of New York’s best with multiple girls from Sachem East and Sachem North competing.
Sachem North News and Notes
Junior Sunja Joseph hit one pre-season goal when she set a school record in the triple jump on her third jump of the competition eclipsing the mark set by Nichole Vickers in 1994 by one inch. Sunja is now tied for the No. 11 TJ spot in NYS.
Melissa Michels won the 55 m. Dash and had the fastest time in the prelims but the buzz about Melissa meet day in Sachem’s team area was about her long jump. Melissa placed 4th in long jump but that was not the topic of excited discussion. Melissa 17’ 8 ½” leap was a foot longer than her previous best and is currently the #8 long jumper in NYS. Melissa is the #3 all-time jumper for Sachem – behind Crystal Jones (1985) and Raymona Carryl (2008). Each of Melissa three trial round jumps were PBs.
Katie Michta had a season-best and Natalie DeQuarto had a PB as the Nationals-bound race walkers placed 5th and 6th respectively in an exciting race.
Elise Ramirez had a PB in the Frosh-Soph 1500 m. run. Elise leapfrogged 6 runners on our team’s Top 25 list and is now No. 11 all-time for Sachem (behind #10 Keira Wood). Elise is the top soph on the all-time 1500 list. A short time after the 1500 m., Elise anchored Sachem’s 4×200 relay with a 28.6 split. The 1:51.75 relay time was No. 4 for the season and #18 all-time for Sachem. Is there a 100 m. dash in Elise’s future?
Carly Swinford matched her career-best with her 3rd place 5’ 2” high jump. Better for Carly was that she had no misses through her 5’ 2” jump had had two good attempts at 5’ 4”.
Sachem East News and Notes
Sachem East’s four state qualifiers all turned in excellent performances. Amanda Zaput equalled her season best of 9’6″ to place fourth in the Pole Vault. Diamond Jackson placed 2nd in the Shot Put (37′ 3.5″), and Holly Lindoe earned the title of Long Island Champion winning the 1500 Meter Racewalk in 6:52.33. Lindoe is currently ranked 2nd in New York State. Laurie Semetsis, state qualifier in the 600, led off the 4 by 800 relay and teamed with Shannon O’Hehir, Katie Hempfling, and Casey Gelderman to place 3rd with a 10:00.13 clocking.
Also earning the Long Island Champion honor was Weight Thrower Gabby Trejo (44’4″) who is currently ranked 10th in NYS. Just behind Trejo were Brittany Sepe (3rd, 36’10”), and Taylor Kern (fourth, 36’6″). Sepe also placed 6th in the Shot Put (35’5.25″) to be named All-Long Island in two events.
Sachem East also turned in an excellent performance in the 4 by 200 meter relay, just missing the school record, as Ebonie Lewis, Shannon Haberkorn, Ashley Mercado, and Essence Sterling teamed to place 5th in a season best 1:49.93. Karli Murphy placed 6th in the Frosh-Soph 1500, also posting a season best (5:05.30), as did Rebecca Carroll in the Frosh-Soph 300, posting 46.56. And although Sachem East’s top hurdler Shannon Haberkorn time of 9.28 in the 55 Hurdles was not a season best, her teammates in the 5th ranked 3 by 55 Hurdle Relay squad both hit personal bests with Paige Picascio timed in 9.13, and Katie Sullivan running a 9.51.
Jackson, Zaput, Semetsis, and Lindoe will be traveling upstate to Cornell University on Friday, with the State Championships taking place on Saturday.