Sachem’s final meet of the indoor season – New Balance Indoor Nationals – and final trip into New York’s City’s historic Armory track and field center produced an All-American, a school record and three career-bests.
Junior Alyssa Leto set a new Sachem record on Day 1 of New Balance Indoor Nationals with a 7.88 second 60 meter dash. Alyssa broke the record set by senior teammate Melissa Michels last year. Alyssa showed great closing speed as she placed second in her semi-final heat.
This was Alyssa’s third school record in her junior indoor season. Alyssa set a new 55 meter dash record at the Long Island Invitational (7.21) and broke it again at the NYS Indoor Track and Field Championship Meet (7.17). Alyssa led off the school record and NYS #6 4×200 meter relay at Eastern States (1:44.16). Congratulations on a great indoor season, Alyssa.
Sachem’s racewalk squad stepped up to the starting line with lofty goals. Seniors Katie Michta (fourth appearance at Nationals) and Natalie DeQuarto (third appearance at Nationals) were joined by sophomore teammate Kaitlin Martins who was competing in her first Nationals meet.
That three Sachem athletes were in a Nationals field of seventeen was already impressive. Katie went with the pre-race favorite (Ashleigh Resch) at the gun and the two were locked in a neck and neck battle for much of the race. Katie placed second in the race in a career-best time (7:22.67) and earned All-American honors for the third straight year. Natalie DeQuarto (7:36.46) turned in a career-best time by nearly 16 seconds as she had her best place finish in her third Nationals race.
Kaitlin Martins’ strong race (7:56.76) gave Sachem three of the top twelve racers on the day and demonstrated that Sachem’s long history of successes in race walk at the local, state and national level will continue.
-Submitted by Sachem Coach Alex Young