Sports

Mercy girls notch fifth straight league title

BILL LANDON PHOTO | Mercy junior Delina Auciello won three individual events Thursday against Port Jefferson.

The drive for five came to fruition Thursday.

The Bishop McGann-Mercy girls track & field team clinched its fifth straight League VIII championship with an 87-57 victory at Port Jefferson to finish 6-0.

Even after losing several key athletes from last year’s team, the young Monarchs complied another dominant season, winning nearly every dual meet going away.

Mercy junior Delina Auciello won three individual events against the Royals and ran the opening leg of the winning 4 x 800 relay. Battling through an illness, Auciello won the 400-hurdles (1:10.2), 800 (2:33.1) and 3,000 (12:05.4).

She opened up a big lead at the start of the 4 x 800 before Tori Barlow, Dayna Young and Meg Tuthill closed it out.

Tuthill, a freshman, had a big day as well. She won the 1,500 (5:36), took second in the 400-hurdles (1:10.4) while also running on the winning 4 x 400 relay.

Junior Danisha Carter won the 100 (13.9) and 200 (26.2). Her time in the 200 guaranteed her a spot at the state qualifiers.

The Monarchs also got first-place finishes in the 400 from sophomore Delaney Macchirole (1:03.1), the shot put from junior Jackie Spinella and the race walk from junior Colleen Edwards (9:09.4).

BILL LANDON PHOTO | McGann-Mercy freshman Meg Tuthill reaches for the baton during a relay Thursday at Port Jefferson.