Sports

Track & Field: Busy season capped by busy meet

McGann-Mercy sophomore Meg Tuthill crosses the finish line after running the 1,500 Saturday. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)
McGann-Mercy sophomore Meg Tuthill crosses the finish line after running the 1,500 Saturday. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)

NEW YORK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

When Meg Tuhill arrived in Cicero, N.Y. for the New York State Championships, her focus centered on her first event: the 800-meter run.

Competing in two events at a state meet can be daunting enough for any runner, let alone a sophomore. 

Tuthill tried not to think about the 1,500 looming Saturday as she prepared for Friday’s race. When it was over, the reality hit. She still had a race to go.

“After the 800, I was like ‘Oh man, I got the 15 tomorrow,'” Tuthill said.

It was back to the track Saturday morning and Tuthill closed out her season by running 4 minutes 56.07 seconds at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. It was a few seconds shy of her personal best and placed her 22nd overall among all runners and 11th among all Division II runners.

The race capped a tremendous overall season for Tuthill, who qualified for states in all three season: cross country, winter and spring track.

“This was not my best weekend at all,” she said.

Tuthill said she thought the pace to start the 1,500 was good. But as the race went on, she realized she didn’t have enough left after running the 800 the previous day.

“My legs were so tight from yesterday,” she said.

Looking back on her season, Tuthill had no regrets.

“I’ve had a great season,” she said. “I would have liked to PR this weekend, but it’s been a great season overall. It just wasn’t a good weekend.”

After competing in all three running seasons, Tuthill will take a brief break before training kicks up for next fall’s cross country season.

Senior Delina Auciello closed out her career at Mercy by running the 2,000 steeplechase. She finished in 8:08.35, which off her her previous best from last week’s state qualifier of 7:41.59.

She finished 26th overall and 12th among all Division II runners.

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