Sports

2011 Top Sports Story No. 9 : Mercy track team repeats as champs

GARRET MEADE FILE PHOTO | Olivia Schumann won three individual events for Mercy in the Monarchs' win over Port Jefferson in May to clinch the league title.

After a perfect 7-0 League VII season in 2010, the McGann-Mercy girls track team came into 2011 fully expecting an encore performance.

The Monarchs did just that, bringing home a third straight league title, this time in League VIII. They did it thanks to a balanced team that featured several outstanding athletes.

The league title came down to the final dual meet in May when the Monarchs traveled to Port Jefferson. Both teams were unbeaten in league at 5-0, setting up a winner-take-all final meet.

There wasn’t much drama as Mercy ran away with its final victory, 95-54. Kayleigh Macchirole, who’s now at Wagner College, won three events for Mercy and finished second in another. “We all kind of brought our ‘A’ game today,” she said after winning the 200-meter run, shot put and discus. She was second in the 400 behind teammate Sasa Vann.

Olivia Schumann, who’s now at Dickinson College, had another terrific performance for the Monarchs despite battling shin splints. She won the 100, 400 hurdles, high jump and anchored the winning 4 x 100 relay team.

Vann went on to win the 400 in 58.32 seconds at the Division III Championship.