Track and Field: SWR’s McDonnell races to 800 title at sectional meet
SECTION XI INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/STATE QUALIFIER
Shannon McDonnell of Shoreham-Wading River clocked the second-fastest time she has ever run in the 800 meters to finish in first place in the Section XI Individual Championships/state qualifier at Port Jefferson High School on Friday. McDonnell, a senior, overtook Bay Shore senior Danielle Rowe and Smithtown East senior Kelsey Amarosa over the final 100 meters to win in 2 minutes 14.62 seconds. Rowe was second in 2:15.28, and Amarosa was third in 2:16.47.
In winning, McDonnell qualified for next week’s state meet for the second straight year.
Riverhead sophomore Rachel Conti was 23rd in 2:35.61.
The only other girls running event that was a final on the first day of the two-day meet, which will resume on Saturday, was the 3,000 meters. Shoreham eighth-grader Kaitlyn Ohrtman was 18th in 10:58.75.
In the discus, Meghan Serdock of Shoreham (71 feet 11 inches) and Shannon Nuñez of Bishop McGann-Mercy (66-9) were 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
Melodee Riley’s hopes for a good showing in the long jump took a hit. The Riverhead senior fouled on her three attempts. Her teammate Fatima Brown was 22nd at 14-9.
In the boys meet, Riverhead junior Jonah Spaeth booked his first trip to the state meet. Spaeth cleared 14-0, which was one inch short of equaling the school record, but good enough for second place behind the 15-0 posted by Miller Place senior Joe Miceli. Another Riverheader, junior Dan Normoyle, finished fifth at 12-6.
In the 800, Matt Abazis of McGann-Mercy was 16th in 2:02.76, and Tyler Keys of Shoreham was 24th in 2:08.19.
John Lee of Shoreham was 12th in the 3,200 in 9:43.90.
