Girls Track: SWR runner sets personal record in 600 meters
Laura Lee had an inkling that this was going to be a good day for her. And why not? With a fast track and a high level of competition, the conditions were ripe for a personal record, or pr in runners’ shorthand.
“I definitely knew it was a possibility,” she said.
Possibility became reality for Lee when the Shoreham-Wading River senior ran the 600 meters faster than she ever had before, in 1 minute 40.32 seconds. That left her in fifth place in the Long Island Elite Track Invitational at St. Anthony’s High School on Friday. She followed Bishop Kellenberg’s Jazmine Fray (1:36.52), Island Trees’ Alexa Dolgos (1:38.33), Bay Shore’s Jacqueline Anderson (1:39.98) and Sacred Heart’s Rosalie Caracciolo (1:40.23).
So, it was a plaque and a pr for Lee, who may have run in her final indoor high school event. She said she was unsure if she would compete in a national meet.
“Today went really smoothly, and the girls pushed the pace,” Lee said. “It’s an honor to run in the Long Island championships. It’s my senior season so I’m really glad to get a pr. I was really happy.”
Looking ahead to the future, Lee said she is excited about going to Williams College (Mass.), where she will run track and field, and possibly cross country as well.
In other events:
Riverhead pole vaulter Danielle Thomas went over the bar at 8 feet 6 inches, bringing her ninth place. The junior cleared 9-0 for the first time a week earlier.
“There are a lot of seniors who are graduating, so hopefully that opens up some room for her next year to really propel her upstate,” said Riverhead coach Justin Cobis.
Riverhead sophomore Maria Dillingham took 13th place in two events. In addition to running the 600 in 1:46.90, she also competed in the frosh/soph 300-meter dash, posting a time of 46.59.
Dillingham said it was an honor to compete in the prestigious meet.
“I wanted to get here all season,” she said. “I’m happy to be here.”
Cobis said of Dillingham: “She’s a very good competitor. She’s as tough as nails. She had a little bit of an off night tonight but, you know, she’s had a great progression through the entire season and she’s going to take that into the spring season and really propel forward.”
Shoreham-Wading River freshman Kaitlyn Ohrtman came in fourth in the frosh/soph 1,500. Her time was 5:02.79.
