The current girls track season has certainly been one for the records. It has truly been an impressive showing from all of the events. Records were set, broken, then broken again by the Elites, the general scorers for the team. This year’s team has performed the highest in recent years, placing third at St. Anthony’s Invitational behind the Sachem schools and placing second at the Division III Championships at Northport behind Bayport-Blue Point.

In the Division III Championships, or “Divisions,” the team had girls compete in every event except for the pentathlon, 1500M run, 2000M steeplechase, 3000M run, and the 100M hurdles. In the Section XI State Qualifier, or “State Quals,” the team had eight girls compete in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, discus, shot put, 1500M race walk, and the 4x400M relay.

Now Walk it Out. Walk it Out.

Race walk prodigy Kelsey Jordan, a sophomore who is currently ranked fourth in the nation, won the 1500M race walk with a time of 7:22.46 at Divisions and placed third with a time of 7:03.87 at State Quals. For her future seasons, Kelsey hopes “to not get disqualified at any more meets for ‘loss of contact’ and ‘bent knee,’ to do well at (New Balance Outdoor) Nationals, and hopefully place in the top six and get All-American.” Senior Ellen Griffin crossed the finish line at Divisions nearly one minute behind Kelsey with a time of 8:36.85, placing 12th.

When I Say “Jump,” You Say “How High!”

It’s been quite a year for the jumping squad. High jump legend Keira “Gazelle” Kelly had reset her outdoor jumping record from five-feet, five and three-quarters of an inch to five feet, six inches. She is currently tied for New York #1 with indoor high jump champion Faith Penny of East Islip. Keira’s goals for the rest of the season are “to qualify for the State Championship and the Junior Olympic Championship, and to once again be All-State and All-American. Height-wise, my goal for this season is to reach five feet, seven inches. Next season, I hope to once-again make it to States and Nationals and get on the podium for both.” Keira had achieved one of her goals this past weekend at State Quals, placing second in the high jump with a height of five feet, four inches after a very heated jump-off against Bay Shore’s Aviana Goode. Keira will be heading back up to States at SUNY Albany with Faith Penny.

Third-year high jump veteran Jillian McManus had been sidelined for a good portion of the season with a wrist injury, but she recovered just in time for Divisions. She jumped five feet, two inches, which was good enough to place third at Divisions. At State Quals, Jillian jumped five feet exactly, placing seventh. “I’d want to jump five feet, three inches but if not this season definitely next season,” stated Jillian.

Triple jump expert Sarena Choi has also had quite an impressive year. According to Sarena, “I believe that the other competitors set my goals higher. Everyone wants to do well and I think that having people who work just as hard as me, if not harder, push me further past my limits and make me want to strive to be better.” She has done just that. At State Quals, Sarena placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, five and one-half of an inch, smashing the school record and making her eligible to attend States with Keira.

The Game of Throws

This year has been particularly special for the throws program. The Dynamic Duo and junior Shea Casey had also competed at Divisions. It was the first time since 2008 where more than one thrower had represented the Hurricanes in the shot put; two throwers had attended in 2008 and three had attended this year. With the Dynamic Duo graduating later this month, Shea will have some huge shoes to fill for the program. “I do pretty well compared to others. Both this and last year I’ve made it to Divisions,” claimed Shea.

The Fab Four-by-Four

The 4x400M relay team of Lauren Lorefice, Jenny Jordan, Nora Murphy, and Grace Gilbakian, or the “Fab Four,” running in that order, never seems to get a break. Every week, they’re competing at invitationals and elite meets, always placing within the top six. Every other week, they’re resetting their own record in the event. This past weekend, the record was reset not once, but twice: a time of 3:58.08 was set on June 5 at State Quals, and a time of 3:56.06 was set the next day! “We’re ranked #1 in Suffolk County, but have some other teams right behind us. Our best this season was 3:58, but we’re hoping to hit 3:56 by the end of the season,” stated Grace. Their time of 3:56 is good enough to send the Fab Four back up to States for their final run together as a team.

This is the first time in Hurricane Track history that six athletes will be traveling up to States. What a great way to end off the historic season!