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Despite being able to put three teams on the podium at New Balance Nationals Indoor, New York still had one perennial distance medley relay favorite missing from the mix this indoor championship season.
Saratoga Springs had opted for only individual events this year, highlighted by its freshman, Ella Kurto, taking fifth at states with an impressive 9:44.83. Much of that decision came from a needed break for star senior Kelsey Chmiel, who had begun developing pain in one of her legs at the beginning of indoor. The plan had originally been to shoot for a spot at U20 XC Champs after racing the qualifier in Tallahassee in February, but the lingering pain shifted the focus to recovery for one final spring season.
That season is here, and Chmiel is back and ready to run. After throwing the Shot put indoors, and the early season dual meets to remain eligible (she got her PR up to 19-5!), she returned to action on the track in a dual meet last Wednesday, and took to a relay on Saturday at the local CBA/LaSalle Relays. While no official splits are available, the DMR ended up running 11:44.02, good enough for US No. 1. The squad took the gold medal by nearly two and a half minutes.
The mark would make them NY No. 2 when combining with the marks from teams who ran at Indoor Nationals. There, North Rockland, Fayetteville-Manlius, and Ursuline all made the podium in the event. They ran 11:41, 11:45, and 11:51 respectively.
Event 29 Girls Distance Medley VARSITY
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School Finals Points
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Finals
1 Saratoga Springs 'A' 11:44.02 10
1) Kurto, Ella 9 2) Chmiel, Kelsey 12
3) Mongan, Catherine 9 4) Rando, Isabella 9
2 Ballston Spa 'A' 14:12.89 8
1) Skylstad, Olivia 10 2) Bashant, Ruby 10
3) Hu, Sabrina 10 4) LeHane, Colleen 12
3 Albany High School 'A' 14:17.48 6
1) Levy, Dalia 10 2) Arango, Alexis 9
3) Dollar, Brianna 10 4) Haugh, Aine 12
4 Colonie 'A' 14:18.55 5
1) Hrelja, Lejla 10 2) Cahill, Elizabeth 9
3) Stealey, Maddie 11 4) Van Ness, Miranda 10
5 Academy of the Holy Names 'A' 14:43.78 4
1) Drindak, Adrianna 9 2) Ottman, Livingston 9
3) Regan, Katelyn 8 4) Sprague, Gwen 8
6 Johnstown 'A' 15:41.73 3
1) Smith, Sarah 10 2) Fitzpatrick, Carolyn 11
3) Parslow, Jenna 12 4) Grace, Brooke 12