Exactly one year after her first USATF title, and one day after her most recent Sectional one, Junior Zariel Macchia returned to the streets of NYC to contest the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K, held on the weekend of the New York City Marathon. Contestant's run on the same course, albeit much shorter, and finish across the same finish line in Central Park that would crown the 2023 NYCM Champs a day later. The race also serves as the USATF National Youth 5 km Championships.
Macchia, no stranger to the field, won the race in 17 minutes, and 27 seconds over Charlize-Trinity McKenzie of Wisconsin. That time is an improvement over the 17:41 finish that Macchia ran for the win on this same course last year. Other notable finishes include Dylan McElhinney, formerly of Hunter College HS, who ran 4:24 in the 1500m at States, to finish second. She is now unattached.
In 2022, after Macchia's race, she went on to capture the State Title at VVS a week later, running a 152 Speed Rating. Now a Junior, Macchia is again the favorite to defend her title, on the same course as last year. She went on to contest the Foot Locker National Championships, placing 6th overall, and the 3rd top returner. Macchia also represented Team USA at the World Youth XC Championships, held earlier this year.
