By Christopher Hunt
Kelsey Margey, an all-American in the 1,500 last spring, has transferred from Harborfields to Friends Academy in Locust Valley, Long Island for her senior year, ArmoryTrack.com has learned.
Margey will only be switching leagues. Harborfields competes in Section 11 while Friends Academy is a member of Section 8 in Nassau County. Kelsey mother, Stacey Margey, said the move was primarily because Friends Academy offered a more diverse curriculum.
"She wants a strong academic school with a strong athletic program," Stacey Margey said. "Friends fit the bill. One, we liked that it was small. She's used to a small school. Two, it's high academic and they offer an array of AP classes that Harborfields does not offer. That was a big draw there."
"On the athletic side, we really thought of going to a school that embraces and individual philosophy and their training was very appealing to us," Kelsey's mom went onto say. "The Harborfields philosophy, with their coaching, they did not take into consideration individual needs. It was what was good for the team was good for Kelsey, as far as workouts goes."
The senior, who’s personal best of 4:23.82 at 1,500 ranked fourth in the country last spring, was coached by former legendary Mepham head coach Paul Limmer, who will continue assisting in her training along with Friends Academy head coach Louisa Garry. Margey's mother also said the continuity -- Garry coaches all three seasons -- at Friends made the athletic program more appealing. Harborfields employs three different coaches for cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Kelsey began working with Limmer after her first indoor season during her sophomore year.
"She really didn't feel good physically at the end of her races," Margey's mohter said. "When we saw that the workouts changed (with Limmer), she felt good. Her workouts seemed to be working. She's worked a year at a certain level and she really felt like she would like to compete in college and she was on the right track for that kind of level of training."
Margey, who lives in Huntington, immediately brings star power to the Class C school, who just graduated its top runner Kira Garry. With Friends Academy in Class C, it could set up a showdown between Margey and Bronxville’s Mary Cain at the cross country state championships in November.
