Two of Bonac’s top female track and field athletes competed at the Long Island Elite Meet at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington on Saturday.
Leah McCarron, a senior, placed sixth in the long jump, reaching 16 feet, 2.25 inches, and earned a medal. Vicky Chen, also a senior, competed in the pole vault, clearing eight feet but narrowly missing a medal opportunity with a seventh-place finish. Their coach, Yani Cuesta, said timing on the day of the meet and over the past few weeks was a contributing factor.
“The girls had to pole vault after the boys and although the schedule indicated the girls would start at 5:30 p.m., they didn’t begin until 6:30 p.m.,” Coach Cuesta said. “To make sure that they didn’t go too long they shortened the girls’ warmup time and jumps before beginning. Several coaches were a bit upset by the way it was organized, as well as the progression of jumps.”
Chen also took part in the senior buildOn program in Malawi in southeastern Africa, where she and about 20 of her classmates helped build a school in the remote village of Chipa. The snowfall upon her return made training for the Long Island Elite Meet challenging.
“After she competed in the small school championship she missed out on the state qualifier meet because she participated in the buildOn program,” Cuesta explained. “Then when she returned, school was closed because of the crazy snowstorm we got. Both Leah and Vicky were unable to practice their events. There is only so much we can do.”
Never ones to be set back by challenges, the girls are now preparing for the spring track season. Practices start on Monday, whether or not the weather cooperates.
