SWR’s Katherine Lee wins 1,000 meters in small school championships

Upon reflecting on her time competing at the Suffolk Small Schools girls track and field championships, Katherine Lee couldn’t help but become sentimental.

“I’m really gonna miss coming here, and a lot of the people,” Lee said. “I think that this was as good of a high school indoor track experience as I was ever gonna get, just because of the environment the people here have created. It’s really fostering and turned me into the athlete I’ve wanted to be since I’ve started.”

Lee’s affinity for the event and its role in her development was evident once again on Thursday as the Shoreham-Wading River senior finished the 1,000 meters in 2:52.65, cruising to a victory in her final appearance at the Suffolk Small Schools championships at Suffolk CCC-Brentwood.

After winning the race by nearly seven seconds, Lee said she set a new personal-record time.

Even during a senior season that she says has been more relaxed than her previous five, Lee remains capable of reaching new heights.

“I wasn’t looking for a personal record,” Lee said. “I was just looking to come away with a win for the points for my team.”

She competed in only one race in an effort to preserve energy for the Millrose Games on Saturday. While Lee normally races the 3,000 meters, she said she wanted to take a new approach on Thursday.

Lee, who began running for the varsity team in seventh grade, said the emotions following her final race at the Suffolk Small Schools championships were bittersweet.

“I’ll miss it, but it’s always good to reflect on how great of an experience it was,” Lee said.

Another senior, Jada Obie, squeaked out a thrilling win for Hauppauge in the 55 meters in 7.34, while Amityville’s Indya Hunter finished second in 7.36. Obie also set a personal record.

“I’m really happy that I set a personal record,” Obie said. “I thought I was going to lose. I knew I had to get in front so I just did it somehow.”

Mount Sinai teammates finished first and second in the 3,000 meters as Noreen Guilfoyle (10:39.15) won and Sarah Connelly (10:39.23) came in directly behind. Connelly also won the 1,500 meters (4:56.35).

It was a great night overall for the Mustangs, who won the team championship with 106 points. Bayport-Blue Point placed second (47.5) and West Babylon finished third (45).

In her second appearance at the Small School championships, Half Hollow Hills West’s Michele Daye dazzled in the 300 meters, winning in 41.83 seconds and by a margin of 1.27 seconds. The sophomore wasn’t short on confidence from the outset.

“The expectation from the beginning was to win,” Daye said. “The key was getting out really hard, maintaining and spending everything I had in the last 100 meters. This is big for my confidence as I keep building up and becoming stronger and faster.”

Kayla Berman picked up a win for Westhampton in the 600 meters in 1:38.83, and Mount Sinai’s Kayleigh Robinson finished second in 1:39.34.