All-Catholics
Nardin ends Sacred Heart's win streak in track
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sacred Heart's Jenna Piecuch (576) leads the pack in the first leg of the girls' 4x800-meter relay at All-Catholics held on Wednesday, May 16 at John F. Kennedy High School. The Sharks won the 4x800 but finished second overall to Nardin. Photo by Patrick McPartland Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The Sacred Heart Academy girls track team's win streak in the Monsignor Martin Association is over.

The Sharks, who haven't lost a Monsignor Martin Association indoor or outdoor track meet since outdoor All-Catholics in 2003, lost to Nardin, 124-121, at this year's All-Catholics, held on Wednesday, May 16 at John F. Kennedy High School.

"It obviously had to end some time," said Sacred Heart coach Rod Sarkovics of the win streak. "Give Nardin all the credit in the world. They came out strong."

Sacred Heart beat Nardin, 68-37, in a dual meet on Thursday, April 26, but was by far the Sharks' toughest competition at All-Catholics. The next closest team was Holy Angels, which finished 84 points behind Sacred Heart with a team score of 37. Nichols (32), St. Mary's of Lancaster (31), Mount St. Mary's (28), Mount Mercy (23), and O'Hara (7) rounded out the team scoring.

"I thought it would be a close meet," said Sarkovics. "I don't think the dual meets gives justice because once you get to All-Catholics, a team like O'Hara could take points away from you."

Nardin pulled off the upset at All-Catholics because they were stronger in distance events, outscoring Sacred Heart, 36-10. In the 1500-meter run, Nardin's Jill Shea and Maura Fravenhofer went first (5:09.48) and second (5:12.30) and flip-flopped places in the 3000 (Fravenhofer, first, 11:11.86; Shea, second, 11:37:39). Meanwhile, Sacred Heart's Anna Ministero and Emily Tutak took fourth (5:20.23) and fifth (5:40.19), respectively, in the 1500 and Kim Patterson was fourth in the 3000 (11:47.98). Kerry Hurley was originally third in the 3000 but was disqualified for stepping on the line to the outside lane.

"We definitely got hurt in the distance meets," said Sarkovics. "You can't lose as many points as we did in the 1500 and 3000. I just think it was Nardin's day."

Nardin led 114-113 heading into the last event, the 4x100 relay, and won by two-hundredths of a second, 53.65-53.67. Nardin's anchor in the race, Maureen Creighton, leaned the front of her body past Sacred Heart's anchor, Melissa Naab, to win the race. The other members of Sacred Heart's 4x100 relay are Melissa Federice, Natalie Coppola, and Alycia Pontello.

The Sharks' 4x800 relay of Jenna Piecuch, Kerry Hurley, Liz Subjeck, and Brittany Gibbons won in 10:04.80 and the 4x400 relay of Stephanie Smith, Liz Subjeck, Ministero and Jackie Piecuch, took second in a time of 4:30.17.

Jackie Piecuch also won the 400 race in 1:00.79, a full two seconds better than second-place Kelsey Bynum of Holy Angels, and took second in the triple jump (32-6) and fifth in the long jump (14-9).

"She's a phenomenal athlete," said Sarkovics.

Other Sharks who scored points were Subjeck (first in 800, 2:32.14), Naab (second in 200, 28.26; third in 100, 13.48), Federice (fourth in 400, 1:05.19), Coppola (third in long jump, 15-4½; fourth in triple jump, 31-10; fifth in 100, 13.80), Jenna Piecuch (fifth in 800, 2:37.94), Alex Skomra (sixth in 200, 29.31), Liz Tramposch (second in shot put, 27-3¼; fifth in discus throw, 67-7) and Gina Ricotta (second in discus, 89-6; fourth in shot (25-4),

At the state Catholic qualifier at Randall's Island, Jackie Piecuch placed sixth overall in the 800 in a time of 2:24.02. Her time was second among small schools and was the fastest 800 in school history, said Sarkovics. Naab ran a 13.33 in the 100 but it was not enough to qualify for finals.

Twelve Sharks graduate from the team, including the Piecuch sisters, Hurley, Smith, Ricotta, and Subjeck.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com