ESG - Athletics
Mikulski's gymnastics background helping with hurdles execution
by ALLISON WHALEN Reporter

This summer, Amherst resident Sarah Mikulski has been spending her time on the track soaring over 33-inch hurdles at full speed in the hot sun.

Lately, she has been fine tuning her track skills in preparation for the Empire State Games, but it's not uncommon for the Williamsville North athlete to channel her explosive power to flip through the air or catapult herself off a vault.

Although Mikulski qualified for her first Empire State Games in the scholastic 100-meter hurdles, Mikulski's involvement in track and field is not her only athletic endeavor. She became a member of the Williamsville North gymnastics team her freshmen year. Mikulski said she decided to join the team because she had competed as a gymnast when she was younger.

As a member of Williamsville North's gymnastics team, she reaps additional benefits for her track performance.

"My gymnastics background helps with the leg strength and flexibility that I need for hurdling," Mikulski said.

Mikulski, who will enter her senior year in the fall, competed at her first indoor and outdoor state high school track and field meets in the 100 hurdles during her junior year. Despite her impressive fifth-place finish at the indoor state meet and 11th-place finish at the outdoor state meet, Mikulski clocked her personal best time at the All-Amherst Invitational.

"I haven't been able to beat 15.1 seconds, but I would like to get a best time at Empires," Mikulski said. "It would also be nice to come away with a medal."

In addition to another opportunity to reach her goal time, Mikulski said the Games give her motivation to train and stay in shape over the summer. Mikulski believes that competing in the Games will help her in her upcoming high school track season. She said the Games force her to run over the summer more than she ordinarily would.

Every day, Mikulski treks to the Williamsville North track with her mom to practice for the Games.

"I was in shape for the Empire State Games trials because they were right after the high school outdoor track season ended," said Mikulski, who also runs the 50 hurdles for her high school team. "Now, to keep in shape for the Games, I run as much as I can at the high school track, while my mom walks our dog."

As the Empire States Games draw closer, Mikulski said she is excited but nervous to compete far from home in the Hudson Valley region.

"It's exciting to be going to compete, but it makes me nervous because the site of the Games is far away," Mikulski said. "The farthest I've gone to compete is Cornell."

Aside from her pre-race jitters, Mikulski said she is looking forward to the fun aspects of competing at the Games. She said she is looking forward to the Olympic-style format of the Games.

"I'm eager to go to the opening ceremonies because I heard they are pretty cool, a lot like the Olympics," Mikulski said.

Mikulski isn't the only Amherst-area athlete participating this week, as Matthew Santarsiero is also competing at the Games. The 2006 Amherst High School graduate qualified for his first Empire State Games in the open 800.

During his high school career, Santarsiero place fourth at his sectional meet in the 800. As member of the Erie Community College track team, Santarsiero qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association in the 4x400 relay and took fifth place in the 800.

Since high school, Santarsiero gradually saw his time in the 800 drop from 2:00 to a 1:56.80.

"The biggest highlight in my track career was getting fifth at the National Junior College Athletic Association," Santarsiero said.

For the upcoming Games, Santarsiero said he is curious to see how he performs in the 800. He decided to compete in the Games because he knew a lot of friends from track that qualified. In preparation for the Games, Santarsiero said he is focusing on doing long-term distance work that will help him in his upcoming cross country season.

Despite his lack of specific 800 training, Santarsiero believes he should be able to do well.

"I'm excited to see what I can still do, given the lack of speed training I've been doing," Santarsiero said. "Hopefully I'll just be able to stay with the pack and have them drag me into the last 100 when I can go all out."

The Games will be held on July 25-29 in Westchester County. For more information and Empire State Games results, log on to www. empirestategames. org.