2005 Group III Girls Indoor Track

When Emily MacNeil is feeling good at the 600-meter mark it is usually bad news for the other 800-meter runners. Taking command in the final 200 meters, MacNeil pulled away from a strong field to win the Group III 800 title Sunday at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gym.

It was MacNeil’s first individual indoor 800 title after finishing fourth the past three seasons It was also the first individual state title for a Westfield girl and came a week after MacNeil had anchored the Westfield 4 by 800 relay to the Group III Relay title at the same venue.

“I just wanted to go out hard and try and stay out near the front with the
girls out front and then kick hard for the last 200 “ said MacNeil.
“ I felt real good for the last 200 so I just ran hard and was able to pull it out.”

“I am very happy that after three years of fourth place finishes here, she finally pulled it off., “ added Coach Jen Buccino.
“ The best part is that it happened her senior year, with her fastest performance at this meet., despite the meet falling so much earlier in the season.”

MacNeil’s time of 2:19.65 was all more impressive since the first two laps of the four-lap race were run at a moderate pace.

”She got out a lot slower than we planned ,” noted Buccino.
MacNeil reached the 400 in 70.8 and was in a pack that included Stephanie Herrick of Wayne Valley, Chavanne Hubbard of Franklin and Lauren Gregory of Morris Knolls. MacNeil was the only one of the leaders to run her second lap faster, finishing in a blistering 68.8.

“I was pretty surprised to go sub 2:20 because I usually don't break that
this early in the season but I was really happy with the results ,” said MacNeil.

“I knew going into the meet that she was capable of going under 2:20 and that if she did it might be enough to win but. there is always competition at this level,” said Buccino.

Also finishing strong was Westfield senior Annie Onishi, who passed two runners in the final 60 yards to finish sixth, which also qualified her for the Meet of Champions. MacNeil and Onishi scored all eleven of the Blue Devil’s points as they finished eighth overall well behind the winner Franklin, which scored 48.

“I'm always happy, as every coach would be, to see seniors cap off their careers this way. Both of them are running very well and yes I feel that we are much stronger than we were at this time last year,” said Buccino.

The best finish for the Scotch Plains girls was senior Mary Shashaty, who was eighth in the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:48.46.