The baton has been passed.
Holy Trinity (Hicksville, N.Y.) Colleen Schmidt shattered former Trinity star Katie DiCamillo’s CHSAA Intersectional 3000 meter meet record in a time of 9:55.56. Schmidt followed up her record-setting performance by winning the 1500 meters. She was named the meet’s girls MVP.
Holy Trinity coach Justin Renna was pleased with the way Schmidt ran. “Colleen's 3000 was a perfect race considering she had to run by herself,” Renna said.
Schmidt got ahead early and never looked back. She came through her first mile at 5:21.3, and had Anne Carey from St. John the Baptist, and Lauren Lavoro from St. Anthony’s within five meters of her. But, she quickly distanced herself from the field. Schmidt beat Lavaro, who finished second, by 23 seconds.
Schmidt had a tougher challenge in the 1500, but once again she showed that she is one of the elite runners in the state. She had a comfortable lead for the first three laps of the race, but Carey challenged her on the final lap. The two ran head-to-head for 200 meters until Schmidt broke away from her. She won the race in a time of 4:45.11.
With wins in the 1500 and 3000, Schmidt swept both the indoor and outdoor championships in the NSCHSAA and The CHSAA. She was named MVP of all four meets.
Next up is the state meet, where Schmidt will take on the top runners in New York. Coach Jim Muller isn’t worried. “I think states will be a very big test for Colleen,” Muller said. “This will be the first time all season that she will have to contend with entire field of equal or more talent. She has always risen to the challenges presented to her, and I don't expect the state meet to be any different.”
Renna is happy with what Schmidt brought to the team this year, and is optimistic about her future. “As for her junior year, it was the best possible season she could have,” Renna said. As for next year, I am expecting an All-American cross country season, followed by a Milrose mile win, and two national championships in the 1500.”
