The girls track and field team sent eight athletes to compete in nine events at the state championship May 20-21 in Charleston. No U-High athletes advanced to the finals. 

Senior Amanda O’Donnell had a season-best time in the 1,600-meter run and ninth grader Maxine Hurst had a personal record in the discus throw. Additionally, the 4×800 relay team improved by 10 seconds.

The top two finishers in each event make it to state. U-High athletes won first place at sectionals in three events held May 12 at St. Ignatius College Prep:

• 4x 800m relay: Mary Bridget Molony, Cheresa Turek, Maya Mubayi, Amanda O’Donnell
• 400m: Poppy Beiser
• 1,600m Amanda O’Donnell 

U-High athletes finished second at sectionals in these events:

• 4x400m relay: Amanda O’Donnell, Mary Bridget Molony, Maya Mubayi, Poppy Beiser
• 300m hurdles: Julia Grotthuss
• 800m: Cheresa Turek
• 1,600m: Maya Mubayi
• 3,200m: Sophia Picciola
• Discus: Maxine Hurst
• High jump: Julia Grotthuss

Maya, a senior and team co-captain, said the meet was electrifying and a new experience for her. 

“I think it’s the biggest meet that I have gone to in track,” Maya said. “I think just like all the adrenaline, all the people, there’s some people cheering for you, made it really exciting.” 

For Maya, the biggest takeaway this season was to go at your own pace and focus on improving your own time. 

“Finding the confidence to still run your own race and run a good time for yourself, even if, you know, sometimes it’s hard to be competitive with other girls who are just amazing runners, try to get your personal best times,” she said, “and I think that a lot of us did that during the state meet, so I think that was really good.”