by TALA ABUKOUSH
Mackenzie Setton sprints down the last straight away, and as she crosses the finish line, the stopwatch hits 4:43. She sets a new school record for the 1500-meter race in girls varsity track. Currently one of the fastest sophomores in all of Nassau County, Setton is known as a very strong runner with very strong character.
Setton is often looked up to as a support system for runners seeking advice. “She not only focuses on herself but focuses on the team as a whole. She does her best to help us all out when we need some coaching,” said sophomore teammate Corinne D.
One of the many qualities of a high achieving athlete is commitment. “Mackenzie seems dedicated in everything that she does. She has nearly perfect attendance and is always putting in maximum effort,” said cross country and track coach Teresa McHale. In addition to bringing attention to the team, she also brings light and positivity. “Aside from being such a force in competition, Mackenzie is a great role model to the other girls on the team. She sets a great example and is always very calm,” said Coach McHale. Teammates on Setton’s team also have a high opinion of her. “Mackenzie is a very strong athlete and she is full of potential. She’s hardworking, self-driven, focused, and she’s never satisfied. She hopes to improve every day,” said sophomore Claire M.
As of eighth grade, Setton has been on the varsity winter track team. She focuses on the 1500 and 800-meter runs. Last year, she participated in an all freshmen four-by-four team. They won the entire Bethpage Blazing Relays meet with a time of 4:14.96. Setton came in third place for both the 1500 and 800-meter run. Her four-by-four team came in ninth place overall at State Qualifiers against many competitive schools. Sophomore Ana M. said, “Mackenzie is a huge part of our team. She is an incredible runner that works very hard. When she goes out in one of her races she works her hardest to get up there and be number one.”
While Setton makes her athletic abilities look easy, she knows that they require hard work. “The hardest part about running is probably persevering through the hard workouts because although it is intense, it is all well worth it when you see yourself improve,” Setton said. Aside from being a physical sport, running is also about mentality. “Sometimes when you are having an off day and you don’t meet the times you are expected to, it can be discouraging. Though, you have to learn to shake it off and try harder next time,” she added.
Setton believes that she wouldn’t be who she is today without her fellow teammates. “I am grateful to have such amazing people to run with every day. I learn so much from my teammates,” Setton said. She added, “My favorite part about running is getting to improve alongside my friends.”