Sonia Finkenberg after qualifying for States.
Rye Neck Track and Field
Sonia Finkenberg Qualifies for States in 1,000-Meter Run
By Mitch Silver
Rye Neck junior Sonia Finkenberg, the middle-distance runner who two weeks ago defended her Section 1 Class C crown on the same Manhattan Armory track, ran even faster Sunday to qualify for a relay spot on the Sectional team going to the New York State Championships at the Ocean Breeze complex on Staten Island Saturday, March 2.
Her fourth-place finish in a personal-best time of 3:00.92 at the qualifying meet didn’t garner her a place on the Armory medal stand, but it did earn her a spot on the starting line when Section 1’s distance medley relay team goes for a State title at Ocean Breeze. Rye High senior Elena Perez-Segnini and junior Philippa Emms finished ninth and 13th respectively in the 1,000.
Also qualifying for the State meet from Rye is Garnet senior Cian Galligan, whose personal best of 4:18.06 took silver in the boys’ 1,600-meter run, less than a quarter-second behind the winner. Galligan was recently named the Rye Lions Club Athlete of the Month for January.