February successes for past Athletes of the Month

Winter is usually a fairly quiet time in the sport, but this year found many quality performances in February. A number of past USATF-NE Athlete of the Month awardees had a most successful month. In alphabetical order, 

James Donoghue - February 2022.  Now a freshman at Virginia, the Belmont Hill School grad broke 4:00 for the mile for the first time (3:57.44) at the Boston University Valentine Invitational and then ran 4:00.11 at the ACC Championship. 

Sophia Gorriaran - August 2022.  Continuing her dominance of scholastic track times, she ended the month with the fastest New England high school times in the 500m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, and mile.  The Moses Brown School (RI) senior also announced she'll be attending Harvard in the fall. 

Devan Kipyego - June 2022.   After winning 4 events (600, 1000, 1500, 3000) in the Rhode Island High School Indoor Championship meet, the St.Raphael's senior clocked 4:01.04 at the Last Chance meet; his 1500 meter split of 3:44.17 was a New England all time high school record.

Heather MacLean - February 2021. After posting the fastest mile in the world for 2023 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (4:23.42, Personal Best), the New Balance Boston team member went on to represent Team USA in the mixed relay at the World Cross Country Championship. 

Jordan Mann - June 2018. The Ocean State AC member from Providence represented the US at the World Cross Country Championships in the mixed relay which placed fifth.

Samirah Moody - June 2021.   Currently a sophomore at University of Southern California, Moody broked the USC record at 60 meters, running 7.07.  The previous record of 7.09 was co-held by a pair of future US Olympic team sprinters.  The time ranks #2 in the 2023 NCAA performance list.

D.J.Principe - March 2017.  Closing out his collegiate career at Providence College, Principe was one place behind Donahue at BU, also ducking under 4:00 - 3:59.72 - and then clocked 8:00.28 for 4th in the Big East 3000m

Louis Serafini - August 2019.  The Tracksmith Boston Hares ace won the Super Sunday 5K, opening event of the 2023 USATF-NE Road Race Grand Prix, with a strong kick in the final 100 meters to record a 14:20 finish.

Ellie Shea - January 2023.  The high school junior placed 10th at the World Athletics Cross Country Championship in Australia, leading the USA Under 20 team to their first ever podium appearance with bronze medals.  She followed with a New England high school record 9:02.02 for 3000 meters (#2 all time US HS) at the Last Chance Meet at BU.

Photo:  Mike Scott