Magnificat Competes at NEOITC All-Star Meet

Magnificat High School capped its indoor season with a solid showing at the NEOITC All-Star Meet on Friday night at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, highlighted by a top-five finish in the high jump and a strong effort from the 4x400-meter relay. The Blue Streaks used the all-star stage to gain valuable experience against some of the region’s best competition while producing one of their best relay performances of the winter.

Mae McGreal led Magnificat’s individual efforts in the field events, placing fifth in the high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 0 inches. Her performance put her among the top jumpers in a loaded field and continued a consistent indoor campaign in the event. Clearing 5-0 at a championship-level meet underscored McGreal’s ability to compete under pressure and positioned her well heading into the outdoor season.

On the track, the Blue Streaks’ 4x400-meter relay of Maria Karabatsos, Claire Ansberry, Anna Davala and Megan Martin finished eighth overall in 4 minutes, 16 seconds. The quartet’s time reflected a competitive effort in a race that traditionally closes the meet and features some of the deepest lineups. Each leg contributed to maintaining Magnificat’s position in the pack, and the group’s performance demonstrated depth and relay chemistry across multiple grade levels.

Karabatsos set the tone for the relay as the leadoff, keeping Magnificat in contact with the lead pack through the opening leg. Ansberry carried that momentum into the second leg, managing traffic on the break and holding position against surges from opposing programs. Davala’s third leg helped stabilize the Blue Streaks in the middle of the field, setting up Martin on the anchor to close in a competitive final 400 meters.

Magnificat’s showing in both the high jump and the 4x400 offered encouraging signs for postseason competition. McGreal’s fifth-place finish confirmed her status as a reliable point-scorer in the jumps, while the relay’s 4:16 performance indicated that the Blue Streaks can contend in one of the meet’s marquee events as times continue to drop. Against an all-star field, Magnificat’s athletes gained exposure to championship-level pacing and pressure that should benefit them going forward.

With the NEOITC All-Star Meet complete, Magnificat now turns its attention to transitioning from indoor to outdoor track and field. The results at SPIRE provided a clear foundation in both the jumps and the longer relays, giving the Blue Streaks momentum and benchmarks to build on as they prepare for the upcoming outdoor schedule.