BBP's Sophia McInnes, Floyd's Zariel Macchia: State champions in 1,500
Bayport-Blue Sophia McInnes just beats out William Floyd's Zariel Macchia for the Federation 1500 meter run at the NYSPSAA Track and Field Finals ,Day 2,at Middletown on Saturday, June 14 ,2025 in Middletown ,NY Credit: Neil Miller
MIDDLETOWN — If there were ever a race to adequately describe the depth of distance-running talent on Long Island, it was Saturday’s 1,500 meter event.
On Day Two of the state track and field championships at Middletown High School, Long Island placed the top four girls in the race and produced a pair of state champions. In fitting fashion, in their respective final high school races, those two champions were Sophia McInnes and Zariel Macchia.
The future state Hall of Famers did well to headline a dominant group of Long Island girls. McInnes, a senior from Bayport-Blue Point who will run for Villanova, placed first in a personal-best 4 minutes, 22.46 seconds to capture the state Class B and Federation titles. Macchia, a senior from Floyd who is committed to Brigham Young, finished just three tenths of a second later to win the Class A title. East Meadow junior Zaria Hall (4:23.86) and Bay Shore junior Maggie McCormick (4:24.54) placed behind them.
“It’s definitely been a big goal of mine since the beginning of high school to win at a big meet like this,” McInnes said. “It definitely takes the nerves off knowing that I have people who I’ve raced with all around me. It also motivates me because Zariel is such an amazing runner, and it makes me want to do better.”
With the two legends only narrowly finishing ahead of Hall and McCormick, the 1,500 served as less of a state championship race and more as a passing of the torch.
“Zaria and Maggie are both amazing runners, and next year is definitely their year,” McInnes said. “They’re going to be able to take it all. Both of them.”
Macchia was thrilled to have been a part of such history in her last time representing Long Island.
“The lead changed multiple times and we were all in it until the end, so it was a thrill to be a part of,” Macchia said. “It was a really exciting race and I’m glad it was my last one.”
Baldwin won the team Federation title with 30 points, headlined by victories in the Class A 200 and the Federation 200 by junior Breanne Barnett, who ran 24.31 and 23.93, respectively. She also ran the first leg of the 4 x 100 relay for a Baldwin team that won the Federation title in 45.99.
Port Jefferson junior Alexa Jacobs won her second consecutive title in the 100, sprinting to a 12.03 to victory in Class C. She also won the public school Class C 200 title in 24.76.
“I think I handled the [two events] a lot better this year,” Jacobs said. “I was prepared for it to be a lot on my body, and I was able to be successful with it, which I think is a reflection of my training. Obviously, it feels amazing.”
Valley Stream North sophomore Paige Fessler, Miller Place senior Jillian Scully and Malverne senior Nicea Jones all won their second title in as many days. Fessler cleared 5 feet, 9 inches to win the Federation and Class B high jump, and Scully threw 169-10 in the discus to capture the Class B and the Federation titles. Jones sprinted 54.1 to win the Federation 400.
For Scully, she was grateful for those around her as her high school career concluded.
“I really appreciate all the people that have and continue to cheer me on and boost me up,” Scully said. “It means the world to me.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
