This past winter season, Trinity Hall freshmen Lexi Morreale and Sadie Nash took their athletic talents to the national stage. They competed at Nike Indoor Nationals, testing their abilities against the top athletes in the United States. Both Morreale and Nash gave impressive performances and appreciated the valuable experience competing offered them.
Finishing with a time of 5:28.11, Morreale placed 35th in the nation in the Freshman Division Mile. Nash also had a strong performance in the Freshman Division Long Jump, where she finished 32nd overall with a mark of 15’0”. Nash also secured a spot as seventh all-time indoor in Trinity Hall program history. She previously ranked fifth in the county in the long jump (16’2.75”), ranked third all-time indoors for Trinity Hall, and currently holds the school record in shot put at 23’3”.
Nash and Morreale had different paths leading up to Nationals. Morreale had prior running experience from middle school teams, while Nash, who is newer to the sport, began her running career as a freshman. Both described feeling anxious when they qualified. “It was exciting, but also a little scary,” the athletes shared.
At Nationals, the athletes faced a completely different atmosphere compared to their regular meets. Surrounded by higher-level competition, both girls managed their nerves and tried to stay focused. Right before their respective events, each athlete described her thoughts as simple. Morreale shared that her only thoughts were, “Don’t trip.” While Nash focused on avoiding overthinking, she watched the races before hers.
Despite immense pressure, Nash and Morreale felt overwhelming pride in their performance. Nash described the feeling right after completing her jumps, saying she felt proud of herself and excited to have finished. Both athletes reflected on the experience, saying that competing at such a high level pushed them to improve and gave them experience in balancing nerves and focus in high-pressure events.
Looking ahead, Morreale and Nash are focused on growing from the experience in future seasons. They believe in the importance of setting realistic goals and continuing to raise them once achieved. “Once you reach a goal, you keep going,” Nash explained.
Throughout the season, support from teammates, coaches and family played a vital role in their success. Both Nash and Morrelae praised the team environment at Trinity Hall and thanked their team for helping them stay motivated and focused. With electric performances and valuable experience, Morreale and Nash set themselves up for successful Trinity Hall track and field careers.