Amilia Wise-sweat is sophomore who has been running for four years in Newburgh’s track program.

She began the school year running on the cross-country team before moving indoors to run everything from the 200–meters to the 3,000-meters. She runs relays for the girls’ outdoor team, and she was in Middletown over the weekend to run in the 1,600-meter relay for Newburgh during the New York state track and field championships.

Friday, she ran the 800-meter dash and finished 18th with a time of 2:17.37. And the 800-meter dash is her favorite event.
“It’s fast, but it is not too fast,” she said. “You don’t have much time to think about it.”

After her finish in the 800-meter dash, the first time she has run an individual event at the state championships, Wise-sweat moved through the concession area at Faller Field and was greeted by friends.

Newburgh’s track and field program is one of the best in the section and state. Ryler Gould, of the boys’ team, returned to the state meet with a title in the 400-meter hurdles from the 2018 state meet.

And running for Newburgh, said Wise-sweat, has been an enjoyable experience. She started with the Goldbacks four years ago.

“We’re all like a family,” she said, “so it’s really rewarding.”
Wise-sweat spends at lot of time running, and it’s something that is a constant focus throughout the school year beginning with cross-country season and progressing through the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

“Honestly, it’s really relaxing,” she said, of running, “it is kind of fun.”

She runs long distances, and she can move down to the much shorter events and distances, such as running the 400-meters on the 1,600-meter relay team or the 800-meter dash.

Wise-sweat also likes the 400-meter dash.

“It’s just so fast,” she said. “It’s over with.”