Elwood’s Lady Knights Make Track History on the State’s Biggest Stage

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s varsity girls track and field team capped off a historic season at the New York State Championships on June 13-14, with junior Morgan Hepburn and the 4x800-meter relay team representing the Lady Knights against the best athletes in the state.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Sloane Hinke, Emma Peranio, Reema Singh and Camryn Szokoli concluded a record-breaking season with a school-record performance of 9:46.55, finishing 12th in the entire sttate among Class B schools. Throughout the season, the relay lowered the John Glenn school record by more than 20 seconds, highlighted by a dramatic 16.52-second drop at the state qualifier meet – one of the largest improvements in program history. The quartet’s success was built on strong leadership and balance throughout the lineup. Captains Singh and Szokoli delivered key performances when it mattered most, while ninth-grader Hinke anchored the relay with a season-best split to secure the team’s state berth. Senior Peranio provided steady leadership and was a vital contributor throughout the postseason run, helping guide the relay to one of the most successful seasons in school history.

Junior Morgan Hepburn competed in the high jump at the State Championships after earning her berth by winning her division at the qualifier meet. Her season was among the most accomplished in recent program history. Hepburn captured the Suffolk County championship in the high jump, earned All-County honors in three events and broke the long-standing John Glenn 200-meter school record, which had stood since 2010. She also reached the finals in three individual events at the qualifier, earning third-place finishes in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. Hepburn’s appearance at states capped a standout season defined by consistency, versatility and record-setting performances.

The success of John Glenn’s state qualifiers reflects the dedication and resilience of the entire program, coached by Darren Szokoli and Carla Weiss, and the athletes’ accomplishments highlight one of the strongest seasons in recent program history and bring great pride to the Elwood school community.

“Congratulations to all athletes on an unforgettable season representing John Glenn High School on New York’s biggest stage,” Weiss said. “A special thank you to Ava Hopkins, who trained with the distance squad and was always ready to step in at a moment’s notice. We are extremely proud.”