Ashland's Reilly is first captain, scores first points for St. Mike's track

She is usually the one providing a special memory for others. But on the final day of winter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the honors were all for Meredith Reilly. The Ashland High graduate is the first captain of the inaugural women’s outdoor track and field team at St.

Michael’s College. On March 19, the junior scored the team’s first-ever points when she placed third in the 10,000 meters at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. Her time of 42 minutes, 8 seconds earned SMC six points at the three-day meet, which included more than 1,500 athletes from 45 colleges and clubs from 19 states and Canada.

More: Ashland High School wrestling hosts Wayland St. Mike’s has competed in track for years as a club team, but this spring is the Colchester, Vermont, school’s first varsity season. “It’s huge for our team and our program and the school,” said Reilly, was the only SMC athlete to place in the women’s portion of the event.

Reilly was a two-year captain for all three running seasons at Ashland High, where she was a Tri-Valley League All-Star, setting the 2-mile school record and was part of the school record in the distance medley relay. She was also a cross-country captain at SMC in the fall. Ashland High also laid the foundation for Reilly off-track activities, where, among other extracurriculars, she was a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) board member.