N-W junior Megan Hathaway is headed back to the state track meet. (photo by Joe Haniszewski / Contributor) Click on photo for larger image

On the run
By Eric Keppeler
Wednesday, June 02, 2026

SANBORN — Megan Hathaway truly is not worried about where she finishes this weekend.

The Niagara-Wheatfield junior will compete in the 400 on Friday at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championship at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Hathaway ran the same even in last year’s state meet but did not qualify for the final round. This year, she only wants to show improvement.

“What I’m looking to do at states is just run my best time,” she said. “If I get to the finals, then I get to the finals. I’ll just try my best and we’ll see what happens.”

Hathaway looks to be peaking at the right time, running her best time last week in the Section VI Championship. She clocked in at 58.70 to win the large school division, which she claimed for the second straight season.

Her last four races have been personal bests, and N-W coach Al Pogel thinks the trend may continue.

“That’s a valid goal, especially after running her best time last week in sectionals,” Pogel said. “Once you do that, you let the chips fall where they fall.”

Hathaway says she has more spring in her step this season after a grueling sophomore year. She plays soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter and track in the spring.

Last year, she was knicked up and worn down by the constant pounding.

“I’m running a lot better than I was last year,” Hathaway said. “I even feel stronger this year because I feel healthier. I’m not as injury-prone, and I’ve been resting — that’s really important. I’m more confident.”

She plans to skip soccer next year and focus more on basketball — she’s already a 1,000-point career scorer — and track, which she figures represent her best opportunities for college.

She still gets nervous before track meets, although she’s found an effective cure for that.

“It helps when I warm up a lot,” Hathaway said. “Sometimes before sectionals, my dad will run around with me for maybe 15 minutes. That calms me down a lot, because I literally get sick before my races. He helps a lot.”

Other than a case of nerves, she’s had a clean bill of health this season.

“The biggest difference this year is that she’s healthy,” Pogel said. “As long as she continues to train and stay healthy, she has the opportunity to keep dropping her time — which she’s done consistently in her last four meets.”
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