Bay Shore's Maggie McCormick named NY Gatorade Player of the Year for girls track and field
Maggie McCormick of Bay Shore wins the 1500-meter race during Day 2 of the Suffolk track and field championships on June 5, 2026 in Port Jefferson. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Maggie McCormick had quite the beginning to her Thursday.
The graduating senior from Bay Shore was named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year for girls track and field athletes on Thursday morning. She is the third consecutive Long Islander to win the award after Miller Place alumna Jillian Scully — who currently throws for LSU — won it last year, and Floyd alumna Zariel Macchia — who currently runs for BYU — won it in 2024.
“She’s an instinctual athlete, and to watch her achieve these heights over the last 18 months is unbelievable,” Bay Shore girls track coach Shayne Lewis said. “For Maggie, this is just scratching the surface of what she’s capable of doing. She’s without a doubt deserving of this award.”
McCormick dominated the state’s track scene from her very first race during the indoor season. She was ranked No. 1 in the state in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in each of the two track seasons (indoor and outdoor) this year.
Indoors, McCormick topped out at 4 minutes, 23.25 seconds in the 1,500 and 9:23.3 in the 3,000. Outdoors, she registered a 4:16.01 in the 1,500 and a 9:15.22 in the 3,000.
She won the indoor and outdoor 1,500-meter state championships, as well as the event’s outdoor Federation championship. She also won the 2-mile championship in 9:50.81 at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Philadelphia.
“She’s the best teammate you could ask for with someone of that level,” Lewis said. “She shows the girls that there’s no other side routes or shortcuts to training. What she has brought to the program is a legitimate national focus, and that’s creating a foundation for all of the younger runners. Those girls now get to be able to say they ran with her, and they know that’s the standard for greatness.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
