On Oct. 28, Sean Holly O’Brien announced her commitment to Columbia University’s Track and Field team.
O’Brien started her WHS track and field career the spring of her freshman year and became the captain of the winter track team shortly after during her sophomore year. Not only has O’Brien shown leadership skills on the track but also in cheerleading, as she was named one of the captains for the 2023 season. O’Brien has always shown her leadership and dedication to her athletics.
Founded in 1754, Columbia University competes in the Ivy League and NCAA as a Division I school for athletics, and now hosts 31 combined women’s and men’s athletics teams, one of them being women’s track and field. Their most recent title was in 2022, winning the individual Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championship. The track and field program has also produced many Olymipians. The most recent being Akua Obeng-Akrofi, in the 2016 Rio Games.
Since her start of track and field at WHS, between relays and individual races, O’Brien has broken nine school records, some of which she has broken on multiple occasions. In December of O’Brien’s junior year she broke the school record for the 55M race with a time of 7.43, but she did not stop there. Fast forward to February, she added to her own record again in the 55M race with a time of 7.28.
With O’Brien’s dedication, record breaking times, and talent she wanted to start the commitment process. O’Brien said, “I started really taking track seriously at the end of my sophomore year. I started looking into running in college then and became obsessed. I started following some of my favorite sprinters at schools like Columbia.”
Not only through the commitment process, but also through O’Brien’s life she has a close-nit family supporting her every step of the way. “We went to almost every meet. She’s the youngest of 5. She supported her older siblings and they felt the need to support her,” said Josie O’Brien, Sean’s mother.
Some might say O’Brien’s love and skill for running was “in her blood” since her brothers and sisters ran track. O’Brien felt the pressure that “she had to do it.” According to Joise it, “turns out she learned to love running and competing. She really loves to win. Sean fell in love with her teammates and her coach and everything fell into place,” she added.
When asked “why Columbia?” O’Brien was not hesitant to give her answer. “Aside from the fact I always wanted to go to a school in the city, the vibe at Columbia was different from any other school I visited. The vibe from the city, campus, coaches, and team was so positive. I knew as soon as I went on my visit that I wouldn’t be as happy anywhere else.” Josie also feels this is the right place for daughter. As she has always seen her as “a city girl.” And Sean loves the energy and the ever-changing landscape,” she added.
With the winter track and field season right around the corner, O’Brien is ready to give her senior season her all and keep up her intense training as she gets ready for Columbia in the fall.
