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Shaped by sisterhood, driven by purpose: Hickey '26 leads with distinction

Shaped by sisterhood, driven by purpose: Hickey '26 leads with distinction

by Shannon Dufresne
 

As runners step back into the starting blocks and settle into position, Jane Hickey '26 grows still. She leans forward, gathers herself, and springs forward with control, building speed as the race unfolds. On the track, she measures each lap and closes with strength. On the soccer field, she moves with patience and resolve. In the classroom, she brings that same discipline and precision, earning recognition as a National Merit Commended Student. She competes with intensity and carries herself with composure.

That focus has propelled her to national recognition.

"Ursuline has opened doors I never knew existed, and 100% changed the trajectory of my life."
- Jane Hickey '26

Hickey has claimed New York State and Federation titles in the 800 meters, set a new Ursuline record at New Balance Outdoor Nationals (2:03.61), and recorded times that rank among the fastest in state history. At the Stanner Games, she ran 1:28.68 in the 600 meters — the sixth-fastest time ever recorded by a U.S. high school athlete. Lohud named her Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, and readers selected her for the Tom Whelan Athlete of the Year award, presented by White Plains Hospital.

Athletic Director Mrs. Dawn Cerrone describes her as "a generational talent on the track, possessing both the physical and mental skills to become an elite scholar-athlete."

Hickey credits discipline more than talent.

"Beyond winning races or running fast times, I'm most proud of the sense of discipline I've developed," she said.

"Jane is a generational talent on the track, possessing both the physical and mental skills to become an elite scholar-athlete."
- Mrs. Dawn Cerrone, athletic director

For Hickey, excellence builds quietly. She studies splits, stretches consistently, and prioritizes recovery. A personal record does not signal arrival; it raises the standard.

"There is always something more that I can do," she said.

She understands that most people see only the finish line. "Ninety-nine percent of people see what I do in a race," she said. "It's that 1% that see what it takes to get there."

As expectations grow, she reframes them. "Pressure is a privilege," she said. "It means people want to see me succeed."

That perspective keeps her grounded. "Most people only ever dream of competing on such a big stage," she said. "I get to run. I don't have to."

A 2026 National Merit Commended Student, Hickey applies the same discipline in the classroom. She maintains a structured routine, uses short windows of time efficiently, and protects rest and recovery. She does not wait for time; she makes it. She understands that focus requires intention.

"The sisterhood in Ursuline athletics is unmatched."
- Jane Hickey '26

Yet for all her individual accomplishments, Hickey speaks most passionately about her team. "The sisterhood in Ursuline athletics is unmatched," she said.

In the fall, she competed on the varsity soccer team, where long bus rides, shared meals, and demanding preseason training strengthened friendships that extend well beyond the game.

"In 10 years, I won't remember if we won a game on a random Tuesday night in October, but I'll remember the music blasting with the windows down on the drives to our away games."

On the track, she values something even deeper.

"No matter the result of any race, I can count on my best friends to be waiting for me at the finish."

She cheers loudly for teammates and embraces relays because they demand trust. She believes growth accelerates when athletes push one another with encouragement rather than comparison.

Younger teammates and classmates notice how she prepares and carries herself at meets and in the halls. She competes with focus, acknowledges others with respect, and accepts recognition without seeking it. As her profile rises, she stays approachable and grounded.

"It's possible to be more than one person at once," she said. "I can be a hardworking athlete, an excelling student, and still enjoy my life."

That balance reflects Ursuline's mission to form young women of intellect and integrity.

Next fall, Jane will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When she visited Chapel Hill, she recognized the same investment she has experienced at Ursuline: coaches who care deeply, professors committed to growth, and teammates eager to support one another.

Before she steps onto a new track, she reflects on where it all began.

"Ursuline has opened doors I never knew existed, and 100% changed the trajectory of my life," she said.

Jane Hickey '26 does more than set records. She embraces the work behind them and runs forward with gratitude, well prepared for what's next.

 

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