Mount Saint Mary Track Standout Commits to Rutgers University

Mount Saint Mary Academy senior Kerry Dyke of Perth Amboy signed her college letter of intent on Friday, November 14 in a special ceremony on the school’s campus. Dyke, a track standout at the Academy, will attend and compete for Rutgers University next school year.

“There’s a certain feeling of accomplishment that comes from giving my best every day in the form of athletics,” Dyke said of competing. “I believe that Rutgers has a program that will help me be happy, healthy, and fast.”

Over the past four years, Dyke has been extraordinarily fast, setting school records in the 5k and 4k in cross country and the 3200m and 5k in indoor track, as well as a state record at the indoor track Prep Championship meet in the 3200m. Dyke is the only runner in school history to win three consecutive State Prep Championships.

In addition to state championship wins, the Mount senior has piled up dozens of major victories throughout her high school career, including first place finishes at the Shore Coaches Invitational and Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational for cross country and the Somerset County Champions for indoor track. She has earned numerous honors in cross country, including First Team All-Division, Star Ledger First Team All-Non-Public and First Team All-County, and Courier News First Team All-Area, in addition to All-Area, All-County, and All-Non-Public honors in indoor track and outdoor track.

Dyke is eager to attend Rutgers next year, not only for all the university can offer her as a runner but the experience she plans to have as a student artist. “Most importantly, I chose Rutgers for the education I will earn there,” she said. “Rutgers is a highly-ranked school nationally to begin with, where I will be able to greatly expand upon my academic knowledge. I appreciate their way of approaching fine art and feel that they would greatly benefit my growth as an artist.” Dyke intends to major in visual arts with a concentration in painting.

As she looks ahead to the next level, Dyke credits her coaches, teachers, and the intangible benefits of her Mount experience with preparing her both academically and athletically. “Learning both my abilities and my limitations, learning that I can both succeed and fall short, learning both responsibility and when to seek assistance, learning both how to be myself and how to work with others: these and others are the most invaluable lessons high school has given me that I will surely use in college,” she said.

Mount Saint Mary Academy is a Catholic, independent school which provides an exemplary college preparatory education for young women in grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1908 as a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy, the Mount remains committed to challenging each student to develop her fullest potential in a Christian atmosphere of love and caring.