A track and field record that stood untouched for half a century at Pulaski Academy and Central School was finally broken on June 5, 2025, by junior Kylie Dye during the Section 3 State Qualifier Meet.

Dye leaped 18 feet, 3.5 inches in the long jump event, surpassing the previous mark of 17 feet, 6 inches set by Mary Jane Gates Montgomery in 1975. The 50-year-old record was the longest-standing girls’ track and field mark on the PACS record board.

The moment was made even more special by the history between the two athletes. In 2023, Gates Montgomery returned to Pulaski and met with Dye, then a freshman with her sights set on the record. The two shared stories, advice, and a mutual respect for the sport, a meeting that planted the seed for what became a milestone moment.

Following Dye’s record-breaking performance, Gates Montgomery connected with her via Zoom to offer congratulations and encouragement, a full-circle moment for both competitors spanning generations of PACS athletics.

Dye will have another chance to extend her record when she and several of her Lady Devils teammates compete at the New York State Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 13–14.

As the PACS community celebrates a new chapter in its track and field history, Dye’s achievement stands as a testament to perseverance, inspiration, and the power of setting big goals.