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Sports

2010-11 Preview: Sachem North Girls Winter Track

The biggest program in the county gears up for its winter season.

A crew of promising rookies is set to join a solid core of veterans this time out for Sachem North girls winter track program. At nearly 150 athletes deep and showing no signs of shrinking, the sheer size of North's girls winter track program alone will no doubt make it a force to be reckoned with.

Last season's record: 4th place in League II championship meet; 12th in the county championship meet out of 18 teams

Coaches: Alex Young, assisted by Ryan Stillufsen and Mike Mastrogiacomo

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Top athletes: Three key members of last year's squad said goodbye upon graduation: Distance runners Karley Dutra and Leanne DeQuarto (DeQuarto, also a cross country and spring track competitor, ran in the 800- and 3,000-meter events and enjoyed "a breakout year," according to Young), and high jumper Kristin Alfano.

Several returners now step up to fill some of these voids, with some looming as potential double-threats. Among the seniors, Stephanie Richer had All-League honors in both the 55-meter hurdles and as a triple jumper, county champion pole vaulter Kayla Cataldo also took All-League honors in the 600-meter, and Kiera Wood enjoys All-League status in the 1000-meter and the triple jump, also named by Young to be North's "top distance runner." Samantha Swift, an All-League hurdler, will also be a regular in 55-meter hurdle heats.

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Some of the strongest from last time out among the younger sets: Junior and three-year competitor Shanice Futrell re-ups as a sprinter and long jumper (previously breaking 17 feet), while fellow junior Kristie Michta and sophomore Kelly Lavan will seek to repeat their All-League-caliber performances in the high jump and the 3,000-meter events respectively.

One of the most promising of those on their way up from the middle school program, Gabriela Czerw was named by Young as "an outstanding fielding athlete" who will be a factor in jumping events. Another freshman, Melissa Michels, has demonstrated talent as a sprinter.

"I think new kids will fill shoes for a few events," said Young. "We're reloading instead of rebuilding."

Expectations: Across the entire roster, the motivation and the work ethic are already apparent, helped in part due to runners coming off a strong and large cross country performance this fall (the team finished 3-2 in League II). Totalling 45 runners, it was the biggest girls cross country program in the county for the 2010 season.

That said, size alone doesn't trump all else, especially in a team sport where competitors often have more individual focus on their particular ability than they would elsewhere. Young, two decades into coaching (he also heads up the girls program for the spring season) and heading up the largest girls winter program in the county, is well aware of this, adding that he relies on workout variety and reinforcement from the veterans to keep everyone on task. 

"It might take a little more planning to make sure everyone gets the attention they need, but it's worked out well so far," said Young.

Complicating considerations for slots further will be a new Section-wide rule, allowing a maximum of 80 competitors per team per meet. The opinions on it so far vary, with some coaches favoring the change, stating that the smaller numbers help maintain order at the often-hectic crossover meets at Suffolk Community College's Western Campus in Brentwood.

Young, while understanding that the situation impacts his team quite differently than most (Suffolk County has nine girls teams with 80 or more competitors), was not as pleased but hopeful that the decision could be revisited in the future.

"The motive is unknown to me, but the coaches were not consulted," he said, adding that this is the first such occasion he can recall in his 20 years of coaching, also fearing a possible decline in participation as a result. "This is a painful one, we'll do what we can."

Key meets:

  • North @ SCCC Western Campus (Brentwood), Girls Crossover A Meet, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. (season opener)
  • North @ SCCC Western Campus (Brentwood), Girls Crossover B Meet, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m
  • North @ Armory, Marine Corps Holiday Classic, Dec. 27, 9 a.m.
  • North @ Providence Career & Technical High School, Rhode Island Classic, Dec. 29, 9 a.m.
  • North @ SCCC Western Campus (Brentwood), Girls Crossover C Meet, Jan. 2, 11:45 a.m.
  • North @ SCCC Western Campus (Brentwood), Girls Crossover D Meet, Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.

Bay Shore, Northport and Connetquot finished ahead last time out, so their competition in the crossovers and beyond could again prove fateful.

Seeking to test themselves beyond the usual Long Island teams, a select group from North will attend the Marine Corps Holiday Classic at the Armory in New York later this month. A similar trek will be made up two days later to Providence, RI for the Rhode Island Classic.

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