2011 Preview: East Boys & Girls Track & Field

Sachem East's boys and girls track programs enjoyed state-caliber success over the winter season. Having made sizable impressions at Cornell earlier in March, they both begin the spring season prepared to improve and reprove themselves worthy once again. Previously both League I teams, East's spring programs will now battle in equally scrappy League II.

Unlike the winter season however, dual meets now take on critical importance in the hunt for titles. The ability to cope with the added pressure and succeed will likely hinge as much on preparation and strategy as on raw skill.

East Girls

East grabbed the League I title with some stellar performances this winter, right before sending four of its finest upstate. Naturally, East appears primed to steal the limelight once again.

Longtime coach Pete McNeill will remain at the helm officially, although much of the head coaching responsibility now transitions to Dan Schaub. They are joined by fellow coaches Joe Coffey, Kathy McNeill, James Barracca, and Ashley Ortiz.

Likely to be the biggest fish in the slightly smaller League II pond this time out (almost a certainty, with roughly 130 athletes in its ranks), East has had nearly "90 percent of its winter roster" return to compete, according to Schaub. Viewing the winter season as a development period for its less-seasoned runners, Schaub added that the season will provide a more accurate glimpse of what it has to offer.

"The training wheels are off in a lot of ways," he said.

Absent this spring season due to graduation are several key athletes, including high jumper Kristen Faulkner and 11-time county champion Lisa Luchsinger, whose dominance as a sprinter got her the votes for Sachem East's outstanding senior female athlete of 2010 (she now attends Purdue). Seizing the initiative en route to the winter title and beyond, East not only recovered seamlessly but augmented its scoring capabilities in the process - the best of both worlds.

Even for a team of its size, the strength of its proven talent runs exceptionally deep - an ideal situation for mentoring the nearly 40 newcomers Schaub said had signed on. Rachel Paul (who holds an unbelievable No. 8 ranking nationwide for the indoor season) and Melanie Notarstefano in distance and relay events, Brittany Christiansen in the shot put, Alyssa Genduso and Meghan Walsh in long jump and triple jump respectively, and Amanda Catherall and Kelly Maranchuck in racewalking - four of whom represented East March 5 upstate and all of whom scored consistently, to name but a few - will ensure excellent performances in their spots.

Schaub said deficiencies in certain events will have to be dealt with shrewdly - the upside being that these will provide areas for motivated newcomers to shine alongside their veteran teammates.

The more frenetic schedule means focus is a must, so East will have to open firing on all cylinders on April 5 at home against Ward Melville (starts at 4:15 p.m.), its first of five dual meets. The Patriots' distance runners, Schaub said, are expected to offer the most intense challenge.

As in seasons' past, East will be a challenge to other athletes beyond its league in several invitationals - well beyond, in the case of the Penn Relays, scheduled for April 28 at 4 p.m. in Philadelphia, PA., and a little closer to home at the North Shore Invitational, penciled in for May 14 at 10 a.m.  

The League II championship meet will be on May 24 at Connetquot High School, set to begin at 3 p.m.

Other dual meets are:

• Lindenhurst @ East, April 13, 4 p.m.
• East @ Northport, April 26, 4 p.m. 
• Connetquot @ East, May 2, 4:15 p.m.
• East @ Sachem North, May 12, 6 p.m.

East Boys

Posting 4-2 in a strong League I last year, East's boys program undoubtedly held its own. It returns rock-solid in the distance running and high jump events, thanks to the states-worthy performances by seniors Alex Saavedra and Greg Markfelder this winter. Across the roster going into spring, athletes are aiming to step up even further.

Its switch to League II, said head coach Joe Orenzo, doesn't alter the level of competition expected. Much like the girls team, its size - 150 strong, split evenly between underclassmen and upperclassmen - means a potent mix of veteran talents and untapped potential will be on display.

"We have a talented crew that looks to be as strong as we were last season, with many freshmen and sophomores showing promise," he said.

Taking care of spots that were vacated by last year's graduates is one of the team's top priorities. Two events -  the mile and a slot in the 4 X 800-meter relay - open up in the absence of graduated captain/distance runner Mike Richards (now attending St. John's University). Orenzo named Ryan Scarpelli, a League I champion runner in both events during the indoor season (with a mile time of 4:34) and No. 10 in the county for the 5K, to fill in the mile blank. 

Another key loss was sprinter Brandon Davis, whom Orenzo called "the backbone of the team."  The 2010 grad, who now attends Full Sail University, holds a pair of school records in both the 100-meter (10.9 seconds) and 200-meter (23.18 seconds) dashes. In a first for an East male sprinter, Davis progressed up to the 2010 state qualifying meet, snagging fifth place in the 100-meter with a time 11.7 seconds. Morgan Genoino, a hungry junior talent, is expected to take over for Davis. 

Returning again to solidify scoring alongside Saavedra and Markfelder are vets Phil Rascona and Joe DiRienzo, both ambitious runners with cross country pedigrees and capable of piling on pressure. Joe DiRienzo made noise this fall when he finished second at the Section XI Division Cross Country Championships last October - only 21 seconds behind Saavedra's win on the grueling 3.1 mile course at Sunken Meadow State Park. Rascona was also a regular threat, with strong showings in both fall and winter to his credit.

In addition, 110-meter hurdler Greg Pekar will seek to improve over his old record. Against Brentwood last May, he reset the event's previous record with a time of 16.5 seconds.

While the girls team hosts Ward Melville on April 5, the boys will make their spring debut that day against the consistently competitive and close-scoring Patriots on the road. Its final dual meet will also be its first ever league meet against Sachem North, according to Orenzo, set for May 14.

East will have presences at three invitationals prior to the League II championship meet May 24 at Connetquot High School (3 p.m. start), including the Suffolk Officials Invitational on April 9 at Mt. Sinai High School at 9:30 a.m., the Westhampton Beach Invitational on April 30 at 9 a.m., and the Massapequa Chief Invitational scheduled for May 13 at 4 p.m.

Aside from the Ward Melville and the intradistrict meet, the other dual meets are:

• East @ Lindenhurst, April 14, 4 p.m.
• Northport @ East, April 26, 4:30 p.m.
• East @ Connetquot, May 2, 4:15 p.m.