East, North Sending Four to State Cross Country Championship

The boys and girls Class ‘A’ cross country teams at Sachem East and North participated in the New York State Qualifying Meet at Sunken Meadow State Park (5K) on Friday afternoon.  Three of the four teams will be sending a total of four runners to the NYSPHSAA State Meet next week in Verona, N.Y.

Sachem East's Ryan Scarpelli, who finished fourth at 16:50, and Sachem North's Colin Eberhardt, who finished sixth at 16:55 will both compete in the state finals.

Sachem East's Rachel Paul, finishing first at 18:36, and Shannon O’Hehir, who finished sixth at 19:37, will join the boys upstate.  

Paul also beat her last time of 18:42 at Sunken Meadow, where she won her first Individual Division Cross Country Title on October 25.

In the team standings, Sachem East boys placed fourth and the North boys placed 10th. The East girls team placed third and the North girls team placed ninth.

North boys coach William Holl was full of praise for all his runners. 

“We ran the best we did this season here today," he said. "This is a difficult course, it was breezy but not too cold. I think we had a good handle on things, and we’ll keep working hard.” 

Holl also was very happy with Anthony Coccia, who finished in 18:14, Chris Pentek at 18:16 and James Trofa at 18:30, all of which recorded personal bests.

“We ran as well as we expected to run,” said East boys coach John Horst. “This is one of the most difficult courses in the northeast, it’s a Class A course.”

According to ArmoryTrack.com, the East girls team is ranked seventh in the state, and the highest rated school on Long Island. 

Sachem North junior co-captain Kelly Lavan placed 10th in 19:55.