North Shore runs away with county title

Of all its heady accomplishments, North Shore High had never achieved this romp.

Last Saturday’s Nassau County Class III cross-country championships at Bethpage State Park, was a Maroon – and magnificent - day of history. 

The Vikings of Sea Cliff/Glenn Head romped to the Class 3 championship by placing 10 girls in the top 25 that earned them All-County membership. 

No girls team in the county had ever sent 10 runners to All-County status. It was almost a side note the North Shore juggernaut winning the team county title by an astonishing 77 points. 

Coach Neal Levy’s North Shore cross-country dynasty has now won 17 county titles since 2006, this one coming after another undefeated regular season in which it won its 200th consecutive league meet. That is the largest cross-country win streak in Long Island history. 

“It’s a first for us,’’ senior captain Sophia Marchioli said. “We were all so thrilled. It’s usually just a few of us making all county, even if we win the county championship. It’s great to know we have such a widespread talent. We can rely on each other.’’

Marchioli finished in fourth place. North Shore girls gained four of the first six spots, led by sophomore Joanna Kenney, who finished runner-up with a 20:06.05. Others in the top six in addition to Marchioli and Kenney were senior Bella Martocci (fifth) and a splendidly stunning run by sophomore Chloe Connolly (sixth place).

Of North Shore’s All-County honorees, five are seniors and five are sophomores.

Levy is almost out of superlatives when discussing his club’s brilliance but came up with a new one to characterize the dominance. 

“The junior varsity doesn’t get a lot of credit but if our junior varsity ran the varsity race, they’d be county champions too,’’ Levy said. 

Also earning all-county with a top-25 placement were senior Annika Kaelin (14th); senior Kristen Arena (15), senior Kate Salerno (20), sophomore Emilia Aguirre (21), sophomore Hannah Checo (23); sophomore Nicoletta Kenney, who grabbed the coveted last county spot at 25. Nicoletta is the twin sister of Joanna. 

Sea Cliff’s hilly terrain is reputed for its beauty but that could play a role in the high school’s cross-country excellence. 

 “It’s a mix of talent, motivation and coaching we get from coach Levy,’ Marchioli said. “Living in Sea Cliff, there’s a lot of hills around us. Our coach uses that in our training. Which goes up a leg up against the other girls. We can be successful with that. We want to be successful, and the motivation of these girls is just amazing.’’

Levy doesn’t try to outthink why its program is extraordinary.

“They train at a higher level than most other people - committed to being the best version of themselves,’’ Levy said. “It’s no different than how does a school academically always outperform other schools.’’

As swell as the unbeaten season went, Levy never expected last Saturday’s history.

“Pleasantly surprised,’’ Levy said. “We had a difficult time of everybody having a good day on the same day. The fact that all 10 were able to run to their potential was really nice to see.’’

North Shore once had nine All-County finishers but never 10. The Kenney twins were new to the program last year and developed into top performers with Joanna placing highest. 

(Joanna) got a lot better from last year,’’ Levy said. “Training for a year, she improved her fitness level. She’s one of the best runners in the state for our class.’’

The most surprising performance was by far Connelly, who posted a personal best by one minute (21:34.76.) “She’s finishing her first year on the team and had battled a foot issue that put her on the shelf. “She improved so greatly in the biggest spot,’’ Levy said. 

Marchioli was also battling ankle tendinitis much of the season and a bad cold that’s lasted three weeks. 

“It was a relief to finally have a good race,’’ Marchioli said. “I was happy to have a breakthrough moment after all the hardship. 

After turning the county championships on its ear, Levy was amused to see his team just enjoy being young. 

“Afterward, they were making senior posters, taking pictures, acting like kids,’’ Levy said. “They’re robotic in their approach and after the race, they showed they’re typical teenagers. The stress was taken off of them.’’