The Sachem North Flaming Arrows won the Peconic Invitational at Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays today behind the outstanding race efforts of the team’s three returning All-County runners. Senior Co-captain Elise Ramirez (1st) broke the meet record she set last year by 34 seconds with her 20:11 time. Junior Co-captain Mackenzie Coleman (2nd) ran a 20:48 on the 5K course.
Freshman Gabriella Mott placed 4th overall after a strong move on the hills just beyond the two mile mark to drop 2013 NYS Championship Meet runner senior Mariah Jno-Charles of Bellport. Varsity race Top 7 scoring was rounded out by sophomore rookie Amanda Carlson (15th place in 23:08), rookie juniors Samantha Giambrone (29th in 24:33) and Kaitlyn Licata (31st in 24:37) and veteran junior Julia Reilly (46th in 25:36).
The frosh squad took second in team scoring behind Riverhead in the first race of their Sachem North XC careers. Frosh runners were nervous and excited as first-year XC Coach Cailey Wood led the group through pre-race warm-up and drills. Allaura Dashnaw led the group out at the sound of the starter’s pistol. All were well-positioned near the half-mile mark before the runners headed into the trails at Red Creek Park.
Allaura emerged from the woods as a top 20 runner. She continued her charge over the last half-mile of the race to take 14th overall in 11:02 on the 1.5 mile frosh course. Allaura was followed by the hard-charging Nicole Batinsey (15th in 11:10), Mei-Lyn Stout (23rd in 11:32), eighth grader Gia Carr (25th in 11:41), Kelsey Flynn (32nd in 11:48) and Caitlyn Sinram (44th in 13:29). Following their race and posting of results, the frosh squad posed for pictures, ran their post-race warm-down and then cheered on their Varsity Race teammates.
The team enjoyed post-meet treats provided by team parents and Coach Woods’ mom before boarding the team bus for the return trip to Sachem North. A great season-opener for the team. Sachem North has its League 2 dual meet season-opener versus Connetquot on its home 5K course next Tuesday.