Southold/Greenport cross country celebrates seniors, keeps perfect season alive

The magic number for the Southold/Greenport cross country team on Tuesday was seven — for the seven runners who were honored on Senior Day at Indian Island County Park in Riverhead.

The Settlers boys squad then went out to record their sixth and seventh victories of the season behind a pair of 15-50 wins over Center Moriches and Riverhead Charter.

The seniors are a special group who have matured into a quality team, leading the Settlers (7-0) to the top of Suffolk County League VIII.

“I’m really happy with our team this year,” said senior Ryan Duffy, who led everyone with a personal record on the 5K course of 17 minutes and 41 seconds. “Everybody’s really stepped up. That’s been awesome. Between our top five, top six, top seven runners, everybody stepped up. We have a very strong pack at the front.”

Southold demonstrated that on Tuesday, even with an obstacle or two.

“Anytime you have a course correction, and they don’t get lost, and everybody follows the course, that’s always a major win,” said Southold girls coach Denise McKeon, who directs the squad along with first-year boys coach Dan McGunnigle. “Everybody ran hard. They certainly all had times that were consistent. We’re really happy with how they did.”

The course had to be modified a bit due to a downed tree on a path and some flooding near the water, which was caused by Sunday’s remnants of Hurricane Isaias.

It might have made the race a bit longer.

“A little odd, but got through it,” Duffy said. “It’s still a full race. So, that’s all good.”

Duffy, who holds several school records, was happy with his time.

“I was a little sore today because I was running a little less last week,” he said. “I know what I need to work on before the postseason.”

It doesn’t hurt that the Settlers are a close team.

“I always felt like I fit in because I’ve always been good at running,” senior Liam O’Neil said. “I always felt like I was special at it. But this sport has definitely made me feel more connected, especially to Ryan and Emily [Kaelin], and my other teammates.”

“I think we all have a really great dynamic with each other,” added Kaelin, a senior who finished second in her race (21:37) as the lone member of the girls’ team. “Most of our runs are done together because we’re all really good friends. It’s just so much fun to get to run with everyone on the team every day.”

Especially when the team wins.

McKeon said that having fun was the key.

“They are very determined, and they have such a great balance of having fun and working hard,” McKeon said. “I think sometimes when people just focus on working hard, it doesn’t become fun anymore. I feel like success is in large part enjoying your process.”

Among the seniors, O’Neil was third overall at 19:04, followed by Will Sommo (20:11) and Kai Bossen (20:19), in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Tristan Davis was 11th (23:44), and Kyle Davis 14th (25:14).

Other Southold finishers: Eighth-grader Levi Silverman (10th, 23:41), sophomore Chris Kaelin (26:00) and juniors Mark Hoffmaster (12th, 24:11), Rory Jagel (17th, 26:19) and Luca Albanese (19th, 27:32).

Everyone runs for different reasons.

“It’s kind of exciting,” O’Neil said. “I feel like cross country is my best sport, although I do kind of favor spring track. Out of all the three sports I do, I definitely enjoy this. But seeing how it’s my last year, it’s a sad sort of happiness.”

The Settlers don’t have many more opportunities this fall. They will face Babylon in their last league meet on Oct. 20, before the divisional championships on Oct. 27 and the state qualifiers on Nov. 5. Both races will be at Sunken Meadow State Park.

“We realize this is our last one, and I think that we all want to make it the best we can be,” Duffy said. “Our goal is to make a run for the county championship. I believe Port Jeff’s going to be pretty big competition there.”

Southold’s ultimate goal is to reach the state championships in upstate Queensbury on Nov. 14.

“It would be really fun if the whole team could win the counties and go as a team,” Kaelin said.

Added McKeon:  “I would like to see them have their peak performances at the state qualifier or at states.”

The Settlers are certainly headed in the right direction.

Riverhead Charter recently started cross-country competition for boys and girls teams.

Senior Jakub Sobzcak was the squad’s top boys’ finisher in 27:51, while Noah Troiano (31:23) was next. Senior Nicole Lagun paced the girls in 33:47, followed by Andrea Peralta and Christina Adams (36:29 each).

“Overall, they did great,” coach Korey Fratello said. “We’re still just trying to build a program.

“We definitely have more kids than in previous years. We’ve had six, maybe, total boys and girls. Now there’s about 35 kids on the team.”

Fratello has been encouraged by the team’s improvement.

“There’s definitely progress,” she said. “Right now we’re really focusing on their running form and trying to get them to pick their knees up. That’s where the most progress we’re seeing.”