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Fran Montes - East Islip Hs (1979)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
East Islip coach Barry Goodman knew that star runner Fran Montes was used to having a lot on her shoulders. “Ever since she went to the states in the 8th grade, there’s been a tremendous amount of pressure on her. Everybody expected Montes to win all the time. But she couldn’t always do it. If she has a bad day or if she doesn’t come in first, their first reaction is ‘how do you feel when you lose?’”
Montes qualified for ten state championships between cross country, winter, and spring track for East Islip. Even with all of that experience at the state level, she found it more nerve-wracking to compete in the county championships. “I think the county meet is more prestigious than the state meet, because in the states you know you already qualified,” Montes said. “You never know what’s going to happen in a qualifying meet. Someone could just spurt by you.”
Fran was a trailblazer on the track. In 1975, she became the first female medalist for Section XI in track and field at the state level. She followed that up in 1979 by becoming the first woman from Long Island to break a 5 minute mile.
1974-1975
State Outdoor Championships- 5th Place in Mile Run. (5:17.4 HT)
1975-1976
State Outdoor Championships- 4th Place 800m Run (2:21.5 HT)
1976-1977
Cross Country County Champion (15:17 for 2.5 miles at Sunken Meadow)
State Cross Country Championships- 4th Place (17:56 for 3 mile @ Bear Mountain)
Outdoor State Championship- 4th Place 880 yd run (2:21.5 HT)
1977-1978
Cross Country County Class “A” Champion,
State Cross Country Championships- 3rd Place Class A & after the merge (17:53.9- 3-mile course at Malone Golf Course)
State Federation Cross Country Champion- (19:02.3 HT) @ Sunken Meadow
Indoor County Champion Mile & 2 Mile
Indoor State Championships- 3rd Place Mile Run (5:11.1 HT) and anchored 2nd place 2-mile relay
Outdoor County Mile Champion (5:03.4 HT- Meet record)
Outdoor State Championships- 3rd Place Mile Run (5:04.3 HT)
1978-1979
Indoor County Champion- Mile Run (5:07.6 HT) and Two-mile (11:20.8 HT) Two meet records.
Indoor State Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (4:59.9)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (5:18.2 HT)
Montes’ fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course is 24th on the list run by Section XI athletes. Fran attended the University of Colorado, then Adelphi University on Long Island.
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Pia Palladino- Huntington HS (1979)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
During the mid-1970’s, girls’ track and field was just getting started in Section XI and New York State. In 1975, their first spring state track meet took place. That year, winter track and field was still only for boys. The next fall, Section XI participated in its first female cross country County and State Championships. Those first female runners showed a lot of heart and determination to establish programs equal to those offered to boys. Pia Palladino was one of these early pioneers that set the stage for Section XI becoming a state leader in girls’ track and field.
Pia was born in England, grew up in Italy, then moved to Huntington as a teenager. Huntington had lucked out. By the time she graduated, Pia had won four individual county championships and one state title, all while earning a meet record. In addition, she anchored the 2-Mile relay team from Huntington, setting a state record while securing their team’s state championship. Pia Palladino represented herself, Huntington, and Section XI admirably, serving as an early ambassador for female runners at all levels.
1976-1977
Cross Country County Championships- 3rd Place (Sunken Meadow 2.5-mile course, 16:01)
State XC Championships- 8th Place (Bear Mountain 3-mile course, 18:14)
State Federation XC Championships- 13th Overall (Sunken Meadow 5K course, 19:49)
Outdoor County Mile Run Champion (5:15.0 HT, meet record)
Outdoor State Championships – 4th Place Mile Run (5:07.0 HT - LI record)
1977-1978
3rd Place Cross Country County Championships (Sunken Meadow 5K course, 19:19)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place 800m Run (2:17.8 HT)
Outdoor State Championships- 5th Place 800m (2:17.2 HT)
1978-1979
Cross Country County Champion (Sunken Meadow 5K course, 18:59)
3rd Place State XC Championships (Baird Park Poughkeepsie 5K course- 18:33)
XC Federation Team Race Champion, 4th fastest time of day overall.
Outdoor Harborfields Invitational- 2nd Place Mile Run (4:58.8- HS Personal Best)
Outdoor County Champion 2 mile (10:33.9, meet record)
Outdoor State Champion 2 Mile (10:37.8 , State & meet record) and anchored Huntington’s State Championship 2 Mile relay to victory (9:23.9 HT) State and meet record.
Paladino's fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course is still 27th on the list run by
Section XI athletes.
Pia competed at Georgetown University. During her career as a Hoya, she set six school records. Pia was voted the recipient of the Rev. Edmund Bunn Memorial Award (Outstanding XC Runner) in 1979, 1980, and 1981. In 1982, she earned All-American status by finishing 7th in the Outdoor 5000m run in a time of 16:52.33. Palladino was only the second woman elected to the Georgetown Hoya Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Diane Pugh - Amityville Memorial HS (1979)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
“She has been not only throwing the discus and shot farther than her opponents, but also throwing it out of sight.”, was the way Newsday reporter Ed Kelly described Diane Pugh’s performances over several weeks in 1979. Pugh’s six-foot frame and great arm span set up those remarkable string of meeting, starting in her last Conference Championships. At that meet she uncorked a throw of 162’ ½”, a new national and state record. As any athlete knows, it’s not just physical attributes that allow for great performances, but also mental fortitude. After the County Championship meet in 1979, Pugh stated, “I have to psych myself into what I’m doing. I try to totally wipe everything else out. It doesn’t bother me when people are watching. If I was a runner that would be much more nerve wracking. In this [the field events] you have to relax and get into it.”
All of this may not have happened if it were not for a coach from another high school, Jack Zito. Zito had watched Pugh throw at their dual meet the prior spring and noticed her natural talent, but also many flaws in her technique. He ended up working with Pugh on weekends with permission from her Amityville coach and the girls of his Bayport-Blue Point team. Pugh went on to say, “He changed what I was doing step by step, but the best advice he gave me was to keep my head back and my belly button forward”. That advice, and one small adjustment to the throwing circle, is what she needed for the record. What followed for Pugh was a break-out meet worthy of the record books.
1977
Outdoor County Champion SP 37’ 6.5” & Discus 118’ 6”. Both meet records.
1978
Outdoor County Champion SP 38’ 10.5 & Discus 122’ 11”. Both meet records.
Outdoor State Championships-2nd Place Discus (134’ 9.5”- New Long Island & County Record)
1979
Outdoor Conference Champion Discus (162’ 0.5”) National High School Record and 1st Place Shot Put (39’ 6.5”), 1st Place Long Jump (17’ 2”), and lead off leg on 880yd relay.
Outdoor County Champion in 3 events: SP 41’ 4.5”, Discus 157’ 7.5”, AND Long Jump 17’ 11.75”. All three marks were meet records
Outdoor State Championships- 1st Place Discus 155’ 9”, 4th Place SP 40’ 2.75”, 3rd Place LJ 18’ 1.5”. The mark of 155’ 9” was a State Meet record and stood until 1992.
Diane went on to play basketball at St. John’s University. Because of her athletic abilities, she was an outstanding rebounder and defensive player at center even though she was only 6’0” tall. Unfortunately, Diane did not get to compete in track and field at the college level. Had she continued, it would have been amazing to see just how far out of sight that discus would have traveled.
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Linda Detlefsen - Sachem HS (1980)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
The year was 1979 and the Girls New York State Championship meet was being held at The United States Military Academy at West Point. Just three years prior, women gained access to attend the academy for the first time in our country’s history. It was the perfect place to hold the State Championships for ladies to highlight just how far they had come. In an article in Newsday, Linda Detlefsen was quoted as saying’ “Girls, they’ve never known what they can do. They never realized they can go faster. Now, they know, and they are running with confidence.” At the start of her race, the mile run, Detlefsen was sitting in the pole position. When the gun went off, she was pushed in the infield. “They were out to get me”, she said jokingly. “Very unladylike. The next thing I knew I was in last place- so I just ran.” With the whole mile ahead of her, Linda did not panic and moved up little by little. Coming off of the last turn, she was able to outkick Sue Girard to win the race in a new State record of time of 4:57.7 HT.
1977-1978
Class “A” Cross Country County Championships- 5th Place (5K @ Sunken Meadow 19:19.6)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (5:08.5 HT)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (5:04.2 HT)
1978-1979
Class “A” Cross Country Championships- 3rd Place (5K @ Sunken Meadow 19:38)
State XC Championships- 2nd Place Class A ( 5K Baird Park Poughkeepsie 18:25)
Indoor County Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (5:11.3 HT), 2nd Place 2-Mile Run (11:28.9 HT)
State Indoor Championships- 6th Place Mile Run (5:14.9 HT), 6th Place 2-Mile Run (11:14.9 HT)
Outdoor Conference 1 Champion Mile (5:00.2 HT) and 2-Mile (11:16.4 HT)
Harborfields Invitational- First Long Island female to break 5-minute Mile outdoors (4:57.2 HT)
Outdoor County Champion Mile (5:04.4 HT)
Outdoor State Champion Mile Run (4:53.7 HT) State and Meet Record
1979-1980
Indoor County Champion Mile Run (5:11.8 HT) and 2-Mile Run (11:42.6 HT),
Indoor State Champion 1500m Run (4:43.8 HT)
New York Relay Invitational 800m- 2nd Place (2:14.8 HT)
Outdoor NYS Championships- 3rd place 1500m (4:36.6),
Linda decided to compete at the University of Georgia. As a Bulldog and post-collegiate runner, she achieved great success, but it wasn’t easy at first. Her running career at Georgia took off when the Bulldogs hired a new distance coach. Detlefsen earned All-American status Indoors in 1983 and Outdoors in 1983 and 1984. In 1984, she achieved what no other Georgia Bulldog track and field athlete had accomplished: she won a NCAA Championship in the 1500m indoors (4:21.32 FAT). Outdoors that same year, she was SEC champion in the 1500m (4:15.25 FAT) and qualified for the 1984 Olympic trials with her effort. Detlefsen was a United States National champion twice in her career in the 1500m run (1986 Outdoor Champion 4:08.00 FAT and Indoors in 1989). Detlefsen represented the United States at the 1987 World Championships in Rome (10th Place) and the 1987 Pan American Games, where she won the 1500m run in 4:07.84 FAT. She also represented the USA at the 1986 and 1990 Goodwill Games, both times placing 10th for her efforts. Detlefsen’s personal best time in the 1500m was at the Meet de Paris in 1987 at 4:04.89 FAT, and in the mile was 4:29.09 FAT at the Prefontaine Classic in 1987.
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Laura Whitney - The Stony Brook School (1981)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Long distance running excellence often runs in the family. Laura Whitney was a standout even compared to her talented older siblings. Starting as an eighth grader, she composed a string of three consecutive Class B state titles from 1977 to 1979. Her race in 1980 carried particularly high stakes as no one had ever won four state titles in cross country. The event started off well for Laura, and she was leading by over 50 yards going into the final 200 yards of the race. But Laura was starting to slow down and kept looking back. She was clearly exhausted. The finish line was on the football field and with 100 yards to go, and Whitney passed under the goal post on the football field. Thinking she had finished the race, she dropped to her knees. But she still had 70 yards to go to the far goal post where the race actually ended. Whitney got up, walked around for several seconds and realized that she stopped too soon. She slowly jogged the rest of the race and finished fourth. She spent an hour in the medical area after the race. Even after all that, Laura’s raw talent propelled her to the 12th fastest time of the day after the merge. So, like a true champion, there was only one thing for Laura to do. First, she ran at the State Federation meet the very next weekend and won the individual race championship. (18:27.9 – 5K Sunken Meadow). Then, she qualified for the Kinney National Meet in San Diego and placed 16th in the race to earn All- American status. Needless to say, one year later, she returned to the State Championships to win her fourth title. Save for a bit of confusion, it would have been her fifth. Laura Whitney was that consistently fast.
1977-1978
Class B New York State XC Champion, 10th overall after merge (18:13.4 @ Malone Course 3-mile)
Outdoor County Champ 2-mile (11:01.3 HT- County Record) & anchored Championship 2-mile relay
Outdoor State Championships- 3rd Place 2-Mile Run (10:58.0 HT- Long Island Record) & anchored 5th Place 2-Mile relay.
1978-1979
Class B New York State XC Champion, 4th overall after merge (18:35 @ Baird Park Poughkeepsie 5K)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place 2-Mile Run (11:00.0 HT)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place 2-Mile Run (10:39.8 HT)
1979-1980
Class B New York State XC Champion, 2nd Overall (20:11 @ Green Lake State Park, Syracuse 5K)
Eastern States Cross Country Champion
Outdoor State Championships- 5th Place 3000m Run (10:07.5 HT)
1980-1981
Class B New York State XC Championships- 4th Place, 12th Overall after merge
State Federation XC Individual Race Champion, 2nd fastest time of day. (18:27.9 @ 5K Sunken Meadow)
Kinney Eastern Regional Qualifying Race- 5th Place (18:15.8 5K @ Van Cortlandt Park)
Footlocker Nationals in Cross Country- 16th place (Top 20 are awarded All-American status)
1981-1982
Class C New York State XC Champion, 4th Overall after the merge (21:11.3 @ Malone Course 5K)
Whitney’s Sunken Meadow State Park time of 18:26.2 stood as the top time for a Section XI competitor for over 20 years. She is presently ranked 4th all-time almost 30 years later. Laura competed at Stony Brook University during her collegiate career.
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Cheryl Klein-Obelar - Bellport HS (1984)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Cheyrl Klein started out as a volleyball player before her freshman social studies teacher nudged her toward track and field. That, along with a great work ethic, was it all took to send Cheryl down the path of success. Bellport High School did not have a winter track program back in the early 1980’s, so unlike distance runners who at least have cross country in the fall, Cheryl had to train for a large part of the year without consistent competition. The lack of indoor competitions may have been a blessing in disguise because Klein spent that time training with weights and working on technique. By February of her senior year, Klein was 5’ 8” and 215 pounds of muscle. Able to bench press 280 lbs, Klein was ready to compete in her first Indoor National Championship. She won, then went on to set several state records that spring.
1981
Outdoor State Championships – 4th Place Shot Put (41’ 4”)
Empire State Games- 2nd Place Scholastic Shot Put (41’ 10”)
1982
Colgate Games Indoor Shot Put Champion- (42’ 6.5”)
Outdoor State Champion Shot Put (44’ 11.5”- Meet Record) and 2nd Place Discus (122’ 3”)
Empire State Games Scholastic Division Champion- Shot Put (44’ ¾”) and Discus (139’ 7”)
1983
Colgate Games Indoor Shot Put Champion- (41’ 10.75”)
Penn Relay High School Girls Shot Put- 2nd place (44’ 5”- Jr Class State Record)
St. Anthony Invitational Champion- Shot Put (43’ 1”) and Discus (141’ 0”)
Outdoor State Champion in Shot Put (44’ 7.5”) and Discus (131’ 10”)
Athletic Congress (TAC) Junior Nationals- 5th Place Shot Put
Empire State Games Scholastic Division Champion- Shot Put (43’ 8”) and Discus (147’ 10.75”)
1984
Colgate Games Indoor Shot Put Champion- (44’ 7.25”)
Indoor National Champion Shot Put (45’ 4”)
Penn Relay Champion (47’ 9.25”) New State Record
St. Anthony Invitational Shot Put Champion (48’ 3”) New State Record
Louck’s Games Champion in Shot Put (46’ 9.75”) and Discus (134’ 11”)
Suffolk County Class Championships- 1st Place Shot Put (49’ 8.5”) New State Record
This throw was a State record that stood for 26 years. Still a Section XI record in 2020.
Outdoor State Champion in Shot Put (46’ 8.5” – Meet Record) and Discus (139’ 8”)
Athletic Congress (TAC) Junior Nationals- 3rd Place Shot Put (46’ 10.75”) and 4th Place Discus (150’ 11”)
Empire State Games Open Division Champion- Shot Put (47’ 2.5”) and Discus (153’ 11.25”)
The success Cheryl experienced in high school continued while she represented the University of Houston from 1985 to 1989. Klein was a three-time All-American in the shot put (Indoors in 1987 and Outdoors in both 1986 and 1987). While at Houston, she set outdoor records in both the shot (53’ 2.75”) and discus (177’ 9”). Indoors she set the shot record at 54’ 8.75”. Both of her shot put marks still stand as University of Houston records and her discus record stood for 32 years.
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Melinda Case - Smithtown West HS (1986)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Like many successful athletes, Melinda Case hated to lose. In addition to her natural talents, it was the driving force of her success. It drove her to train with the goal of being a champion. It was obvious to her competitors that when they were jumping against Case, she was going to be focused and that they were going to have to bring their best to beat her. What many people didn’t know was that Melinda hated the attention that success brings to an athlete. She’d rather be in an event where others were competing at the same time. She had more of a challenge with the high jump, where the focus was on just her while she was jumping. It was not the pressure that she disliked; she was used to pressure. She put more pressure on herself than anyone else possibly could. Melinda was just a shy person and did not like the spotlight. It is probably why she liked competing in the pentathlon in the spring, in addition to the fact she was also very good at it. Melinda liked the challenge of competing in five different events, not just one. It gave her more chances to challenge herself to be her best.
1984
Indoor State Championships- 4th Place High Jump (5’ 5”)
Outdoor State High Jump Champion (5’ 8”)
Empire State Games High Jump- 2nd Place (5’ 6.25”)
1985
Indoor State Champion High Jump (5’8”)
Indoor National Championship Meet- 3rd Place High Jump (5’ 9”)
Penn Relay High School Championship High Jump- 2nd Place (5’ 8”)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place Pentathlon (3438 Pts)
Eastern States High Jump Champion (5’ 9”)
TAC Junior National Championship Heptathlon (4025 pts)
Empire State Games High Jump Champion (5’ 7”)
1986
Indoor State Champion High Jump (5’8”)
Indoor National Championships High Jump- 2nd Place (5’ 8”)
Penn Relays High Jump- 2nd Place (5’ 9”)
Eastern States High Jump Champion (5’ 6”)
Outdoor State Pentathlon Champion (3526 Pts)
Melinda went on to compete for West Virginia University. There, she focused on the heptathlon and had a personal best of 4523 points.
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Christine Gentile - Babylon HS (1988)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Christine Gentile had been running in big races since she was an eight grader. But running at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden as a junior was a bit too much pressure, even for the seasoned Gentile. “When I looked up and saw all of the people, I became very scared,” said Gentile. “I never experienced anything like that in my life.” Despite her serious case of stage fright, she still finished sixth in the race. Some athletes would have been satisfied with the performance, but Christine was not. She would have to wait another year to fulfill her goal of being a Millrose Games champion. On that night, she walked into the Garden and said to her coach Marshall Aykroyd, “Coach, this place looks smaller.” That’s when Aykroyd knew how confident she was that night. Riding that confidence, Gentile ran to victory on the Garden track (11 laps to the mile) in a time of 4:54.90. This race was just the first in a string of big race victories for Gentile in the 1500m and Mile. “You have to be a tough competitor in this race,” she explained that night. She would prove a tough competitor at the State Championship and the National Scholastic Championship, winning the indoor mile at both events.
1983-1984
Class B County Cross Country Champion
State Class B XC Championships- 8th Place (19:52 5K Course Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie)
1984-1985
Class B County Cross Country Champion (18:54.4, 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
State Class B Champion, 2nd fastest time of day. (17:31, 5K Course Saratoga State Park, Saratoga)
State Federation Championships- 1st Place Individual Race (18:11.3) 2nd overall 5K Van Cortlandt Park
Indoor State Championships- 2nd Place 1500m Run (4:37.7 HT)
1985-1986
Class B County Cross Country Champion
State Class B XC Championships- 6th Place (19:12 5K Course SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton)
Indoor Nationals 1500m - 8th Place
Junior Pan American Games- 5th Place 3000m (9:52.0)
1986-1987
Class B County Cross Country Champion
State Class B XC Champion, 4th fastest time of day. (18:44, 5K Course Elma Meadow Course, Elma)
Indoor State Championships- 3rd Place 1500m (4:41.89 FAT)
Indoor Nationals One Mile Run- 4th Place
1987-1988
High School 5th Avenue Mile – 3rd Place
Class B County Cross Country Champion
XC State Class B Champion, 2nd fastest time of day. (18:43, 5K Course New York Tech, Long Island)
Millrose Games Mile Champion (4:54.90 FAT @ Madison Square Garden)
Indoor State Champion 1500m Run (4:41.6 FAT)
National Scholastic Indoor Mile Champion (4:46.49 FAT)
Penn Relay 1500m Champion (4:32.50 FAT)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place 3000m (10:04.5), 2nd Place 1500m Run (4:30.8)
Gentile’s fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course is 14th on the list run by Section XI athletes.
More on next page.
College Career- University of Texas & Villanova University: She was a member of the 1991 NCAA XC championship team while at Villanova. On the track side of her running she was an individual All-American in the 1500m outdoors (1992) and a member of an All-American Indoor 4x800m relay team (1992).
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Allison Williams - Brentwood HS (1989)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
While not all athletes have the drive for perfection, many of the great ones tend to have it to an extreme. After finishing a race at the 1989 state championship meet, Allison Williams described her 400m hurdle performance to a reporter. “I was disgusted with my time, was not as smooth as I wanted to be, I was both bothered by fatigue, my steps into the first hurdle were off — I wanted to hit it in 22 strides, I hit it in 24 — and I faded in the final stretch,” Williams said. “I’m not real happy.”
These were the words of the New York State Champion in the hurdles. Williams had finished 1.5 seconds ahead of her closest competitor and was not happy with the results.
“To the everyday spectator, you’d think I’d run wonderful(ly) because I’d won. But you tend to over-exaggerate your mistakes when you’re out there… Everyone says, ‘Great race’ and I smile and go away. My coach understands, my mom understands. And my boyfriend understands. No one else understands.”
It’s hard for many to understand being disappointed with such an outstanding performance, but Williams was simply in the mindset of a great athlete trying to be even greater.
1986
Indoor State Champion 55m Hurdles (8.28 FAT), Member of 4th Place 4x400m Relay
Outdoor State Championships 400m Hurdles- 6th Place (65.66 FAT), Member of 6th Place 4x100m relay
1987
Indoor NYS Championships 5th Place 55mH (8.30 FAT)
Member of 3rd Place 4x200m relay
Outdoor NYS Champion 100mH (14.27 FAT- Meet record)
Member of 4th Place 4x100m relay
1988
Outdoor State Champion 400mH (61.15 FAT)
Member of 5th Place 4x100m Relay
1989
Indoor Colgate Games 2nd Place 55mH (7.83 FAT)
Indoor Nationals 2nd Place finish in 55mH (7.93 FAT)
Outdoor County Championship Meet- 1st Place 100mH, 400mH and member of 4x100m & 4x400m relays
Outdoor State Champion 400mH (61.73 FAT), Member of 5th Place 4x100m Relay
Eastern States Champion 100mH (13.8)
Keebler International Prep Invitational Champion 100mH (13.88 FAT) and 2nd Place 300mH (42.68 FAT)
Allison still holds the Section XI and LI Indoor records for the 55mH (7.83 FAT) to this day. Outdoors, she holds the Section XI record in the 100mH (13.88 FAT) and the Section XI and LI record for the 300mH. (42.68 FAT)
Williams decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh and to pursue college track and field and her future goals. While at Pitt, she was a three-time All-American: 1993 & 1994 All-American 100m Hurdles and as a member of the 4x400m Relay in 1990. Allison was a 4-time Big East Champion in the 55mH and 2-time champion in the 100mH. To this date, she owns the Panther’s 55mH (7.64 FAT) and 100mH (13.12 FAT) records at Pittsburgh. During her graduation year, Williams was awarded the 1994 NCAA Woman of the Year award for the state of Pennsylvania. She now goes by the title of Doctor Williams, having earned a PhD in Exercise Physiology.
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Lynette Wigington- Mattituck HS (1997)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Most track and field athletes are either good at the long jump or a the triple jump. Some can compete fairly well in the two events, but tend to have a dominant jump. Lynette Wigington was simply outstanding in both. She still holds the Long Island records for outdoors in both events some twenty years after graduating high school.
Success came early for Lynette; she won the outdoor long jump title as a freshman. Like any athlete, she had her ups and downs during her career thanks to injuries and illness. Her senior year, however, seemed to go perfectly. Wigington won the state meet, multiple national titles, and even a gold watch at the Penn Relays by defeating the National Indoor record holder in the long jump.
1993 (8th Grade)
Outdoor Division III Championships- 1st Place Long Jump (16’ 2”), 2nd Place HJ (4’ 10”), 3rd Place TJ (33’ 10”)
1994 (9th)
Outdoor County Meet Results ?
Outdoor State Champion Long Jump (18’ 7”)
Empire State Games Triple Jump Champion- (39’ 8.75”)
1995 (10th)
Outdoor Division III Championships- 1st Place Long Jump (18’ 3”), High Jump (5’ 0”), Triple Jump (37’ 5.5”)
Outdoor County Meet Results ?
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place Long Jump (18’ 8.5”) & 6th Place Triple Jump (37’ 2.5”)
1996 (11th)
National Scholastic Indoor Championships 1st Place Long Jump (20’ 5”) and 4th Place Triple Jump )40’ 1.5”)
Penn Relay Champion- Long Jump (19’ 5”)
Outdoor County Champion- Triple Jump (39’ 2.5”)
Outdoor State Championships- 3rd Place Triple Jump (36’ 0”)
AAU Junior Olympics- 1st Place Long Jump (20’ 4.25”) and 3rd Place Triple Jump (40’ 10.25”)
US Junior Track and Field Championships- 7th Place (40’ 6.75”)
Empire State Games Long Jump Champion- (19’ 10”)
1997 (12th)
Reebok Challenge (Boston) 1st Place Long Jump (19’ 11.75”) and Triple Jump (40’ 5”) Both meet records
National Scholastic Indoor Championships- 1st Place Triple Jump (40’ 7.5”), 2nd Place Long Jump (18’ 8”)
Outdoor County Champion- Long Jump (20’ 6.75”) and Triple Jump (41’ 4.25”)
Outdoor State Class B Champion Long (20’ 2”) & Triple Jumps (40’ 11”) Best jumps of the day in both events, regardless of class.
Golden West Champion Long Jump (20’ 1.75”) & Triple Jump (41’ 7.75”)
(Awarded the Camelia Award for Outstanding female athlete at the meet)
USATF Jr National Championships- 1st Place Long Jump (20’11.25”) , Triple Jump 42’ 0.5”
US Junior National Champion Long Jump (20’ 10.75”)
Lynette attended Barton Community College in Kansas, a NJCAA track and field powerhouse. In 1998 at the Indoor NJCAA Championships, she placed 3rd in both the Indoor National long (20’ 2.25”) and triple (39’ 9.75”) jumps. After sitting out a year while transferring to Odessa College in Texas, Lynette came back and won the National Junior College championship in the triple jump (40’11”) and placed 2nd in the long jump (20’ 5”). In July of 2000, competing unattached, Wigington jumped a PR in the long jump with a 21’ 6.75”.
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Joy Ganes - Bay Shore HS (1997)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
How many National class high jumpers do you know who would run on a 4x400m relay on the day of a championship meet? Not many, but Joy Ganes was just one of those athletes. In addition to her individual specialty event, Joy also was a very vital part of her team by participating in other events. For example, in the Large school indoor championships in 1997, Ganes won the 300m, high jump, and the triple jump. Outdoors that same year she was selected 1st team All-county high jump, 2nd team in the 400mH, and 3rd team in the triple jump. At the 1996 outdoor state championships, she ran on the Bay Shore 4x400m relay that placed 3rd and set a Suffolk County record of 3:52.88 (FAT). Ganes was one of the best all-around athletes that Section XI track and field has ever seen.
1995
Indoor State High Jump Champion (5’ 5”), Indoor Nationals High Jump- 2nd place (5’ 7”)
1996
Indoor County High Jump Champion (5’ 7”), Member of championship 4x400m relay
Indoor State High Jump Champion (5’ 8”)
Indoor Nationals High Jump- 3rd place (5’ 7.75”)
Hartford Invitational High Jump Champion (5’ 10.75”- Outdoor County Record) Still Stands in 2020.
Outdoor County High Jump Champion (5’ 4”), Member of championship 4x400m relay
Outdoor State High Jump Champion (5’ 9”)
1997
Indoor County Champion High Jump (5’ 9.75”), Member of championship 4x400m relay
Indoor State High Jump Championships- 2nd Place (5’ 10”) County Record at the time.
Indoor Nationals High Jump- 2nd place (5’ 9”)
Penn Relay High Jump Champion (5’ 10”)
Outdoor County High Jump Champion (5’6”), 2nd Place 400m hurdles (62.12 FAT), Member of championship 4x400m relay
Outdoor State High Jump Champion (5’ 8”)
Golden West Invitational High Jump- 2nd Place (5’ 10”)
Track and Field High School All-American- High Jump
Joy went on to attend college at the University of North Carolina, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). While competing for the Tar Heels she was a six-time All- American in the high jump (3-Indoors, 3-Outdoors). She was the first Tar Heel to win four consecutive ACC titles in a single event. (High Jump, 1998-2001) She was also a three-time ACC high jump champion outdoors (98, 99, 01). Her personal best mark in the high jump while at North Carolina was 6’ 0”.
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Amy Linnen-Mount Sinai HS (2000)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
For Amy Linnen, the proudest moment in her pole vaulting career wasn’t winning an Outdoor National Championship, nor was it qualifying for the Olympic Trials only two years after learning to pole vault. Surprisingly, she was most proud of her powers of persuasion. Linnen was the driving force behind getting the pole vault added to the list of sanctioned events for girls in Section XI and in many other areas across the nation.
As a freshman and sophomore in high school, Amy was a gymnast. She even qualified for the All-around competition at the State Championships. Right around this time, she was dating a pole vaulter from the Mount Sinai boys’ team. Whenever she would ask why you never see girls in the event, she was given responses based on stereotypes and theories about women lacking strength. Her boyfriend, however, was encouraging and suggested she go to a pole vaulting camp. Unfortunately, there was no girls’ event to compete in. Amy was allowed to compete with the boys’ team, a practice that hadn’t been seen since the early 1970s, when girls’ track and field didn’t exist.
With the help of her athletic director and coaches, pole vaulting was added to the list of sanctioned events for females in Section XI. Linnen immediately capitalized on the decision by becoming the first ever county champion in the Spring of 1999. Many athletes competing today owe a debt of gratitude to Amy and her pioneering advocacy.
1999
Outdoor County Champion- 100mH (15.01 FAT) and Pole Vault (9’ 6”)
Outdoor State Champion Pole Vault (12’ 0”), Class B 100mH- 3rd Place (15.37 FAT)
2000
Indoor Yale Invitational Champion- Pole Vault (12’ 6”)
Indoor County Champion Pole Vault and High Jump, 2nd Place County in 55m Hurdles
Indoor State Champion Pole Vault (11’ 0”), 4th Place State 55m Hurdles (8.46 FAT)
Nike Indoor National Championships- 2nd Place Pole Vault (12’ 4.75”)
Eastern States Pole Vault Champion – (12’ 10”) Indoor National Record
Penn Relay Champion (11’ 10.5”)
Loucks Games Champion (12’6”)
Outdoor County Champion 100mH (15.06 FAT), Pole Vault (12’ 0”) & High Jump (5’ 4”)
New York State Pole Vault Champion (12’ 0”)
National Champion Pole Vault- 13’ 0.25” State Record, Qualified for the Olympic Trials
Amy decided to compete at the University of Arizona. During her first year, she was awarded All-American status because of a 5th place finish at both the Indoor and Outdoor NCAA championships. As a sophomore she won the Indoor Championships by setting an NCAA record of 14’ 10.25”, a record that would stand for 12 years. In 2003, she again was awarded All-American status with a 6th place finish despite suffering an injury at the meet. In what would be her senior year at Arizona, Linnen red-shirted because of the injury and decide instead to train in order to qualify for the 2004 Olympics. It was also during this time that her pole vault coach at Arizona moved to the University of Kansas. Amy decided to follow him there and in 2005, she once again won the NCAA championship with a jump of 14’ 1.25”. Because of her many ground-breaking accomplishments, Linnen was voted into both the University Arizona and University of Kansas Hall of Fames. In addition, she was named to the NCAA Silver Anniversary Indoor Team. This award recognized female student athletes form the first 25 years of women’s track and field championships.
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Jillian Mastroianni - Sayville HS (2000)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Jillian Mastroianni amassed an incredible list of high-level accomplishments over her high school running career. According to her coach Glenn Drago, Mastroianni was able to maintain such consistent excellence thanks to her focus and strive for perfection. Jillian was introduced to running by her father, who enjoyed jogging. She admitted that she didn’t know why she liked to run so much; she was quoted as saying, “I must have a physical fitness obsession.” Part of that obsession included intense training. Jillian was known to do a large number of push-ups and sit-ups at night before going to bed. She would train with weights and run six miles or longer each day. Coaches during her era were totally amazed at the consistency of her performances and by how durable she proved. Even after an illness or injury, she would return even better than before. Mastroianni was a champion obsessed with excellence, and excellence is what she produced on the track and over numerous cross country courses.
1995-1996 (8th Grade)
Class B County Champion XC
Class B State XC Championships- 6th Place (20:11.9, 5K @ Corning Community College, Corning)
Indoor County Championships 3000m- 2nd Place (10:21.6)
1996-1997 (9th)
Class B County XC Champion (18:56.3 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
Class B State XC Championships- 3rd Place (20:43, 5K @ St. Lawrence)
Indoor County Champion 1500m (4:48.1) & 3000m (9:59.8- County record)
Indoor State Champion 1500m (4:46.91 FAT) & 3000m (10:07.48 FAT)
National Scholastic Indoor Champion 2-Mile Run (10:39.98 FAT)
Penn Relay Champion 3000m (9:50.57 FAT)
Outdoor County Champion 1500m (4:39.82 FAT) & 3000m (10:01.37 FAT)
Outdoor State Class B & Federation Champion 3000m (9:51.75 FAT) & 2nd Place 1500m (4:33.82 FAT)
1997-1998 (10th)
Class B County XC Champion (18:40.3- Fastest time of day)
Class B State XC Champion- (19:10, 5K @ New York Institute of Technology, Long Island) Fastest time of day
NYS Federation Champion- (18:44.5, 5K @ Bowdoin Park)
Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals All American (18:40.7- 15th Place @ Orlando Florida)
Indoor State Champion 1500m (4:50.00 FAT) and 3000m (10:03.02 FAT)
Indoor National Championships 2 Mile Run- 4th Place (10:36.04 FAT)
Penn Relay Champion 3000m (9:57.31 FAT)
Golden West Invitational Mile- 2nd Place (4:48.03 FAT)
National Scholastic Outdoor Track Championships- 3rd Place 2-Mile Run (10:31.27 FAT)
1998-1999 (11th)
Class B County XC Champion (18:28.4 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
Class B State XC Champion- (18:42, 5K @ Mt Van Hoevenburg, Lake Placid) Fastest time of day by 35 seconds
Foot Locker Northeast Regional Champion (17:54.2 5K @ Van Cortlandt Park)
Foot Locker Nationals All American (18:27.3 14th Place @ Orlando Florida)
Millrose Mile- 2nd Place (5:00.22 FAT) @ Madison Square Garden
Indoor County Championships- 2nd Place 1500m (4:46.6) & 2nd Place 3000m (9:54.2)
Indoor State Championships- 2nd Place 3000m (9:57.76 FAT)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place 3000m (10:03.32 FAT)
Golden West Invitational- 5th Place 3200m (10:44.77 FAT)
1999-2000 (12th)
Class B County XC Champion (19:03.3 5K @ Sunken Meadow) Fastest time of day
Class B State XC Championships- 3rd Place (19:09 @ SUNY Westchester CC) 4th Fastest time of day
Foot Locker Northeastern Championships- 3rd Place (18:14 5K @ Van Cortlandt Park)
Foot Locker National Championships- 20th Place (17:55 @ Orlando Florida)
Millrose Mile- 2nd Place (5:03.72 FAT)
Penn Relay Champion 3000m (9:47.70)
Golden West Invitational Champion 3200m (10:30.14 FAT)
Mastroianni's fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course remains the 5th fastest ever run by a Section XI athlete.
Jillian competed at both Stanford and Dartmouth for her college career. As a freshman at Stanford, Jillian had an outstanding year. She was in her team’s top seven almost every meet. Her top finish was at the Notre Dame Invitational, where she placed third overall and first on her team. At the NCAA Cross Country Championship race, she was their sixth finisher on a team that placed third overall.
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Laura Biscardi - Shoreham Wading River HS (2005)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
A true student of the sport, Lauren achieved great success learning everything there is to know about the art of high jumping. It not only helped her own achievements, but countless others on Long Island. Her outstanding technique allowed her to win two Indoor National Championships while competing for Shoreham-Wading River. Biscardi earned a master’s degree in Sport Science with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from Hofstra University. Lauren holds certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN). She is currently working as a PhD student at George Mason University in the Exercise, Fitness, and Health Promotion specialization. Biscardi went on to apply this knowledge as a coach, guiding many athletes toward success.
2001
Outdoor County Championships- 9th Place (4’ 10”)
Eastern States Championships- 5th Place (5’ 0”)
2002
Brown Invitational Champion- High Jump (5’ 6”)
Yale Indoor Classic- 1st Place High Jump (5’ 6”)
Indoor County Champion- High Jump (5‘ 4”)
Indoor State Championships- 6th Place High Jump (5’ 5”)
Outdoor County Championships- 2nd Place High Jump (5’ 4”)
Outdoor Class B State Champion High Jump, 2nd Place Federation (5’ 5”)
Eastern States Championships- 3rd Place High Jump (5’ 6”)
2003
Yale Indoor Classic- 1st Place High Jump (5’ 7”)
Indoor County Champion- High Jump (5’ 6”)
Indoor State Champion- High Jump (5’ 7”)
6th Place at Indoor Nationals (5’ 7”)
Outdoor County Champion High Jump (5’ 8”)
Outdoor State Champion High Jump (5’ 7”)
Adidas Indoor National Championships- 6th Place High Jump (5’ 7”)
Empire State Games Champion- High Jump (5’ 8.75”)
2004
Yale Indoor Classic- 1st Place High Jump (5’ 8”)
Bishop Loughlin Games Champion- High Jump (5’ 9”- Meet record)
Indoor County Champion- High Jump (5’ 7”)
Indoor State Federation Champion- High Jump (5’ 9”)
National Scholastic Indoor Champion- High Jump (5’ 8”)
Nike Indoor National Champion- High Jump (5’ 8.75”)
Loucks Games Champion- High Jump (5’ 8”)
Outdoor County Champion- High Jump (5’ 8”)
Outdoor NYS Federation Champion- High Jump (5’ 10”)
Adidas Outdoor National Championships 2nd place High Jump (5’ 8.75”)
2005
Bishop Loughlin Games- 2nd Place High Jump (5’ 8”)
Yale Indoor Classic- 1st Place High Jump (5’ 8”)
Indoor County Champion- High Jump (5’ 6”)
Indoor Stanner Games High Jump Champion (5’ 10.5”- Indoor record that still stands as of 2020)
National HS Hall of Fame Classic Champion- High Jump (5’ 9”) @ Armory
Eastern States Champion- High Jump (5’8”)
Nike Indoor Nationals- 4th place High Jump (5’ 7”)
National Scholastic Indoor Championships- 5th Place (5’7”)
Outdoor County Champion- High Jump (5’3”)
Outdoor NYS Federation Championships- 2nd place High Jump (5’ 7”)
Lauren attended the University of Notre Dame for three years. In 2007, she placed third at the Big East Outdoor Champions. Her best outdoor mark for the Fighting Irish was 5’ 8.75”. She graduated from SUNY Stony Brook in 2009, but did not compete there. In 2010, she attended graduate school at SUNY Albany and competed using her last year of eligibility. Lauren is presently working on her doctorate and is the high jump coach at George Mason University.
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Brittany Sheffey - Bellport HS (2007)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
Brittany Sheffey was born with the need to move. It didn’t take long for her mother to realize this. “From when she was very young, I knew she’d be a runner. She was pushing her own stroller at one and a half. She never wanted to be carried. I knew she was going far,” Mrs. Sheffey said. Not only did she go far, but she also went fast. Sheffey was county champion by her 8th grade year. She competed in numerous national championships throughout her high school career, finishing in the top 10 in both the 800m and the mile.
2001-2002
Outdoor State Qualifier 1500m (4:59.71 FAT) 7th Grader
2002-2003
Class A County XC Championships- 3rd Place (19:21.2 5K @ Sunken Meadow- 4th fastest time of day)
Indoor County Champion 1500m (4:48.47 FAT)
Indoor State Championships 1500m- 3rd Place (4:44.14 FAT)
2003-2004
Class A XC County Champion (18:49.1 5K @ Sunken Meadow- 2nd fastest time of day)
Class A XC Championships- 9th Place (19:10.8, 5K @ Marcus Whitman HS – 9th fastest time of day)
XC Federation Meet- 18th Place (19:04.0 @ Bowdoin Park)
Indoor County Champion 600m Run (1:36.45 FAT)
Indoor State Championships- 5th Place 600m (1:35.78 FAT)
National Scholastic Indoor Championships- 4th Place Mile (4:53.54 FAT) and ran anchor leg on 2nd Place 1600m Sprint Medley Relay (3:57.78 FAT)
Outdoor County Champion 800m (2:10.18 FAT)
Outdoor State Champion- 800m Division I and Federation Champion (2:09.59)
Adidas Outdoor Nationals Mile Run- 11th Place (4:54.06 FAT)
2004-2005
Class A XC County Champion (19:01.5 5K @ Sunken Meadow- 2nd fastest time of day)
Class A XC Champion- (18:25.1, 5K @ Binghamton Chenango Valley State Park- 6th fastest time of day)
Millrose Games Mile Run- 3rd Place (4:58.01 FAT) Madison Square Garden
Indoor County Champion- 1500m Run (4:37.09 FAT)
Indoor State Champion- 1500m Run (4:41.23 FAT)
Nike Indoor Nationals- 4th Place 800m (2:12.18)
Outdoor 1500m State Federation Champion (4:26.13)
Golden West Invitational Mile- 6th Place (5:00.69)
2005-2006
Divisional Championship Race- 1st Place (18:39.5 5K @ Sunken Meadow- Personal Best Time on Course)
Class ”AA” XC County Champion- (19:02.9 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
Class “AA” XC Championships – 6th Place (18:03.4 5K Queensbury- 6th fastest time of day)
Indoor County Champion- 1000m Run (2:50.26 FAT)
Indoor State Champion 1000m (2:51.39) & Member of Championship 4x400m Relay
National Scholastic Indoor Championships- 2nd Place Mile Run (4:50.10 FAT)
Penn Relays Mile Run- 3rd Place (4:53.96 FAT- Personal HS Best)
Hartford Invitational Champion- 800m (2:10.40 FAT)
2006-2007
New Balance Collegiate Games- 1st Place 1000m Run (2:51.09 FAT)
Indoor County Champion- 1000m Run (2:57.43 FAT)
Indoor State Championships- 2nd Place 1000m Run (2:55.06 FAT)
7th Place Indoor National Mile
Outdoor County Champion 1500m Run (4:35.54 FAT), member of championships 4x400m Relay
Outdoor State Championships- 5th Place 1500m Run (4:40.05 FAT)
Nike Outdoor Nationals- 7th Place 800m (2:09.15)
Sheffey's fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course is 8th on the list run by Section XI athletes.
Brittany competed for the University of Tennessee Volunteers during her college career. Right from the beginning, she earned All-American status as a member of the Championship DMR relay. The Vols repeated this achievement in 2010, the same year Brittany was a part of their winning Championship of America Relay teams at the Penn Relays. (4x800m, 4x1mile, and the DMR) In 2011, Sheffey qualified as an individual for the NCAA Cross Country Championships. She placed 44th out of 254 runners, missing All-American status by just three seconds. Brittany was also the SEC Outdoor 1500m champion and was an All-American in the 1500m due to her 8th place finish. In all, Brittany was a 4-time All-American as a member of a Tennessee relay.
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Sarah McCurdy - Bay Shore HS (2008)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
As with many of the top athletes who ran during this era at Bay Shore High School, Sarah McCurdy had to not only focus on her individual events, but also run relays. Sarah did this and more, having won an Indoor National Championship by herself and five more National Championships as part of relay teams. McCurdy somehow found time to garner national recognition for her activities off the track as well. In her senior year, Sarah was the New York State winner and a National Finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman Scholarship. This scholarship not only focuses on academic achievement, but community involvement as well. Sarah spent six weeks during her summer building housing for the needy in Peru.
2004-2005
Indoor State Championships- 7th Place 600m (1:38.08 FAT), Member of Championship 4x800m relay
Outdoor County Championships- 3rd Place 800m Run (2:11.73 FAT)
2005-2006
Eastern State Champion- 800m (2:13.15 FAT)
Indoor County Champion 600m (1:35.39 FAT)
Indoor NYSPHSAA 600m Champion & 2nd Place Federation 600m (1:34.28 FAT)
National Scholastic Indoor Championships 6th Place 800m (2:10.56 FAT)
Penn Relays Mile Run- 5th Place (4:55.37 FAT)
Outdoor County Championships 2nd Place 800m (2:11.52 FAT)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place Division 1 & Federation 800m (2:09.59 FAT)
2006-2007
Indoor County Champion 600m run (1:34.43 FAT)
Indoor NYSPHSAA Champion 600m, 3rd NYS Federation 600m (1:35.78 FAT) and member of Federation Championship 4x800m relay
National Scholastic Indoor 800m Champion (2:10.07 FAT)
Outdoor State Federation Champion 800m (2:10.02 FAT)
Nike Outdoor Nationals 3rd Place Finish 800m (2:06.96 FAT) * Still a County Record
USATF Junior Nationals- 4th Place 1500m (4:29.38 FAT)
2007-2008
Indoor County Champion 1500m (4:40.38 FAT)
Indoor State Championships 4th place 1500m (4:40.89 FAT) & Fed Championship 4x800m relay
National Scholastic Indoor Championships- 4th Place 800m (2:09.41 FAT) * Still a Long Island record
William Eddy Games Champion- 1500m (4:35.57 FAT)
Outdoor County Champion 800m (2:11.63 FAT), 1500m (4:38.57 FAT)
Outdoor State Championships- 2nd Place Division One 800m, 4th Federation 800m (2:09.67 FAT)
USATF Junior Outdoor Championships- 2nd Place (2:07.75 FAT)
IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland (2:12.67 FAT)
Sarah was a member of 11 All-American relay teams in her high school career. Five of these relays won National Championships, and two set National records (DMRs both Indoors & Outdoors). She went to Stanford University and had collegiate career bests of 2:09.72 FAT in the 800m and 4:35.77 FAT in the 1500m
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Mary Kate Anselmini - Ward Melville HS (2011)
Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2020)
According to two-time national champion in the 2000m steeplechase Mary Kate Anselmini, the secret to success in her specialty hurdling event is running. “It’s not the barriers that define the runner, but the spaces in between,” she said in a newspaper interview just after setting the national record. “You could be the most beautiful hurdler in the world, but if you’re not fast between the hurdles, so what?” Young steeplechasers should take if from Mary Kate and run hard between the barriers. She did, and look at all the great things she accomplished.
2006-2007 (8th Grade)
Cross Country - County Championships 7th Place Class AA race, 10th merged (20:24.8 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
State Cross Country Championships- 34th Class AA (19:19.3 5K @ Warwick Valley HS)
Loucks Games Champion- 2000m Steeplechase (7:08.80 FAT)
2007-2008 (9th)
Cross Country County Championships 5th place Class AA race, 7th merged (19:47.4 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
State Cross Country Championships-53rd Class AA (19:44.2 5K @ Norwood HS)
Outdoor County Champion 2000m Steeplechase (7:11.74 FAT)
2008-2009 (10th)
Cross Country County Championships 6th place Class AA race, 7th merged (20:04.5 5K @ Sunken Meadow)
State Cross Country Championships- 42nd Class AA (20:23.3 5K @ Sunken Meadow State Park)
Member of Indoor County Champion 4x800m relay
Indoor County Champion 1000m Run (2:57.53 FAT)
Loucks Games Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:56.96 FAT)
Outdoor County Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:50.07 FAT)
State Federation Championships 4th place 2000m Steeplechase (6:57.00 FAT)
2009-2010 (11th)
Cross Country “AA” County Champion- (18:55.6), 2nd fastest time of day 5K @ Sunken Meadow
State Cross Country Championships- 36th Class AA (18:34.7 5K @ SUNY Plattsburg)
Outdoor County Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:45.50 FAT)
NYS Federation Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:44.50 FAT)
New Balance Outdoor National Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:42.78 FAT)
2010-2011 (12th)
State Cross Country Championships- 14th Class AA (18:51.3 5K @ 5K Lake Side Park, Pawling)
State Federation XC Championships- 10th (18:47.5 5K @ Bowdoin Park)
Indoor County Champion 3000m Run (10:17.45 FAT)
Indoor State Championships 3rd Place 3000m (9:48.85 FAT)
New Balance Indoor Nationals 13th place One Mile Run (4:56.75 FAT) (1500m- 4:37.98 FAT)
Outdoor County Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:33.01 FAT) State & National Record
Member of County Championship 4x800m Relay
Federation State Champion 2000m Steeplechase (6:33.14 FAT)
New Balance Outdoor National Champion 2000m Steeplechase ((6:34.69 FAT)
Anchored 6th Place DMR on the same day she secured her second 2K Steeplechase title in (4:48.92 for 1600m)
Anselmini's fastest time on the Sunken Meadow 5K course is 9th all-time by a Section XI athlete.
Mary Kate attended Stanford University. As a freshman, she ran in the top seven of the school’s cross country team that placed 10th at Nationals. Her personal bests of her college career were: 1500m 4:32.90, 3000m 10:15.10, 3000m Steeplechase 10:15.33, and 5000m 16:44.33.
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Veronica Haberl - DeCicco Longwood HS (1983)
Hall of Fame Class of 2021
Distance runners are always told to count their laps during a race… just in case. That ‘just in case’ happened at the 1983 Indoor State Championships. While running, Haberl knew something was wrong when she reached what should have been the bell lap. Instead of hearing the bell, there was silence, so the athletes kept running. When the race should have finished, the lap counter said one to go. So, Haberl kept running and out kicked everyone to the line. Because the athletes had actually run 1700m, Haberl came in with a relatively slow time of 5:28.8. The meet officials awarded two sets of medals, one for 1500m and one for the 1700m. Haberl was awarded 2nd in the 1500m and 1st in the 1700m. Hopefully, Veronica Haberl will be the only 1700m State Champion and record holder in New York State history.
Believe it or not, that is not Haberl’s most memorable 1500m race. In her final shot at being a New York State 1500m champion, Veronica needed to beat Chris Curtin, considered at the time to be the nation’s top distance athlete. Haberl felt confident that if she could stay close, she would be able to out kick Curtin. With 300m’s to go, Haberl made her move to pass Curtin, but Curtin was able to hold her off. With 40 meters to go, she reached down and opened a 7-meter margin of victory. She had managed to beat Curtin and anyone else who’d ever run the event at the State Meet with a record time of 4:28.43.
1981-1982
Indoor State Champion- 1000m (2:53.75) * 4th National All-Time List when achieved.
Outdoor County Champion- 800m (2:13.2) *County Record
Outdoor State Championships- 3rd Place 800m (2:15.03)
Outdoor Empire State Games Champion- 1500m (4:40.0)
1982-1983
Cross Country County Champion- Class A (18:50.6 @ Sunken Meadow 5K)
Indoor County Champion- 1000m and 1500m
Indoor State Champion- 1000m (2:57.10)
Indoor State Champion- 1700m (5:25.8) / 2nd Place 1500m (4:52.0)
Outdoor Loucks Game Champion- 800m (2:10.30)
Outdoor County Champion- 800m and 1500m
Outdoor State Champion – 1500m (4:28.43) *State Meet Record
Outdoor State Championships- 3rd Place 800m (2:14.82)
Outdoor Empire State Games Champion- 1500m (4:35.58)
Named Track All-American in the 1500m by the National HS Athletic Coaches Association
Upon graduation, Harberl competed for the University of Virginia. In 1984, she earned All-American status as a member of the 4x800m relay. Harberl then transferred to Oklahoma State University where she had a very successful career. While she was at OSU, Haberl was All-American in cross country as part of the 1986 Big 8 Champion team. Harberl qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships where she ran a 2:47.35 - 1000m, setting a school record. During that outdoor season, Veronica posted times of 2:10.55 in the 800m and 4:19.90 in the 1500m while winning the Big 8 1500m championship. During her senior year, 1987, Haberl had an outstanding indoor season. She was the Big 8 1500m champion at 4:45.95 and an Indoor All-American in the 3000m run at 9:15.39 (trials 9:13.47). She also qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 3000m, but did not compete because of injury.
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Valerie Bertrand - Newfield HS (1986)
Hall of Fame Class of 2021
“She is a little too humble”, reads the start of a quote by coach Bob Kerr in an article by Mark Hermann in Newsday. “She’d get to a race and say, “Michele Billings is here, Kathy Pitcher is here,” Kerr said, referring to two former Bay Shore standouts. “I tried to instill in her the sense that people were saying, “Valerie Bertrand is here.” Athletes were saying that about her and for good reason. Bertrand was 5’ 9 ½” and weighed 125lbs. She had a long, fluid stride and plenty of stamina. These qualities lead to her setting a New York State Meet record in the 800m of 2:08.79 in 1985. In an act of remarkable consistency, she ran the same exact time the next year, tying her own state meet record for her second 800m title. Bertrand graduated and headed to the University Tennessee. The humble runner left Kerr with memories of what he calls, “the biggest thrills I’ve had in 15 years of coaching.”
1984
Outdoor New York State Championships- 3rd Place 800m (2:12.7)
1985
Indoor New York State Championships- 2nd Place 600m (1:35.69)
Outdoor Eastern States Champions- 4x400m (3:53.68) *County Record
(Cherie Thomas, Marie Petit-Michael, Joan Donovan, Valerie Bertrand)
Outdoor New York State Champion- 800m (2:08.79) *New Meet Record
Outdoor New York State Champions- 4x400m (3:55.09)
1986
Indoor New York State Championships- 2nd Place 600m (1:34.90)
Outdoor Penn Relays – 4th Place 1500m (4:38.4)
Outdoor Eddy Games Champion- 800m (2:12.2)
Outdoor New York State Champion- 800m (2:08.79)
Outdoor New York State Champions- 4th Place 4x800m relay
(Cindy Ayres, Marielle Bertrand, Cherie Thomas, Valerie Bertrand)
Outdoor Long Island Meet of Champions- 1st Place 400m (55.3) * County Record
Outdoor Athletic Congress Jr National T&F Championships- 2nd Pace (2:08.22)
Outdoor World Junior Championships- 25th Place (out of 41 runners) (2:11.00)
Bertrand earned several All-SEC and All-America honors during her tenure at the University of Tennessee. She earned All-American honors in cross country during the 1989 season. On the track, Bertrand earned All-American accolades in 1989 (800m- 6th Place, trials 2:05.44/finals 2:06.52) and 1990 (800m- 8th Place 2:05.26).
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Laura Cummings - Bay Shore HS (2005)
Hall of Fame Class of 2021
A popular Under Armour ad proclaims, “We must protect our house.” In the case of Laura Cummings, her house was the 3.1-mile course at Sunken Meadow, and she needed to run against the best in the state to do so. And so, the stage was set for the New York State Cross-Country Championships in 2002. In the Newsday article written by Chris Antonacci after the meet, Cummings spoke of how she was laser focused on the task at hand. “I was so out of it” , she said. “I didn’t even know what happened”. What happened was that Cummings passed her closest rival on the infamous Cardiac Hill, securing her victory. To finish off a truly outstanding cross-country season, Cummings earned All-American status as a sophomore by placing 4th at the Footlocker Championships. Laura now had the pressure of continuing her success for a few more years to come, and despite some injury problems, she did not disappoint. In 2004, she was National Indoor Champion in the 2-Mile run (10:38.79 -or- 9:51.46 3000m). She also was an integral part of numerous State and National championship relay teams. But nothing shows Cummings’ perseverance quite like the fact that she qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials some 15 years after graduating from Section XI.
2000-2001
Cross Country Section XI Divisions- 6th Place (20:02.1)
Cross Country Section XI County “A” Championships- 2nd Place (20:18.7)
2001-2002
Cross Country Section XI County “A” Championships- 2nd Place (19:34.6)
Cross Country NYSPHSAA Girls “A” Championships- 7th Place (19:05.4 @ Elma Meadows)
Indoor State Qualifier Meet Champion- 3000m (10:19.45)
Indoor NYSPHSAA Championships- 2nd Place 3000m (10:13.10)
Outdoor State Qualifier Champion - 3000m (10:10.36)
Outdoor NYSPHSAA Championships - 4th Place 3000m (10:17.12)
2002-2003
Cross Country Section XI County “A” Champion (18:15.3) *Sunken Meadow Course Record
Cross Country NYSPHSAA Girls “A” Champion (18:28.0 @ Sunken Meadow)
Cross Country NYS Federation Championships- 3rd Place (18:41.8 @ Wappingers Falls)
Cross Country Foot Locker Nationals- 4th Place (17:47.2) *All-American
Indoor Yale Track Classic- 2nd Place 3000m (9:49.76) *County Indoor Record
Indoor State Qualifier Meet Champion - 3000m (10:04.58)
Indoor NYSPHSAA Championships - 2nd Place 3000m (10:04.67)
Outdoor State Qualifier Champion - 3000m (9:57.75)
Outdoor NYSPHSAA Championships - 2nd Place 3000m (10:04.23)
2003-2004
Cross Country Section XI County “A” Champion (18:38.4)
Cross Country NYS Championships Class “A”- 2nd Place (18:41.0 @ Rushville NY)
Cross Country NYS Federation Championships- 4th Place (18:30.3 @ Wappingers Falls)
Indoor Yale Track Classic - 1st Place 3000m (9:54.63)
Indoor State Qualifier Meet Champion - 3000m (10:15.30)
Indoor NYSPHSAA State Championships - 5th Place 3000m (10:07.42)
Indoor Nike National Champion - 2-Mile Run (10:38.79)
Outdoor Loucks Games Champion – 3200m (10:35.16)
Outdoor State Qualifier Champion - 3000m (9:59.86)
Outdoor NYSPHSAA Championships - 3rd Place 3000m (9:54.55)
Outdoor 4 x 800 – State D-1 & Federation Champions (8:59.21) – State Meet Record
2004-2005
Cross Country Section XI County “AA” Champion (18:33.6)
Cross Country NYSPHSAA Class “AA” Championships- 4th Place (18:14.9 @ Chenango Valley)
Cross Country NYS Federation Championships- 6th Place (18:14.5 @ Wappingers Falls)
Outdoor State Qualifier Champion - 3000m (9:51.45)
Outdoor NYSPHSAA Championships – 3rd Place 3000m (9:53.18)
Outdoor 4 x 800 – State D-1 & Federation Champions (9:03.53)
Outdoor United States Junior Nationals- 2nd Place 3000m (9:46.87)
Laura ran on Four National Championship Relay teams. Included was a 3-peat in the 4x800m relay at Outdoor Nationals from 2003-2005. In 2003, she anchored the Distance Medley Relay team that set a National Record (11:33.42) in the event. At college, Cummings also ran the steeplechase and set a personal best in the 3000m distance of 10:10.94 in 2013.
Her personal bests include: 9:46.87 3000m, 10:35.16 3200m, 10:38.79 2-mile run.
