The Sachem East Girls Cross Country team won both the Varsity and JV races, also grabbing third in the Frosh race, at the Villa Bears Invitational at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx this past Saturday.
Alex DeCicco (15:10) won the race in convincing fashion with Val Romero taking 3rd in 15:44. Rachel Ruggiero (6th-16:11), Jill Manfredi (19th- 16:46), Ciara Murphy (21st-16:52), Tiffany Ly (24th- 17:00), and Caitlin O’Hehir (28th-17:07), rounded out the Varsity squad in this race of over 200 finishers.
The Arrows, currently ranked seventh in New York State, totaled 44 points to best four other State ranked teams to notch the win. Notre Dame was second (78 pts), Syosset third (114), Bayport Bluepoint fourth (140), and Northport fifth (155).
Also turning in strong performances for Sachem East were Lauren Harris (17:18), Shayna Arrigo (17:35), Kaitlin Veigl (17:37), Rachel Semetsis (17:57), Kaylie Wessberg (18:04), and Chelsea Benedict (18:11). In the Freshman race Lindsey Dodenhoff placed 5th overall to pace the Frosh squad to a 3rd place team finish behind Ursuline and Sacred Heart.
The team will be split this upcoming weekend, competing in the Adirondack Invitational in Queensbury and the Suffolk Coaches Invitational at Sunken Meadow.
-Submitted by the Sachem East coaching staff