Top newcomers making noise on the Long Island cross country trails
Bay Shore's Max Simeon runs a 5K. Credit: Sam Lynch
These are the top first-year varsity cross country runners on Long Island. In order to qualify, the runner has to have had no experience running in a varsity cross country race before this fall. Their age/graduating class does not matter. They are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
GIRLS
Ella Behrens, Miller Place, Jr.
She is a former soccer player with some prior track and field experience. This summer, she decided to give up soccer in exchange for year-round running. That decision was smart. The 20-minute, 14.63-second time she clocked on the 5-kilometer course at Sunken Meadow State Park — one of the state’s hardest courses — ranks ninth on Long Island.
Ella Behrens runs in an invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park. Credit: Fran Sullivan
Avanna Bubenheimer, Connetquot, Soph.
After running track as a freshman, she left her junior varsity field hockey team to run cross country. She currently rounds out Long Island’s top 25 in the 5K at Sunken Meadow, as she ran 21:03.2 at the St. Anthony’s Invitational on Oct. 3.
Ava Caroleo, Cold Spring Harbor, 7th grade
Her 20:29.3 in the 5K at LIU Post is a promising time for a middle schooler. The performance ranks 22nd in Nassau on the course, which will host the county’s state qualifier meet.
Zoey Falkenhan, East Hampton, 7th grade
Her 20:20.7 on the Sunken Meadow 5K course ranks 11th on Long Island.
Abigail Humann, East Islip, Soph.
After finding some success as a freshman during the track season, she quit junior varsity basketball to run varsity cross country. She ran a 20:37 5K in a regular-season meet at Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon.
Brianna Kliegl, Comsewogue, Soph.
She was a soccer player who ran indoor and outdoor track for two years before switching over to cross country. She has found some success running behind Lexie Cole, as her 21:01.84 on the Sunken Meadow 5K is 23rd on Long Island.
Paige Kovner, Cold Spring Harbor, Soph.
A former cheerleader, her conversion to cross country has helped provide the team with more depth behind standouts Claire Delli Carpini and Isabella Garra. Her 20:25.4 on the LIU 5K ranks 20th.
Gianna Molinaro, East Meadow, Fr.
A first-time varsity runner — cross country or track — she has made a name for herself in Nassau circles. Her 20:12.3 on the Eisenhower Park 5K ranks 12th on the course and 24th overall in the county.
Kylie O’Leary, Garden City, Jr.
She has run track since her freshman year, but did not play a fall sport until this season. Her 20:26.5 on the LIU Post 5K ranks 21st.
Marta Rodriguez Villa, Northport, 7th grade
She ran 19:56.6 at the Quesensbury Pre-States Invitational at Queensbury High School — the host site of this year’s public school state championships. She also ran 18:51.3 in the 3-mile (just under a 5K) at the Burnt Hills Cross Country Invitational on the difficult Saratoga Spa Park course.
BOYS
Colum Cocks, Northport, Jr.
The former soccer player switched to cross country and made an immediate impact, running 17:58.5 on the Queensbury 5K and 18:58.6 on the Sunken Meadow 5K. He also ran 14:54 in a 2.5-mile dual meet at Sunken Meadow.
Leo DeKlava Hawker, Pierson, Fr.
Another former soccer player who changed sports and is finding instant success. He ran 18:28.73 on the 5K at Sunken Meadow at the Suffolk Coaches Invitational — an improvement by over a minute from his first race in September.
Justin Knoll, Manhasset, Fr.
After running track as an eighth grader, he has carved out a role for himself on the trails. His 17:39.7 on the Eisenhower Park 5K ranks 31st in the county. He also ran 17:38 at Queensbury and 18:19.5 on the 5K at the strenuous Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, the site of the state Federation championships.
Salvatore Loccisano, Syosset, Jr.
He has been running track since the spring of his freshman year, but finally became a year-round runner this fall. His 17:20.8 on the 5K at Bethpage State Park — the host site of the Nassau championships — ranks 31st in the county.
Jonathan Pinchasov, Roslyn, Jr.
A former varsity soccer player, he ran the 5K at Bethpage State Park in 16:13.3, which leads all runners on the course. Overall, that 5K time ranks third among Nassau runners.
Max Simeon, Bay Shore, Fr.
After a stellar outdoor track season, he committed to cross country. His 17:15.4 in the 5K at Sunken Meadow ranks 13th on Long Island.
Matthew Uttaro, Chaminade, Jr.
A rare former football player turned cross country runner, he ranks fourth on the Sunken Meadow 2.5-mile course at 14:55.4.
Ethan Vichman, Farmingdale, Fr.
He ran 17:29.1 on the Bethpage 5K course and 17:33.9 at Eisenhower Park.
Kyle Wor, St. Anthony’s, Jr.
He did not play a fall sport, but ran track as an underclassman. Now, in his first go-round in cross country, he's run 17:51.62 on the Sunken Meadow 5K (35th on Long Island) and 17:15.1 on the Bowdoin Park 5K (14th).
Timur Yucel, East Meadow, Jr.
Last year was supposed to be his introduction to cross country, but he got injured early and missed the season. Finally healthy, he ran the 5K at LIU Post in 17:28.3, which ranks 31st in the county on the course.
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
