The Huntington boys’ cross country team will be paced by its returning veterans this fall with new head coach Mark Jackson pushing the Blue Devils to notch personal best performances and move into the circle of Suffolk’s elite squads.
The new season officially begins on Monday, August 26. Juniors Aidan Heller, Andrew McKenzie, Carlos Martinez and Isaiah James and seniors Jason Verville and John Segreti are the team’s top runners heading into the 2019 campaign.
“We are looking good for this season,” Martinez said. “Everyone has been running and getting those miles in and now we just have to keep working and stay ambitious.”
Huntington is coming off a season that saw the Blue Devils compile a 3-3 mark and finish fourth in league competition. The Blue Devils also found success in several invitational meets.
At the Suffolk Frosh/Soph Championships, all nine Huntington runners that competed recorded personal best times. At the divisional meet, Huntington took second place on the wings of medal winning performances by Heller, Verville and Segreti. Among the Blue Devils’ 14 entries, ten enjoyed season best times.
Huntington graduated Cornelius O’Rourke, Daniel Thompson, Eddie Maleszewski and Graham Young off of last year’s roster. In addition to the team’s top six runners, the returnees include sophomores Jonathan Larice and Harris Levinson; juniors Matthew Fallon Jr., Seamus Hannon and Harrison McKenna; and seniors Robert Caputi, Christopher Carmen and Rory Dara.
Jackson coached Finley’s co-ed cross country team last fall. The top runners for the boys’ squad were current incoming freshmen Samuel James and Matthew Armstrong.
Huntington has meets scheduled with league foes North Babylon, Connetquot, Half Hollow Hills East, Northport, Copiague and Lindenhurst. There will also be an assortment of invitational competitions and divisional/county championships.
