After a solid season that saw it win all but a single dual meet, the Huntington High School girls’ cross country team is already looking forward to next fall’s campaign.
Coached by Beth Vogelsang, the Blue Devils were captained by Hadley Clayton along with senior co-captains Erika Varday, Keily Rivas and Colette Barron.
Clayton and Valerie Rogel ran to first team All-League and All-Division honors. Rivas and Ella Siepel captured second team All-League recognition.
“Valerie was our No. 1 runner this season,” Vogelsang said. “With her heart, work ethic and desire, she managed to get a personal record and outstanding time in the state qualifier. Big things are still to come for this sophomore.”
Rogel turned in the eighth fastest 5K time in Huntington girls’ cross country history.
Clayton also shined in her final season with the Blue Devils. “Hadley was my captain and a true leader,” Vogelsang said. “The girls have always looked up to her in and out of cross country. I will miss her positivity and spirit a ton.”
Clayton was one of only 14 Suffolk female cross country athletes to win Academic All-County honors.
Siepel is another talented sophomore. “She shaved off minutes from last season,” Vogelsang said. “Ella is a solid runner and is motivational to the team.”
Sophomores Kaylee Dammers and Adamaris Ventura along with Varady and Barron, both hardworking seniors, rounded out Huntington’s top runners.
The Blue Devil roster also included freshman Erin Ye, sophomores Taylor Case and Brianna Isaza, junior Diya Rai-Gersappe and senior Ashanna Archibald.
Huntington finished second in the regular season league standings and won the Suffolk sophomore championship race. The Blue Devils placed 14th overall in the Section XI championships.
Vogelsang counted the addition of five new runners to the high school girls’ cross country program as among the season’s highlights. The group includes Ventura, Isaza, Ye, Archibald and Case. “All five contributed to team chemistry,” the coach said.
With eight runners returning next fall, including some of the team’s stars, the Blue Devils are expecting to field a very strong squad.
Interested in joining the team? Prospective Huntington runners can send a message to Vogelsang at evogelsang@hufsd.edu.
