Matteo Armstrong Wins Suffolk Officials Invitational

It wasn’t Matteo Armstrong’s fastest performance this fall, but it still was mighty impressive. The Huntington High School cross country star won the Suffolk Officials Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park on Saturday, easily besting the field of 160 runners.

Armstrong turned in another splendid effort, crossing the finish line nearly three seconds ahead of the runner-up and almost 34 seconds ahead of the third place finisher.

The Huntington senior executed his race strategy in flawless fashion. “I found out who was leading the race and I stuck on his shoulder until the last 800m,” Armstrong said. “After the last 800m, I kicked and I just left him in the dust. It wasn’t my all-out effort. I only cared about the win.”

Armstrong owns some of the fastest times in Suffolk this fall. The Section XI divisional championships are set for October 25. The Section XI championships will be held on November 4 at 1 p.m. The state championships are scheduled for November 12 in upstate New York.

“My goal is to break 16:40 at Sunken Meadow by the end of the season,” Armstrong said. “If I do end up making it to the states, my goal is to finish in the top ten in Class A.”

Armstrong spent last summer training for cross country, hanging around with his friends and visiting family members in Puerto Rico.

The senior is especially enjoying courses in Advanced Placement Latin, AP Environmental Science and AP English Literature and Composition.

“So far on the cross country side, I’ve enjoyed working with Coach [John] Romano and Coach [Mark] Jackson, but I look forward to track where I will work with Coach [Ron] Wilson and Coach [Eli] Acosta,” Armstrong said. On the academic side of things, I’m looking forward to working with Mrs. [Kristin] Fortunato in Latin and Mr. [James] DiMeglio in orchestra.”

After a period of playing lacrosse in the spring, the teenager is now “all-in” for track. “I plan on doing it year-round,” Armstrong said. “I’m going to also join Key Club, Chamber Orchestra and a few more clubs and extracurriculars.”

The senior is currently interested in Bucknell University, University at Buffalo, Mount Saint Mary’s and Ithaca College. He plans to major in business.

“My high school experience started off slow with COVID-19, but it gradually got better and I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Huntington,” Armstrong said.