Men’s Cross Country team travels to states for the first time in over 10 years

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After winning their third consecutive county championship last month, the North Shore Men’s Cross Country team traveled to Wayne Central High School in Ontario Center, N.Y. to compete in the Section State Qualifier. The team maintained their no. 7 state ranking after enduring an incredibly muddy course and harsh conditions at the meet.

The eight-man group was the favored team to represent Nassau at the state qualifier, as four of the teammates — Oscar Varela, Collin O’Sullivan TJ Burfiend and Jack Rosencrans — make up the top 10 runners in the entire county. Nicholas Lacomba, Ethan Loring, Jared Bazan, and William Drexel, roundup the varsity team.

Rosencrans, a 16-year-old junior, is ranked no. 1 in Nassau County, which qualifies him automatic entry into the New York Federation Championship on Nov. 18. His performance last weekend propelled him into the no. 20 spot of top runners in New York State.

According to coach Ed Corona, this is the first time the men’s cross-country team has advanced to states in 11 years. The team has never won a state title.

“We’re creating our own dynasty,” said Corona. “We’ve been riding a momentum from the beginning of the season, and we hope to continue to have a good showing at states so we can break and move up our ranking.”

Although they were unable to advance their ranking, the North Shore athletes were satisfied with their performance at the race.

“It’s exciting to have made it this far,” said Rosencrans. “It’s a big team accomplishment that’s been long-awaited.”

Lacomba said showing at a state conference as a team is a blessing. “We’ve worked really hard to get to this point, battling other teams, and we remember the work we’ve endured to get to this point,” he said.

The boys recalled one of their favorite moments from the season was competing in the 35th Annual Brown University Northeast Cross Country Championship held at Goddard Park in East Greenwich, R.I.

“At that point, we were seeded seventh [in the meet], but we overcame the odds, having a great team and strong runners, to place second,” Loring said.

Lacomba, a senior, said the squad has an annual tradition of jumping into nearby Greenwich Bay after the meet — in their uniforms. “For some of us, it was our last time competing at that meet, so it was a special moment,” he said.

Corona said he’s extremely proud of the team’s performance this season. “We had high expectations for this year; the boys endured 6 a.m. workouts in the cold and the rain,” he said. “There’s a pride in being from North Shore that I think other schools recognize, and they’ve demonstrated that.”