From Merrick to Montauk on foot

Calhoun coach Cummings logs 100 miles to raise scholarship funds

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After sifting through countless fundraising challenges posted all over Instagram, Laura Cummings decided what she could do to honor local high school graduates, too.

Cummings, the girls’ cross-country coach at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, ran 100 miles from June 11-14, starting in Merrick and ending in Montauk. She hopes to raise $127,000 so one graduating senior from each of Long Island’s 127 public high schools can receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“These seniors have been through so much disappointment, from missing prom and graduation ceremonies to their spring season of high school sports, [and] I wanted to do something positive and recognize them,” said Cummings, a standout distance runner at Bay Shore High School, the University of North Carolina and SUNY Albany. “I have ties to a lot of different communities on Long Island, and I want to help as many kids as possible.”

In 2019, Laura started the John Cummings Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of her late father to support local senior athletes. She accepted donations for her run via www.BeTheMountain.org, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be funneled into the scholarships.

She raised $18,000 before she even left Merrick, and by the time reached Montauk, the figure swelled to $28,000.

Despite a résumé that includes three Suffolk County high school cross-country titles, one state championship, a national title in track (3,200 meters), two NCAA championship qualifiers and the Olympic Trials this past February, Cummings had never logged 100 miles over a four-day span before.

Her journey began in Calhoun’s parking lot around 7 a.m. on June 11. On each of the first three days, she ran approximately 20 miles in the morning and 10 miles in the early evening to avoid the heat. Well ahead of pace, she only needed to cover seven miles on Sunday to reach the final destination.

“Close to 40 family and friends came out to Montauk to meet me as I finished,” Cummings said. “Things went pretty smooth. I couldn’t have asked for better weather.”

Cummings’ route was a straight run along Route 27A from start to finish. Her uncle, James, trailed her in his RV, which served as Cummings’ home base. She took overnight stops in Patchogue, Hampton Bays and Amagansett. Her mother, Eileen, and brother, John, were also there every step of the way.

“I knew from the moment Laura agreed to help me coach that it was going to be a game-changer for our program,” said Joe Migliano, Calhoun girls’ track head coach. “She is kind, funny and will go out of her way constantly for the benefit of not just our athletes but any child in need.”

Cummings is also the assistant coach for winter and spring track.