Thursday, October 1, 2026
The accolades and milestones keep flowing from all angles for the North Shore girls track and field juggernaut as a sixth straight spring Nassau County title was captured May 21 on its home track.
It was a landslide victory with North Shore posting 120 points in the 17-school Class A event. Valley Stream North was a distant runner-up with 80.
While seniors Joanna Kenney and Chloe Connolly continued to sparkle on their way to Division I track, a third senior had a banner day for the Sea Cliff/Glen Head school.
Hannah Sadowski captured her first-ever Nassau County individual championship when she placed first in the 400-meter hurdles. Sadowski also was second place in the 400-meter run.
"It's a big accomplishment after being on the team four years,'' Sadowski said. "It's something I'm really proud of. Doing it my senior year makes it more exciting.
The senior has decided to run track for Division III Geneseo, near Rochester, as she found the "team spirit'' of the runners to her liking. Sadowski often takes a backseat to the Kenney-Connolly superstar tandem.
Sadowski's teammate Dylan Reisberg finished second behind her in the 400 hurdles and the duo have helped each other grow. "Training with Dylan really pushes me and we both help each other,'' Sadowski said.
Legendary coach Neal Levy was delighted for Sadowski. "She's a performer,'' he said. "She competes very well in bigger moments. Some kids rise to the occasion. Some don't. She rises in important situations which is a nice characteristic to have.”
In all, 11 Vikings earned All-County honors (a top 3 finish). Levy, meanwhile, picked up his 44th overall county title, combining the three seasons of cross-country, winter and spring track.
"This season has been chaotic with the weather, kids getting hurt or sick,'' Levy said. "It all came together on one day. Everyone was extremely disciplined. Warming up, racing, cooling down, checking for the next event. A very collegiate atmosphere in their overall approach and preparation."
Big-time college programs await Kenney and Connolly. They were 1-2 in the 1500 meters and 3000 with Kenney finishing first in each. Kenney posted her fastest time in the 1,500 (4.41.74) while Connolly had bests in the 1,500 (4:46.81) and 3,000 (10:13.02).
Kenney will run for Boston College. Connolly heads to Division I Binghamton. The duo was also 2-3 in the 800 meters to bunch up team points.
The two usually stick together during races. "It's about getting team points in a championship situation,'' Levy said. "Fortunately they ran their best times in several races. They not only helped the team score but individually got self-satisfaction as well.''
In addition to Sadowski, Kenney and Connolly, the All-County performers in individual events were Danielle Demillio, who repeated as pole vault champion, Sloane Bonvicino and Reisberg. Relay runners Harper Wilson, Kashvi Bhogadi, Hannah Checo, Riley Brissenden and Olivia Maken also took All-County.
A senior who will attend Wentworth, Demillio won her fourth straight pole vault, combining the past two winter/spring seasons.
"It was the young and old,'' Levy said. "The seniors did an amazing job. Some eighth and ninth graders contributed greatly to the success of the program.''
The youth shows as Bonvicino, a freshman, was second in the 2000 steeplechase and freshman Sinead Reagan scored in the 1500. An eighth-grader, Millie Advaryu-Valente also contributed points in the 800.
Though they will lose senior stars in Kenney, Connolly, Sadowski and Demillio, the Vikings beat will go on.
