Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook girls track team has experienced more than its share of ups and downs over the past several years. While the 2002 girls winter track team had all of four members, the program now boasts some 70 girls. And in just four years, the Owls have gone from being unable to field an entire team to winning back-to-back county championships, in the winter and spring seasons.
They captured the schools first-ever Nassau County AA girls spring track and field title May 24, defeating both Garden City and Hewlett, pulling ahead on points in the final day of the two-day meet at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex.
"It's been surreal," said coach Josh Berlin. "We had mentioned it as a possibility at the beginning of the season, but to pull it off was amazing."
Having more than proven their talent, the girls are looking to continue their dominance in the years to come and establish themselves as perennial contenders. The team has grown into a collection of exceptional talent and potential, and Berlin believes there are more achievements ahead. "We're starting to figure out the formula [for success], and now we're starting to put it together," he said.
Part of the formula is a leadership-by-committee philosophy as well as a strong work ethic, which Berlin believes sets the girls apart and helps them to succeed beyond expectations. "They feel like they've failed if they don't win," he said. "They won't back down from a challenge."
Led by seniors Sabrina Zervas and Kathleen Kobbe, juniors Kristie Lengel and Arielle Lippmann and sophomores Dana Levitt and Janna Kaufer, the girls scored often and had many top-three finishes at the county championships. They relied on high scoring in the sprints and field events, and got just that. Zervas placed third in the shot put and won the discus, adding to a list of impressive performances in an already stellar senior year.
Kobbe scored lots of points in the sprints, placing fifth in the 100 meters and fourth in the 200 and anchoring the winning 4 x 100 relay team, which also included Kaufer, eighth-grader Bernadette Wyndham and Lengel. Lengel competed despite a recent knee injury, and still managed to win the triple jump, place fourth in the high hurdles and run the leadoff leg of the winning relay.
Lippmann also had impressive performances, finishing second in the high hurdles and fourth in the long jump. Sophomore Lauren Berg also competed in the high hurdles, and showed promise for the future.
The middle-distance runners steadily improved throughout the season. The squad is led by Levitt, who won the 400 meters convincingly, finished third in the 800 and anchored the teams seventh-place 4 x 400 relay, which included freshman Cassie Papandrew, sophomore Dana Borger and senior Jenna Brofsky. Freshman Stefanie Macaluso has made dramatic progress in her first season, and competed in both the 800 and the 4 x 800 relay, accompanied by senior Dianna Hank, junior Carly Lynch and sophomore Jen Herdemian.
The girls scored points in all but five events at the county meet, and demonstrated solid depth. Senior Jenna Aue concluded her notable career by finishing fourth in the high jump and eighth in the long jump. Another senior, Alessandra Markides, took sixth in the steeplechase.
In the aftermath of their come-from-behind win, Berlin, assistant coach Joe Byron and the team can enjoy it only briefly before they get back to work, practicing for the state championships. "They're excited and shocked," said Berlin. "I think it's still sinking in. The boys have been successful for so long -- this is the girls time to shine."
