After dethroning defending champion East Meadow to win the Nassau County winter indoor track and field championship in February, the Massapequa girls team completed a remarkable championship sweep this spring.
The Chiefs captured the AAA county championship for the first time since 2020, finishing with 94 points, 26 ahead of runner-up East Meadow, the defending spring county champion.
During the May 20 meet at Long Beach High School, Massapequa relied on depth, versatility and strong performances throughout the lineup to reclaim the county title.
Coach Mike Dellicurti said the confidence built during the winter season carried directly into the spring.
“I think the expectations of how we finished the winter season going into spring, we knew what we were capable of, and that was one of our main objectives was to continue the county championship and get it back in the springtime because of what we did in the winter,” Dellicurti said.
The Chiefs produced four county champions. Senior Kyra Florio-Marinello led the way in the 2000-meter steeplechase, leading from start to finish and winning in 7 minutes, 22.52 seconds. She also placed second in the 800-meter run and later helped the 4x400 relay team earn a runner-up finish.
“She’s a monster and you tell her to run through a brick wall and she’ll be like, ‘All right, let me know which shoulder I am leading with,’” he said. “She’s that type of girl that is irreplaceable.”
Senior high jumper Kailyn Duffy delivered one of the meet’s biggest moments of the meet. After missing on her first two attempts at 5 feet, 6 inches, she cleared the bar on her third and final try to win the county title and establish a new school record.
“She’s been pushing for 5-6 for the last year and a half and, finally, she nailed it,” Dellicurti said. “She was so excited, crying, ecstatic.”
Senior Emma Villalta added another county championship in the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 57.50 seconds, about four-tenths of a second ahead of Brooke Lin of Herricks.
Senior Keira McLaughlin shared the county title in the pole vault with Syosset’s Juliette Poitrimol after both competitors cleared 9 feet, 6 inches.
Massapequa also received key contributions from its distance runners. Senior Sophia Vukelic placed second in both the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs, while freshman Molly McHugh impressed with a fourth-place finish in the 3,000 meters in 11:12.79.
The 4x800 relay quartet of Vukelic, Villalta, Allison McMenamin, and Valeria Suarez also finished second.
Dellicurti believes the team’s balance was the difference throughout the season.
“We’re such a well-balanced team, probably the best team we’ve ever had in the history of Massapequa,” he said.
