North Shore takes county championship

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North Shore produced 13 All-County (top three) finishes and won four events to capture the Nassau Class A track and field championship at Cold Spring Harbor on May 24.

The Lady Vikings, in winning their first spring county title since 2015 and ninth in 16 years under coach Neal Levy, totaled 131.33 points, 30 better than runner-up Valley Stream South and nearly 50 in front of two-time defending champion Valley Stream North, which took third.

“Winning is not always the ultimate goal,” Levy said. “But when you’re able to do it, it’s great.”

Junior Caroline Reiner and freshman Sophia Rosencrans led the way, combining for 54 points and three event wins. A youth-filled 4x400 also won.

Reiner, who’ll represent the team at the state meet this weekend in Syracuse, won the 400 meter hurdles (1:05.06) and the 400 dash (58.15 seconds) at the county meet. She is ranked in the top three in the state in the 400 hurdles. Reinder also finished second in Class A in the 100 hurdles. “Caroline is a high-level achiever in all aspects of her life,” Levy said. “She trains hard and is driven to be the best she can be. She has great range all the way up to running cross-country.”

Ronsencrans followed up outstanding cross-county and winter track campaigns with a big spring. She won the county title in the 3000m (10:49.82) and was runner-up in the 1500 (5:01.67) and 800 (2:24.49.) “She has a gift,” Levy said. “She has a burning desire to be great and has the talent. Her times and performances are strong. She has good speed and endurance.”

While Rosencrans is just getting her career in gear, a fifth-year member of the squad, senior Theresa Scarola, enjoyed a successful finish with All-County performances in the high jump and pole vault, both good enough for second in Class A. She also just missed scoring in the 100 hurdles. “She was our most versatile athlete and a team leader for a long time,” Levy said.

Senior Isabella Glennon, who helped lead North Shore’s soccer team to a county title last fall, joined the squad this spring and not only provided leadership away from the track but also contributed to the title. She was second in the county in the 400 hurdles and ran the second leg of the winning 4x400 relay, following freshman leadoff Ashton Guss and preceding freshman Jules Firouztale and sophomore Carolyn Doyle.

Junior Isabella Strajanekova led the distance group along with Rosencrans and sophomore Nicole Schneider. After placing second in the 2000 steeplechase, Strajanekova gutted out a fifth-place showing in the 3000. Schneider was fourth in that event and also third in the 800.

The Lady Vikings will try to keep their momentum going in the fall where they’ve won a remarkable 127 consecutive cross-country meets.