Bonac Girls Track Wins Season Opener Over Hauppauge

If the 76-64 home victory over Hauppauge last Thursday, March 23, was any indication, the East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton girls track team could be in for a successful season.

Included in that victory were 11 first-place finishes, many by familiar names, but some by new ones that head coach Yani Cuesta expects to be able to help out the team this season.

“Our goals are always the same: for each and every girl on the team to improve their performance in each event they compete in, and to get as far into the season as they can. All while having fun,” she said.

The team didn’t have one senior last season so the entire team is very much intact, led by East Hampton junior Dylan Cashin, who qualified for Nike Outdoor Nationals last season in the 2,000-meter steeplechase. She’ll continue to run the long distances this season and help in a few relays as well. She won the 3,000-meter race in last week’s dual meet and placed second in the 1,500.

Also returning is East Hampton junior Ryleigh O’Donnell, who will compete in the middle-distance runs, the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay, and Bridgehampton senior Leslie Samuel, who will be the team’s top sprinter and long jumper. O’Donnell won three different events in last week’s victory, including the 400-meter dash, 800-meter run and 400-meter hurdles. Samuel did as well, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump

Pierson seniors Isabel Doyle and Meredith Spolarich are also key returning athletes who should score points in their respective events. Doyle is the team’s top pole vaulter, and Spolarich will compete in the pentathlon at invitationals and postseason meets and compete in those events (high jump, long jump, 400-meter dash, throws) at dual meets.

Also returning are East Hampton juniors Leah Fromm and Riley Miles, who will both compete in distances races, East Hampton juniors Becca and Davi Trowbridge — Davis is a race walker and Becca is a thrower — Pierson junior Khalila Martin, a middle-distance runner and jumper, Pierson freshman Sara O’Brien, who is a distance runner, and East Hampton sophomore sprinter Sam Ruano.

Cuesta said a few new girls on the team caught her eye in East Hampton freshmen Leah McCarron and Kaili Moore. McCarron placed third in the triple jump last week, and Moore won both the discus and shot put. Cuesta also likes the athletic ability of East Hampton junior Gabrielle Payne.

The Bonackers will compete in League V this season with Comsewogue, Eastport-South Manor, Hauppauge, Half Hollow Hills West and Westhampton Beach. They will be at Comsewogue this Thursday, March 30, and will host Westhampton Beach this upcoming Wednesday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m.

Information on the boys team was not provided.