10 Photos
Ben Ezeir's award for winning the freshman race? A picture with Shoreham-Wading River's Wildcat mascot and his head coach Joe Amato. DREW BUDD
Pierson's Ben Ezeir won the freshman race on Saturday. DREW BUDD
Pierson's Lincoln Fischer crosses the finish line in the freshman race. DREW BUDD
Pierson's Jackson Araya-Duran crosses the finish line in the freshman race. DREW BUDD
Pierson freshmen, from left, Jackson Araya-Duran, Ben Ezeir and Lincoln Fischer at the start of the freshman race of the Tom Knipfing Invitational on Saturday morning. DREW BUDD
Pierson senior Greylynn Guyer finished fourth in the varsity 'B' race on Saturday. DREW BUDD
Pierson freshman Josephine Mott in the varsity 'B' race on Saturday. DREW BUDD
Pierson senior Edmar Gonzales-Nateras finished fifth in the varsity 'B' race on Saturday. DREW BUDD
Pierson senior David Kriegsman leads a pack of runner. DREW BUDD
Pierson senior Edmar Gonzales-Nateras finished fifth in the varsity 'B' race on Saturday. DREW BUDD
The Pierson boys cross country team got a glimpse of what the future could hold for the program on Saturday at the Tom Knipfing Invitational, hosted by Shoreham-Wading River at Fireman’s Memorial Park in Ridge.
Ben Ezeir won the freshman 1.7-mile race for his first victory of his young career. He crossed the finish line in 10:01.50.
Ezeir said it’s been a good first full season on varsity this fall after running off and down last season as an eighth-grader due to various injuries and ailments.
It was his first time running at Fireman’s Field, and he said he enjoyed it compared to some of the other courses throughout the county, such as Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park.
Ezeir was joined in the race by eighth-grader Lincoln Fischer and fellow freshman Jackson Araya-Duran, who finished in 11:05.37 and 12:11.82, respectively, well within the top 25, to earn medals.
The Whalers’ success came against some fellow freshmen runners but from much larger schools, such as Hauppauge, Bellport, Islip, Bayport-Blue Point, Kings Park, Sachem East and Mount Sinai, to name a few.
“I’m very proud of all my freshmen,” head coach Joe Amato said. “They’re working really hard. We had three medalists today, which is a big, big thing for us. Ben winning is very important for our program. They’ve all faced very, very stiff competition at Sunken Meadow thus far. I think all three of these guys have a very bright future.”
Pierson senior Edmar Gonzales-Nateras ran in the varsity “B” 5K and fared well himself. He finished in 17:55.33 to finish fifth.
Sophomore Ben Kriegsman finished in 20:50.84, and senior David Kriegsman finished in 21:24.84.
Girls in Line for League Title
The Pierson girls cross country team has its final League VIII dual meet of the season scheduled for this Tuesday, October 15, against Riverhead Charter School at Mashashimuet Park. A win there would officially lock up a league title for the girls, head coach Yani Cuesta said.
The girls also competed at the Tom Knipfing Invitational with the boys on Saturday. Senior Greylynn Guyer finished fourth in the girls varsity “B” race, in 21:06.88. Freshman Josephine Mott finished 10th, in 22:01.43; junior Bennett Greene finished 18th, in 23:39.34; and Brianna Torres finished 28th, in 24:58.98.
