Despite Continued Quarantines, Malone Gives It His All For Southampton Boys Cross Country

Southampton junior Billy Malone set high goals for himself coming into the pandemic-shortened cross country season. With a dedicated focus on running, even stopping playing baseball in the spring to run track, Malone wanted to be the best runner in Suffolk County, or at the very least, become an All-County runner.

Obtaining that goal has proven to be more difficult during a worldwide pandemic, though. Malone has had to quarantine four separate times this school year — all due to contact tracing, never once testing positive himself — with his most recent 10-day absence due to COVID-19 coming to a close this past Monday, the day before one of his biggest races of the season, the Division IV Championships at Sunken Meadow Park in Kings Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Malone wound up finishing seventh overall in the 2.5-mile race in 14:40.98. As of press time, it was unknown whether Malone’s time would advance him to the Section XI Championships next Thursday, April 22, where he could possibly earn that All-County honor. It’s been a frustrating season, to say the least, for Malone, who was a bit unhappy following Tuesday’s race.

“I got out to a decent start. I wanted to stay out in front, so I did that,” he explained. “Got to Cardiac Hill and that hit me a little bit. I tried to work the end. I just didn’t have what I wanted to at the end.”

Having the proper training with his teammates and coach, Eddie Arnold, would have certainly been beneficial, Malone said. But he started the season in quarantine, then practically finished in it as well, leaving himself to train by himself.

Arnold felt for his top runner who never really go to show his true potential this season due to the continued quarantines.

“He wants it. He really wants it so bad, and I hope he gets a shot, I hope he gets in, but right now it’s all about the numbers,” he said.

Overall, the Mariners placed fourth in the division behind Miller Place, Islip and East Hampton. Evan Simioni, a sophomore, was the next Southampton runner in after Malone, finishing 12th in 15:11.17. Senior captain Zac Mobius finished 22nd in 15:38.70, followed by Saintino Arnold (16:31.80) and Harrison Gavalas (21:49.27).

Junior Luca Villano was the lone Hampton Bays representative at the meet. He placed 27th in 16.01.34.

“Honestly, I think they did what they can do, as far as the circumstances with the way the season went,” Arnold said. “As I’ve said before, the kids were running on fumes. The greatest part about it is having the opportunity to compete again and have some sort of normalcy. I’m just happy that they gave their best. That’s all you can ask for right now this time of the season.”