2 Photos
Tanner Marro was a state qualifier last season. BEYOND THE PRINT/DAVID WILLIAMS
Jeorgiana Gavalas was a state qualifier last season. REBECCA MCMANUS
Southampton cross country head coach Eddie Arnold is excited about both of his boys and girls squads as they both return all of their runners from last season.
The girls will be lead by Jeorgiana Gavalas, but also have strong runners behind her in Hayden Gilmartin, Amanda Koszalka, Riley Moredock, captain Lili Telvi and Xanthi Lazarakis. At the season-opening Jim Smith Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park on Saturday, Gavalas finished third in her 1.5-mile race, Gilmartin placed 15th in the 5K and Telvi 23rd.
The boys team has 16 runners this season, nine of whom return from last season in senior captain Anthony Glanz, junior captain Tanner Marro, Jacob Warden, Jake Cook, Cooper Helmstead, William Dupree, Hewitt Dunne, Dylan Glanz, Liam Lavinio and Arnesto Morales. The four new freshmen joining the team are Matthew Cook, Thomas Lavinio, Gael Reses and Isaiah Warden. And Christian Duggal, a strong runner during the winter indoor and spring outdoor seasons, has come out for the cross country team for the first time this season. He finished ninth in his first race at the Jim Smith on Saturday. Matthew Cook finished 20th in the freshman 1.5-mile race and Liam Lavinio finished 12th in the 5K.
Both the boys and girls will compete in League VII this season along with Babylon, Bayport-Blue Point, Center Moriches, Elwood-John Glenn and Shoreham-Wading River. Both teams opened the season with Center Moriches on Tuesday.
“We’re looking to increase our dual meet winning percentage with the girls, and we’ll be looking to possibly win a league title for the boys,” Arnold said.
