South Side runs to title

Minus one of its top runners, South Side rose to another level in the face of adversity to seal the Conference 3 girls’ cross-country title Oct. 13 at Bethpage State Park.

Freshman Carly Woelfel won the race in just over 20 minutes and each of the Lady Cyclones’ top five runners finished in the top 10, giving them an unexpected comfortable victory over Wantagh, 23-37. The 20:06.2 was a personal best for Woelfel, who captured her third conference meet of the season. 

“We worked towards the Wantagh meet all year long,” South Side coach Chris Webster said. “Every team has one or two stars, but winning the meets comes down to depth. The fact we were missing one of our strongest runners was a big concern, but at the same time I think the other girls were more prepared mentally and physically because of it.”

Junior Kieran Travers missed the final regular-season meet with an injury, but Webster is optimistic she’ll be ready this Saturday and help South Side (13-0 in Conference 3) challenge Manhasset for the Nassau Class A championship. Travers had a breakout 2015 campaign and won a pair of conference meets this fall with a top 5k time of 20:54. “Kieran worked so hard over the summer and likes to compete and win,” Webster said. “She came into the season in top shape.”

Senior Talia Cutrone, a captain along with senior Brigit Kelly, ran her best 5K of the season in the finale to help defeat Wantagh. Cutrone was fourth overall in 20:40.7. Kelly finished ninth in 21:56.4. “They’re great captains who keep the pulse of the team,” Webster said. “They led our summer workouts and I always sought their input during the year before deciding how we’d train that day.”

Junior Amanda Maughan finished sixth in the conference finale in 21:06.9. “She’s a three-year runner who keeps getting stronger and faster,” Webster said.

A pair of newcomers, Woelfel and classmate Kaitlyn Mohr, have the eighth and 11th fastest times in the county, respectively. Mohr was third in the conference finale in 20:29.9. “I don’t think Kaitlyn has come close to her best yet,” Webster said. “She’s a natural talent and quietly stepped up to be our No. 2 or 3 in every race. She and Carly push each other.”

Woelfel has demonstrated not only to be a fast runner, but also a strategic one. “She wants to burn up the course every week, but she’s a smart runner,” Webster said. “She knows there are times when you don’t need to go all-out.”

South Side’s boys’ cross-country squad improved tremendously from a year ago, finishing 10-3 in Conference 3 with a roster loaded with youth.

“We had several runners set a PR in the final meet and I’m hoping we can get three All-County,” Webster said. “It’s a competitive group and they all push each other. Every week, I had no idea who would finish where for us.”

Junior Michael Luvin set the tone for the Cyclones, with juniors Luke Shannon and Chris Collins, and sophomores Dan Finning and Jack McGowan not far behind.