East Meadow runs to states

The East Meadow boys’ cross-country team took home the regular season Conference 1 championship with a 13-0 record and a number of skilled and athletic runners that made it to States as one of the top teams in all of New York.

“It was a really good season,” said Jim McGlynn, coach of the boys’ varsity Jets program. “We were the best team in Nassau County and finished 16th at States overall.”

Of those talented runners, senior Brian Villafuerte shined as a constant standout for East Meadow. He averaged a 17:40 time, according to his coach, but scampered his way to season-best 16:43 time this year. “He was excellent all year long,” said McGlynn.

Villafuerte pushed his teammates to run more efficiently and faster. Up-and-coming cross country star sophomore Zack Van Houten was the No. 1 runner for the Jets at the state meet and even beat out Villafuerte, who McGlynn poked fun at in good nature. “Villafuerte started off strong and really went for it early, and late in the race he really didn’t have much left and Zachary took it,” said McGlynn.

Nick Clemente became the first freshman in school history to qualify for the state meet. Chris Ignatiou ran the teams fastest 2000m this season at just under 9 minutes. Other standouts included John Meah and Matt Owens, who McGlynn spoke candidly on. “We’re lucky to have the kids that we do, they really do a great job and work hard,” said McGlynn.

The varsity cross-country and track program have been headed by McGlynn for many years. The 2018 cross-country season was the first one in East Meadow’s recent memory where a new head coach took the reigns. Michael Ringhauser was appointed the new head coach with McGlynn taking a backseat due to health concerns.

McGlynn fully backs the decision to bring Ringhauser in as a full-time coach after initially bringing him in as an assistant.

“He is a great young coach and has picked up everything I have taught,” said McGlynn. “He is really a young ‘me’, beyond me maybe, he is a great fit for these kids.”

Ringhauser’s connections to McGlynn date back to Ringhauser’s college years. His head coach in college was McGlynns college roommate.

As for Ringhauser’s first year with this talented bunch, McGlynn is very complimentary. “They won a quad meet and beat Syosset in that quad meet, and made it to states, we’ve got a great group of kids and a great coach,” said McGlynn. 

This is the second year in a row for the Jets boys’ cross country program going undefeated.