Sunday, December 8, 2024
Most girls cross-country programs would celebrate wildly a second-place team finish in the Nassau County Class III championships.
North Shore is different. The Vikings celebrated, but not full bore.
After all, the North Shore girls had won the county team championship every year except once since 2006. Last season North Shore captured its 17th crown in notching its best point total ever.
This fall, North Shore placed runner-up to a Cold Spring Harbor squad that Vikings legendary coach Neal Levy termed “their best team in the history of their school.’’
“The Maroon’’ had plenty to celebrate – especially the tale of junior stars Chloe Connolly and Joanna Kenney, who finished 1-2 in Nov. 2’s county championships at Bethpage State Park.
Connolly only started running last year. Kenney picked up the sport two years ago. Hence their rapid rise has been a glorious feat.
“They can easily be two of the top five runners in North Shore history,’’ Levy said. “They’re not just good. They’re very, very good. Are they historic? Time will tell but they’re on that path - college-bound runners for sure.’’
Connolly became the individual county champion, outgaining her teammate in the final 100 meters. Connolly’s time was 19:27.10 with Kenney finishing second at 19:27.60.
Last Saturday, the duo also qualified for the state meet in upstate Queensbury. Connolly finished second with a quicker 19:03 clocking and Kenney was third.
The drop-off after Connolley-Kenney was severe. But also gaining All-County honors (top 25) were Emilia Aguirre (12), Hannah Checo (13), Michela Talamo (16), Kristen Arena (17) and Efrosini Milonas (19).
That totals seven all-county runners, making it a banner day in Vikings sports history despite lacking the team championship.
In addition, North Shore kept up its dual meet winning streak this season, upping it to an astounding 223. The last dual meet loss for North Shore was Oct. 10, 2007.
“We overachieved for much of the season,’’ Levy said.
Added Connolly, “Cold Spring was a really good team. We were struggling with sicknesses and injuries the whole season. At the beginning, we weren’t close to becoming county champions but through it all, we pushed so hard and I’m proud of us to get second.’’
In the county run, Connolly and Kenney, who are best friends, strategically ran together as a duet, but all bets are off in the final 100 meters.
“We run together a lot,’’ Connolly said. “In the last 100 meters, we run all out. It’s anyone’s game. It feels really good and I want to make All-State. So it’s a check off my checklist.’’
It’s a fantastic achievement for Connolly, who didn’t start running until last year and finished sixth in the 2023 counties. Previously, she participated in basketball and softball, then joined the swimming team as a high-school freshman.
Connolly wasn’t enthralled with swimming.
“I told friends I wanted to do cross-country next year and one of my older friends said cross country is really hard,’’ Connolly said. “He was like “you’re not going to be able to do it. I told him “I’m still going to do it. Watch me like it.’’
The rest is North Shore his
