Girls’ XC Dusts Royals

The girls’ cross country team withstood the rain and Port Jefferson this afternoon to even their league record at 1-1. The girls, led by freshman Margot Rashba, took down their league rivals, 23-36, on Sunken Meadow State Park’s 3-mile course. Rashba, fighting an untied shoelace, was neck-and-neck with Port Jeff’s best runner for the first two-thirds of the race before separating from her competitor on the infamous Cardiac Hill. As the two approached the mulch-covered behemoth, they jostled for position with their elbows, but it was Rashba who grabbed control of the race by withstanding the wrath of Cardiac. It was not the first time the two faced off. Rashba won a close 3000-meter race against her opponent on the track last spring and the script remained unchanged for Port Jeff’s #1 on this day. Kriupa Samson also turned in a fine performance, besting her personal record by 1:07 on her birthday to place 8th.

Coach Heidi Nathan was very pleased with the girls’ effort today:

The girls did really great out there today again. Everyone is right on target, running faster than they started out last season and almost every returner is already running the times they were doing mid-season last year. The team as a whole has been so supportive of each other. It is a blessing to see the enthusiasm and teamwork they are exhibiting. Margot did an amazing job, holding off Port Jeff’s #1 runner. It was competitive the whole race, then Margot kicked it in hard at the end to win by 10 seconds!

Here is how our team fared:

Margot Rashba came in first with a time 22:39 to lead Stony Brook (1-1) in League VIII.

~ Newsday

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