Takekoshi Paces Blue Devil
Girls' Cross Country
Celine Takekoshi just keeps getting better-and-better. She paced the Huntington High School girls' cross country team this fall, earning All-League honors and finished 15th in the Suffolk championships en route to a personal best time of 21:19 over the 5K course at Sunken Meadow State Park.
Huntington head coach Debra Cheskes said Takekoshi's performance was a full 30-seconds swifter than the junior's previous best time and was the sixth fastest in program history.
The Blue Devils compiled a 2-4 record, finishing fifth in the league and tenth in the conference. Huntington was fourth in the Nassau Coaches Invitational and fifth in the Suffolk Officials Invitational.
Sophomores Kerri-Ann Giambruno and Margaret Petryk, junior Alexandra Martinolich and senior Gabby Mitchell, also enjoyed top-notch seasons.
Martinolich turned in a "wonderful rookie season," Cheskes said. "She improved every race; grasped the concepts of cross country and then excelled." The hard-working Giambruno rose to be the team's No. 2 runner. Mitchell's extra efforts during the summer months led to substantial improvements in her running and to much faster times. Cheskes added that Petryk is a "natural runner" with "untapped potential."
The highlight of the year came at the Nassau Coaches Invitational. Huntington's sophomore team finished fourth and Takekoshi (third) and Martinolich (15th) placed among the leaders in the varsity race. Mitchell was 25th in the JV race. "The adjustment to a flat fast course from a hill-ridden course translated to amazing times," Cheskes said.
Looking back over the season, Cheskes called the team of ten runners a "motivated group of young ladies who were driven to improve each race. They set weekly goals and worked hard to meet them."
Next fall's core group is shaping up to comprised of Takekoshi, Martinolich, Giambruno and Petryk. "They will push themselves and the rest of the team to new heights," Cheskes said.