The Massapequa High School girls cross country team completed an outstanding season, under the leadership of first year coach Dennis McLoughlin. In a sport where every second counts, each runner trained long and hard to achieve her personal best, which ultimately created this successful team.

On November 29 at the 19th annual Cross Country Awards Dinner held at the Coral House, the following awards were presented to five of the team’s fastest runners: Kathryn Carpenter - All Conference and All Division; Vicki Belegrinos - All Division; Jenn Bricke - All Division; Christina Totino - All Division and Allison DeLuca - All Division.

The varsity squad which had no returning seniors was comprised of Captains Vicki Belegrinos and Christina Totino, Jenn Bricke, Kathryn Carpenter, Jenna DeMayo, Tobie Langsam and Allison DeLuca. Mary Kate Hahn, Meredith Maus and Jessica Atwood were tremendous contributors to both varsity and junior varsity teams throughout the season. The junior varsity squad who did an amazing job this season was composed of Eva Sergovich, Heather Baird, newcomers Jessica Feifer, Meghan McCann, Gina Spaccarelli and Kristen Dini.

On October 13, many of the Chief runners received medals for their performances, at the arduous course of Van Courtlandt Park, some included Sophomore Allison DeLuca and Freshman Gina Spaccarelli.

On October 27, the Conference Championship was held at Bethpage State Park, Kathryn Carpenter came in ninth place (20:56), followed by Christina Totino in 18th place.

On October 29, sophomore Meredith Maus ran an impressive personal best of 24:18 at Bethpage State Park at the freshman/sophomore race.

In spite of a season aggravated by injuries, veteran runners Tobie Langsom and Jenna DeMayo ran an impressive season best of 24:33 and 23:40 respectively. Sophomore Kristen Dini was also sidelined by injury.

Junior Jessica Feifer was named Most Improved Player and Junior Kathryn Carpenter was named Most Valuable Player.

With a full team returning in the fall, the runners have already begun training for an even more rewarding season in 2002. Coach McLoughlin looks forward to building on the successes this young team has already achieved this season.

Pictured, back row, are Christina Totino, Kristen Dini, Jenna DeMayo, Jessica Feifer, Kathryn Carpenter, Allison DeLuca, Vicki Belegrinos and Cough McLoughlin; in the middle row are Mary Kate Hahn, Jenn Bricke, Eva Sergovich and Meredith Maus and in the front row are Tobie Langsom, Jessica Atwood, Heather Baird, Gina Spaccarelli and Meghan McCann.