East Meadow Cross Country Has Run-Away Success This Season

EAST MEADOW, NY — Members of the cross-country team at East Meadow High School completed their season with a multitude of accolades and successes.

Senior Zach Van Houten finished undefeated this season, winning the Nassau County Individual Championship for the 5000-meter course at Eisenhower Park. He then continued on to win the Sectional Championship, a race comprised of the overall best runners and teams from all schools in Nassau County regardless of size, by 13 seconds. Van Houten's performances led the team to finish fourth at the county championships, culminating the season with a 10-3 record.

Additionally, the girls cross-country team had a stellar season. The girls won their first division championship since 2016 with a 12-1 record and placed second in the team races at the Nassau County and Sectional Championships. Leslie Villafuerte-Castro led the way for the team this season, placing third overall at the county championship. Fellow runners Becca Silverman, Dakota Eira, Megan Sohl, Ella Foster and Silvia Ronemus placed in the Top 22, earning All-County status.