Lauren Henkel, Lifelong RVC Resident And Future Molloy Coach, Dies At 35

Lauren Henkel, a lifelong Rockville Centre resident who was just recently hired as the new coach for the women's cross country and track and field teams at Molloy College, died on July 29. She was 35.

Henkel was born in Rockville Centre on June 12, 1982 at Mercy Hospital. She lived in the village her entire life, other than her college years at NYU, and graduated from South Side High School in 2000. She graduated from NYU in 2004 with a bachelor's of science degree in studio art, then went on to earn a master's of science in sports business from NYU in 2009.

Running was always Henkel's passion, and she was great at it. She spent her years at NYU as a member of the track and field team and was one of the best in the school's history. She was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. She earned NCAA All-America honors in the high jump three times, set 11 NYU individual and relay records and was a nine-time University Athletic Association champion in a variety of events. She also earned All-America and All-UAA honors as a member of the school's women's soccer team.

She was also accomplished off the field. She received the NYU President's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, the Varsity Club Freshman Athlete of the Year Award, the Dan Quilty/NIT Scholar-Athlete Award, the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete Award, the NYU Alumni Association Student-Athlete of the Year Award and the Ida Bodman Service Award for her work in the community.

After her graduation, Henkel turned her love of her school and running into a career, working as the assistant coach with NYU's women's track and field team from 2004 to 2006 and the men's team from 2007 to 2009. She then served as an assistant for both teams from 2010 to 2012.

After leaving NYU, she served as the assistant coach for track and field at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She was hired as the head coach at Molloy just a few weeks ago but had not yet begun her duties as coach.

Newsday reported that a funeral mass was held for Henkel on Aug. 2 at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. She is survived by her sister Erin Laber, 37, of Brooklyn; her brother John, 33, of Rockville Centre; and her parents John, 70, and Irene, 67, of Rockville Centre.

Photo: NYU Athletics