Triple Threat William Floyd 8th Grader Wins 3 Titles In 3 Weeks

MASTIC BEACH, NY — An eighth-grade student at the William Floyd Middle School has made her hometown proud: Zariel Macchia is a triple threat, earning the titles of division champion, county champion, and runner of the year — all in three weeks.

Zariel, who runs for the high school girls varsity cross country team, won the Suffolk County Division I girls cross country championship, the Suffolk County Class A girls cross country championship, and was named the Suffolk County Female Runner of the Year.

“Zariel is truly a one of a kind student-athlete,” said John Ryan, head coach of the girls varsity cross country and track teams. “In 30 years of teaching and coaching I have never come across someone so naturally gifted as Zariel. What really sets her apart, however, is her attitude, work ethic and her desire to improve. She's gives 100 percent in everything she does, whether it's a workout, a homework assignment, or helping a teammate. She is mature beyond her years and her potential is limitless.”

Zariel also excels at academics and is involved in extracurricular activities including serving as captain of the William Floyd Middle School Science Quiz Bowl team, the art club, art portfolio, placing among the top students in her grade in the MathCon competition and participating in the Science & Technology Entry Program, completing an electrical engineering summer program, the district said.

Zariel also volunteers with Coastal Steward Long Island, a group dedicated to restoring and preserving Long Island’s coastlines. To that end, she participates in beach clean-up events, attends various conferences, lectures, and workshops, and has helped at the Center for Environmental Education and Discovery with an eye toward improving the Carman’s River ecosystem. She has also coordinated events with the National Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, the district said.

Last year, Zariel took the AP biology exam and scored a four, which is considered well qualified for a college biology student and ranked her among the top third of test takers overall, the district said.

When she begins high school in the fall, Zariel plans to take honors and advanced placement courses, the district said. She plans on completing AP chemistry and AP physics classes as soon as possible in order to garner more opportunities to participate in advanced research and various STEM programs. And, Zariel, who loves art and he also plans on taking advantage of the school’s fine arts offerings, Career and Technical Education opportunities and other electives that can help develop useful skills for a future career and in life.

She and some of her quiz bowl teammates have already started to prepare for the high school science bowl. She plans on completing AP chemistry and AP physics classes to allow for more chances to participate in advanced research and various STEM programs. Zariel, who loves art and photography, also plans on taking advantage of the school’s fine arts offerings, career and technical education opportunities and other electives, the district siad.

Pete Macchia, Zariel’s father and a volunteer coach with the team, describes Zariel as “a natural endurance athlete with good speed…a combination that no competitor wants to face.”

He said that Zariel first became interested in the sport due to a desire to beat her mother — an All-American college cross country runner at Columbia — in the Smith Point Bridge 5K Run for Literacy when she was in sixth grade; she finished third overall in the process.

As a seventh grader, she won the race and has been named All-County and All-Long Island honors since.

In addition to this year’s division and county races, Zariel has won several other competitions such as the Freshman/Sophomore County meet, the 12th Rock Northeast High School Club XC Championships, and, earlier this school year, the Adidas Rising Stars Indoor Mile held in Virginia Beach.

“Zariel has accomplished so much in such a short period of time,” said Coach Ryan. “It's hard to believe that I still have four more years to coach her. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.”