Another Title Run at Longwood? Cross-country teams reload; Miller Place plans field hockey defense: [EAST END Edition]
By A.J. Benza. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Sep 1991
Gone is reigning state champion and All-America Kevin Hogan. And gone are his All-County teammates, Danny Mallon, Danny Miller and Scott Burian. Together, they helped Longwood‘s cross-country team capture a state championship and its third county title in four years.
But don’t feel too sorry for Longwood coach Tony Toro. The man with the impressive 118-9 record has a few aces in the hole with several runners who ran in the long shadows of the aforementioned four.
“The loss of those guys wil sting a lot,” Toro said. “But they also showed the younger guys how to win and carry themselves. So in some ways we’ll be fine, thanks to them.”
Toro is especially high on Scott Scheffer, Dan Murphy, and Dan Stevenson. All three are threats to finish among the county’s best. Look for Sachem, without Rob Graetzer and Brian Zolzer, to contend with Steve Phillips and Frank Ingrassia. Connetquot also will vie with Jason Moore, as will Mattituck, with Rob Levy – possibly the county’s best runner.
Suffern Invitational
Erin Dolan finished third in the Class C girls three-mile race (18:48) to help Longwood win the team title (54 points) at the Suffern Invitational at Bear Mountain State Park.
In the boys competition, Danny Murphy took first (15:52) in the Class A three-mile race to help Longwood to a second-place finish (63 points). Washingtonville (Rockland County) took first (52). Sept. 22
In other cross-country races at Sunken Meadow, Dan Murphy’s 16:02 lead Longwood to a 19-39 win over Middle Country. Longwood improved to 6-1 and finished tied with Sachem for first place in League I . . . Doug Morrin ran a 17:13 as North Babylon defeated Bellport, 25-31. The teams are co-champions in League III with 4-1 records . . . Chris Graham won in a time of 16:16 as Bayport-Blue Point won the League VI title by defeating Sayville, 16-48 . . . Mount Sinai clinched the League VIII title by defeating East Hampton, 27-29, and Center Moriches, 19-44, at the 10th annual Peconic Invitational at Indian Island Park. Shoreham-Wading River’s Mike Blank ran a 17:43 for the best time of the meet. Shoreham-Wading River won the team title with 33 points. – Oct. 23
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS At Sunken Meadow State Park – Boys – Oct. 25
Steve Phillips of Sachem turned in the fastest time of the day, 16:31.3, in the boys Conference I cross country championship meet at Sunken Meadow State Park. Longwood‘s Dan Murphy ran the second fastest time of all four Conference races, 16:44.1, and finished second in the Conference I race, leading his team to the title. Longwood placed four runners in the top eight in the race.
Conference I – 1. Steve Phillips (Sachem) 16:31.3; 2. Murphy (Longwood) 16:44.1; 3. Stevenson (Longwood) 16:53; 4. Schaefer (Floyd) 16:55.5; 5. Coppolla (Floyd) 16:56.9. Team Scoring – Longwood 35, Sachem 71, Connetquot 94, Floyd 101, Middle Country 104.
STATE FEDERATION CROSS-COUNTRY MEET At Wappingers Falls BOYS Winner and Top LI finishers – Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Nov 1991
1. Chris Gonzalez (Bishop Ford), 16:17.5. 8. Caamano (St. Anthony’s) 16:43.4. 10. McMullan (Chaminade) 16:45.7. 14. Fogarazzo (Mepham) 16:50.4. 17. Quinn (Garden City) 16:52.4. 29. Donohue (St. Anthony’s) 17:05.5. 31. Levey (Nattituck) 17:09.3. 34. Dunn (St. Anthony’s) 17:10.5. 36. Murphy (Longwood) 17:11.5. 38. Moran (St. Anthony’s) 17:14.5. 40. Deegan (St. Anthony’s) 17:17.2. 44. Brewer (Westhampton) 17:19.3. 47. Tulkop (Connetquot) 17:20.9. Team Scoring – 1. St. Anthony’s 81, 4. Chaminade 183, 13. Longwood 343, 21. Bayport-Blue Point 385.
When senior Dan Murphy was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct at the state cross country championships last weekend in Buffalo, causing Longwood a chance at the state title, it brought back bad memories for coach Tony Toro. He said Longwood lost by one point to Sweet Home in the 1986 championships after runner Kevin Krause was told he finished behind a Sweet Home runner whom Krause said he beat. This time, Toro said, he and his staff reviewed videotape of the alleged foul by Murphy – only to find the tape showed no infraction. “The call was made based on hearsay,” Toro said. He said the school may file a protest with the State Athletic Association. –Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 13 Nov 1991