Newsday's top 50 girls cross country runners for 2025

Newsday's annual look at the top high school girls cross country runners on Long Island, listed in alphabetical order, heading into the season. All statistics are from last season, unless otherwise noted.

Fayola Allison, South Side, Sr.

She ran 19 minutes, 6.6 seconds on Bethpage State Park’s course at the Nassau state qualifier meet. Entering the season, that is the fourth-fastest personal record on the course by a returning runner on Long Island.

Kiley Barch, Huntington, Sr.

She ran a season-best 21:03.8 at Sunken Meadow State Park in the Suffolk division championships, which places her amongst Long Island’s top 25 returners on the course.

Gemma Budek, MacArthur, Jr.

Her 19:19.6 from the Nassau conference championships is the fifth-best time at Bethpage by a returning Long Islander. She also performed well  at Sunken Meadow — which is not a home to the Nassau runners — with  a 21:17 at the Suffolk Coaches Invitational.

Elizabeth Butruch, Sayville, Soph.

Her 21:00.6 at Sunken Meadow ranks 18th amongst returning Long Islanders on the course, while her 21:08.9 in the Federation championships at Bowdoin Park — one of the hardest in the state — is in the top 25.

Elena Ciaccio, St. Anthony’s, Jr.

Coming off last year, she is right ahead of Butruch on the Sunken Meadow leaderboards at 20:57.7. She also ran a 20:32.6 at Bowdoin Park, which ranks 16th in this returning group.

Lexie Cole, Comsewogue, Jr.

Not only is she third amongst current Long Islanders on Sunken Meadow (18:59.9), but also she is first at Queensbury High School (17:57.5), site of this year’s state public school championships, and first at Bowdoin Park (18:57.9), annual home of the Federation championships. Those 2024 times at Queensbury and Bowdoin Park rank seventh and eighth amongst returners in the state.

Ellie Connell, Shoreham-Wading River, Jr.

As a sophomore, she showed vast progression throughout the academic year. Her 19:46.8 at Sunken Meadow in her last race of the cross country season ranks eighth on the course entering 2025. She then found some success in both the 1,500 meter run and the 2,000 meter steeplechase during the outdoor track season, registering personal-bests of 4:54.03 and 7:19.54, respectively.

Chloe Connolly, North Shore, Sr.

She broke out as a junior, running this returning group’s third-best time at Bethpage (19:03.1), eighth-best time at Queensbury (18:45.1) and sixth-best time at Bowdoin Park (19:23.7).

Olivia DiGaetano, Connetquot, Sr.

Another one of Long Island’s premier runners, her top times at Sunken Meadow (19:48.9), Queensbury (18:13.4) and Bowdoin Park (19:29.8) all rank in the top 10 amongst returning Long Islanders.

Christina Duffy, Sayville, Fr.

As an eighth-grader, she posted the 17th-best time within this returning group at both Sunken Meadow and Bowdoin Park, logging a 20:51.9 and a 20:33.2, respectively.

Marianna Duffy, Sayville, Jr.

The elder Duffy sister  ran a season-best 20:14.1 at Sunken Meadow to rank 13th amongst returners. Entering the season, her top Queensbury time of 18:41.5 is seventh on Long Island.

Abigail Erickson, Sachem East, Soph.

After showing flashes with a 21:53.7 at Sunken Meadow as a freshman, she continued to progress throughout the year. By the end of the outdoor track season, she ran a 10:29.67 in the 3,000 meters, which ranks 10th in this cast of returners.

Sayla Fives, Harborfields, Jr.

She overcame an iron deficiency problem that sidelined her for 2023 to become one of the state’s best runners in 2024. She ranks fourth on Long Island at both Sunken Meadow (19:09.6) and Queensbury (18:11.9), as well as second on Long Island and 11th in the state at Bowdoin Park (19:00.4).

Shannon Flachner, Wheatley, Sr.

Coming off a stellar 2023 as a sophomore, she had her junior year derailed by health issues. Her times notably regressed, but she is back in good health and primed for a bounceback. Her top 2023 times at Bethpage (19:38.83) and Bowdoin Park (20:13.7) would have ranked sixth and 13th amongst this returning crew in 2024.

Kyra Florio-Marinello, Massapequa, Sr.

A former soccer player who now focuses on running, she wound up running a 7:19.16 in the 2,000 steeple during the outdoor track season. That time in one of the more strenuous races ranks third on Long Island in the returning class. This will be her first cross country season.

Kayla Forsch, Northport, Sr.

The elder statesman of Northport is lined up for a big final season. Her 19:45.8 at Sunken Meadow is seventh amongst returners from 2024.

Rin Furukawa, Syosset, Sr.

Her 19:41.1 from the Nassau state qualifier ranks seventh on Long Island at Bethpage.

Cali Gabrielson, Mount Sinai, Soph.

Gabrielson has made waves on the state level as a distance runner through her first three years on varsity. At Sunken Meadow, her season-best 18:56.2 ranks second on the island. She continued to progress after the cross country season, with the state Class B championship in the 3,000.

Isabella Garra, Cold Spring Harbor, Jr.

On the difficult courses of Sunken Meadow and Bowdoin Park, she outperformed many runners who logged faster times than her on flatter courses such as Bethpage and Eisenhower Park. Her 21:05.5 at Bowdoin Park ranks her in the Island’s top 25. In the spring, her 10:35.67 in the 3,000 meters ranks 14th amongst returning Long Islanders, between Budek and Marianna Duffy.

Julia Glenz, Long Beach, Soph.

Her 19:43.6 as a freshman is Long Island’s 10th-best returning time at Bethpage.

Maeve Going, Sacred Heart, Sr.

 Going owns the fifth-best time on Long Island at Sunken Meadow (19:23.07) and the fourth-best time at Bowdoin Park (19:18.3).

Emma Gold, Center Moriches, Sr.

The defending Suffolk Class C champion ranks 16th on the Island at Sunken Meadow with a 20:48.1.

Zaria Hall, East Meadow, Sr.

Her best times at Bethpage (18:52.2), Queensbury (18:03) and Bowdoin Park (19:20.6) all rank in Long Island’s top five. Her time at Queensbury ranks 10th in the state amongst returners on the course.

Sloane Hinke, Glenn, Fr.

She sits in the top 15 on the Sunken Meadow leaderboards after running a 20:41.1 at the Suffolk division championships. She also performed well at the public schools state meet at Queensbury, running a 19:33.4.

Ava Hopkins, Glenn, Jr.

She is right there with the rest of the best in Suffolk, as her season-best time at Sunken Meadow of 21:04.8 rounds out the top 25.

Joanna Kenney, North Shore, Sr.

Another one of Long Island’s biggest stars, her 18:10.96 is the best at Bethpage. She also ranks ninth on the Island at Bowdoin Park at 19:54.2.

Fiona King, Northport, Fr.

She ran Long Island’s best returning time at Sunken Meadow (18:35.3). Her 18:01.4 at Queensbury ranks second on the Island and ninth overall in New York State amongst returners. Her 19:32.7 at Bowdoin Park ranks her eighth.

Megan Lankowicz, Sayville, Sr.

She returns after running a top-25 time on Long Island at Bowdoin Park with a 20:46.9.

Linda Lin, Syosset, Jr.

One of the key contributors of a loaded Syosset team, her 19:43.1 at Bethpage ranks ninth in the returning cast.

Julianna Macaskill, Syosset, Sr.

Her 19:54.7 at the Nassau state qualifier gave her the 12th-best time at Bethpage.

Ariana Madeira, Friends Academy, Fr.

Coming off an impressive eighth-grade year at Cold Spring Harbor, she has transferred to Friends Academy. She was just one second behind Macaskill at Bethpage and also broke 20 minutes at Queensbury.

Maggie McCormick, Bay Shore, Sr.

She was disappointed in her cross country performance last year, and she went on to become one of the best distance runners in the state during the track season. McCormick  has this returning cast’s sixth-fastest time at Sunken Meadow (19:44.4) and 13th-fastest mark at Bowdoin Park (20:17).

Emma Murphy, Kings Park, Soph.

In the fall, she showed a lot of upside as a freshman, running as fast as 21:01.1 at Sunken Meadow — 21st amongst returners on the course. She continued to progress through the track season, as she ran a 7:32.7 in the 2,000 steeple, which ranks ninth in Long Island's returning group.

Anna Paloubis, Manhasset, Jr.

She ran 19:42.7 at Bethpage as a sophomore, which ranks eighth entering the season. In the spring, she ran a 7:20.62 in the 2,000 steeple: fifth-best in the returning class. She also ran Nassau’s third-fastest time at Sunken Meadow at 21:52.9.

Valeria Paez, Hewlett, Jr.

A former soccer player, she found success as a track runner. Her 7:29.81 in the 2,000 steeple is eighth on Long Island amongst returners. Now, she is bringing that stamina she displayed on both the soccer pitch and in the steeplechase to Hewlett’s cross country team.

Lyla Quinn, Northport, Fr.

Another Northport runner who put up good times as a middle-schooler. Her 21:02.4 is in the top 25 on Long Island at Sunken Meadow.

Elle Riches, Sacred Heart, Jr.

She ran a top-20 time in this returning class at Bowdoin Park with a 20:44.7 at the Federation championship.

Ariana Sadrarhami, Syosset, Jr.

She completes a strong one-two punch with Furukawa at the front of Syosset’s championship team. She topped out at 19:40.1 at Bethpage for the sixth spot on the Long Island leaderboard.

Julia Schmitz, Ward Melville, Jr.

As a sophomore, she ran times at both Sunken Meadow (20:21) and Bowdoin Park (20:27.6) that rank in the top 15 of this returning class.

Keira Shaw, North Babylon, Sr.

She ran a top-25 time at Sunken Meadow in the Suffolk division championships, clocking a 21:04.5.

Fallon Siriban, St. Anthony’s, Soph.

In limited races, she was solid on some difficult courses as a freshman, running a 21:24.45 at Sunken Meadow and a 21:05.3 at Bowdoin Park. Her time at Bowdoin Park is 20th on the island.

Saige Smith, North Babylon, Jr.

She also ranks in the top 25 at Sunken Meadow, having ran a 21:03.4 at the Suffolk division championships.

Camryn Szokoli, Glenn, Sr.

She is expected to be one of the top runners on a solid Glenn team. She ran a 21:13.5 at Sunken Meadow, which outranks six other runners on the list. In the springtime, she ran a 10:51.95 in the 3,000, which outpaced 15 members of this list.

Emma Tjersland, Hauppauge, Sr.

After running 21:39.2 at Sunken Meadow (37th amongst returning Long Islanders), she progressed well. In the spring, she ran a 10:33.87 in the 3,000, which ranks 12th in the returning group.

Jane Tucker, Northport, Fr.

Another from the Northport program who found instant varsity success as a seventh-grader and again as an eighth-grader. Her 20:11.9 at Sunken Meadow and her 20:02.5 at Bowdoin Park each rank 12th on the Island. At the public school state meet, she ran Long Island’s 11th-best time (19:00.7) at Queensbury.

Sophia Vukelic, Massapequa, Sr.

Another Nassau runner who had an impressive showing on a difficult course, she ran a top-30 time at Sunken Meadow with a 21:20.6. Of course, she is even better on her home course — Bethpage — where she ranks 11th with a 19:47.27.

Mia Wickard, Northport, Jr.

Wickard ranks 11th at Sunken Meadow at 20:06.4 and 14th at Bowdoin Park at 20:23.7. She also did well at the NYSPHSAA meet, running a 19:00.4 for the 10th-best time amongst returners.

Elizabeth Wright, Ward Melville, Jr.

She has run well at Sunken Meadow, including a 20:00.5 at the Suffolk division championships. That time ranks 10th in the returning group, while her 20:02.2 in the Federation race at Bowdoin Park ranks 11th.

Emalyn Zeller, Oyster Bay, Sr.

She stacks up solidly on the easier courses but also handled her own on the unfamiliar Sunken Meadow with a 21:57, which is the fourth-best number in Nassau. She continued to progress in the track season, as her 10:31.24 in the 3,000 meter ranks 11th amongst returning Long Islanders.

Abigail Zucker, Ward Melville, Soph.

She showed some promise as a freshman, running top-50 times amongst the returners on the two hardest courses Long Islanders deal with (Sunken Meadow and Bowdoin Park). She took a giant leap amongst the distance runners throughout the rest of the year, which was reflected in her 2,000 steeple performance: 7:33.67, 11th in the returning class.