Sprint Medley team of Brooke Senken, Katie Reilly, Catherine Cafaro and Emily Menges Molly Josephs, Emily Menges, Maddie Adams, Michelle Rotondo and Taryn Schmelzinger have earned Nike HS All American status for the 2008 Outdoor track and field season. Coach Erica Fregosi took a contingent from the girl's varsity track team to compete at the Nike National meet in Greensboro, NC last weekend and came back with terrific results. The Nationals capped off an outstanding season for this distinguished group of girls who were led all year by seniors Maddie Adams and Brooke Senken in capturing Division and County Championships. Joining Maddie and Brooke at the Nationals were sophomores Emily Menges, Catherine Cafaro and Katie Reilly, freshmen Michelle Rotondo and Taryn Schmelzinger, and eight grader Molly Josephs. The core of underclassmen shows that Garden City has a bright future on the track for several years to come.

Starting the event for our GC runners on Friday was Molly Josephs in the one mile race walk. And Molly did it in an amazing fashion by taking the lead on the first lap and building on to it each subsequent turn around the track. Molly won the event by more than 6 seconds over her closest competitor with a time of 7:46.07; which by the way is number one in NY State this season. With the victory Molly is crowned Nike National Champion! A phenomenal feat for only an eight grader with a great future.

Bronze medalists Maddie, Taryn, Michelle and Emily Later Friday evening it was the girl's 1600 meter sprint medley relay team in the blocks. Catherine Cafaro and Katie Reilly started the race off with two fast 200 meter sprints, Brooke Senken took the track for a quality 400 meters and Emily Menges anchored with what would have been a Nassau record 800 meters in 2:07.5. But even after putting together such terrific individual efforts the girls didn't have enough to place in the event. The effort did break the school record with a time of 4:02.9 and has them ranked as the third best time in NY State this season.

On Saturday it was Emily Menges' turn at an individual event for a Trojan runner, going for the gold in the 800 meter race. Emily went out fast and closed even faster with a fine effort of 2:09.17 and a fourth place finish to gain All American status in the 800 meter race. Her time also has Emily ranked number three in NY State this season.

The GC contingent at Nationals. One of the last events of the meet was the distance medley relay with Maddie Adams leading off with a strong 1200 meters and passing the baton to Taryn Schmelzinger for the 400 meter sprint. After Taryn, it was Michelle Rotondo's turn to run an 800 meter leg and then turn it over to anchor Emily Menges for a closing mile. All four girls ran exceptionally well and produced a Garden City school record and a third place finish with a time of 11:50.6. The bronze medal gives the four girls All American status for the 2008 outdoor season. Their time was the third fastest NY state time (following the two teams that finished ahead of them at Nike) and the fifth fastest in the country this season. By the way the team that won the race, Warwick Valley, set a new US record for the distance medley.

The Nike National's were a great way to close out a stellar season, not only for this group of runners, but for Garden City girls track. With numerous All County, All State and now All American's on their roster, coaches Cuzzo, Fregosi and Skrivanek have a lot to be proud of with the terrific job they've done in 2008. Good luck to seniors Maddie Adams, Katie Daly, Brooke Senken, and Lauren Williams next year in college. Have a safe and relaxing summer - and get out and run!

Emily Menges - 2 time 2008 Nike All American

Brooke Senken and Katie Reilly Molly Josephs 2008 Nike All American and NATIONAL CHAMPION Maddie Adams - 2008 Nike All American. Michelle Rotondo - 2008 Nike All American Taryn Schmelzinger - 2008 Nike All American