Laura down the stretch in the 4x400. The winter track season got underway this weekend with the Nassau County Coaches Invitational being run at the Armory in upper Manhattan. The Garden City varsity girls showcased much of their young talent throughout the night. For a team that has been consistently at the top of the standings, with consecutive Winter County championships to go along with Outdoor County Championships, coach Erica Fregosi, along with Tom Scrivanek and George Lucas will have to blend together a very young but talented group with several solid upper classmen. The strength of the team should come from the versatility of their core performers - Emily Menges, Laura Martens, Michelle Rotondo, Taryn Schmelzinger, Liz Slattery and Catherine Cafaro.

The relays were proof of the Garden City youth as they swept the Freshman bracket with wins in the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800. The team of Taylor Hennig (9), Carley Knowles (8), Tara DeAngelo (7) and Lauren Reale (7) won the 4x200 relay with a time of 2:00.1. The 4x400 group of Kelly Tierney (7), Carly Knowles, Sarah Rubino (7) and Katie O'Neal (7) won by almost 30 seconds with a time of 4:36.5. In the sophomore 4x400 Garden City also took first with a time of 4:36.7 as the group of Taylor Hennig, Jillian Yoo, Chelsea Ripp and Kim Gregory ran strong. While in the 4x800, GC took first and second place in the Frosh/Soph bracket with the team of Katie O'Neal, Tara DeAngelo, Sarah Rubino and Jenna DeAngelo (9) capturing first with a time of 10:54.7. While the quartet of Kelly Tierney, Kristen Conboy (9), Kim Gregory (10) and Amanda Murolo (10) took second with a time of 11:09.7. In the Open bracket the Trojan girls fared well with two fourth place finishes as Tara Mahon (9), Catherine Cafaro (11) Rachel Dooley (11) and Taryn Schmelzinger (10) ran a strong 4x200 with a time of 1:52.2. And in the 4x400, Laura Martens (12), Liz Weber (11), Victoria Chimento (11) and Deanna Ceriano (12) medaled with a time of 4:25.1

Jenna rounds the turn in the 1000. The meet is geared towards the relays, but in several of the individual events the girls did well. Michelle Rotondo took first place in the high jump with a leap of 5'2", and also placed sixth in the 1000 meters. While Dana Famiglietti long jumped to a personal best of 14'10". And in the 55 meter sprints, Taryn Schmelzinger and Tara Mahon tied for fourth with a time of 7.6 and Catherine Cafaro just missed placing with a run of 7.7.

Taryn and Tara in the starting blocks. For the first meet of the season the girls did well and set the tone for what they hope will be another run at another title.

Michelle breaks out early in the 1000.