Longtime Wantagh coach Hedgecock retires

CALEDONIA, N.Y. -- It was the end of an era last week for one coach in Long Island as longtime Wantagh track and field coach Bill Hedgecock announced his retirement.

Hedgecock's name is synonymous with track and field in Nassau and he was honored with a surprise retirement party by a group of his former athletes last Saturday at Wantagh High School.

In 41 years of coaching both boys and girls track (30 years at Wantagh, 11 at Lynbrook), Hedgecock amassed 1,207 wins (819 cross country, 388 track) and 102 losses. Hedgecock also celebrated two state cross country titles at Wantagh (boys 1986, girls 1992) and 37 county championships between both schools.

One of Hedgecock's proudest moments was watching his son Michael set the Nassau record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:26.74) in 1986. His record still stands.

Michael also was a member of Wantagh's 1986 cross country state championship squad.

His daughter Jean also was a competitive runner for the Wantagh girls program. Hedgecock began his coaching career at Lynbrook in 1969, before moving to Wantagh in 1981.

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The Southampton girl's 4x100-meter relay squad of Meggie Gallo, Kiesha Wright, Emily Wesnofske and Carley Guida didn't win a Federation or public school championship. But that didn't make coach Eddie Arnold any less proud of his team.

It was the seventh straight year Southampton had a 4x100 relay team qualify for the states.

"It says a lot about the program and the athletes we have out here," said Arnold, whose squad won its heat in 51.48 seconds. "It's great for a small school like us."