Track beat: Romano's record-breaking mode

Kristina Romano has yet to meet a MacArthur track and field record that she didn't like or couldn't conquer.

The versatile junior has set six school records during the winter and spring seasons. Romano set the 55-meter hurdles record (9.02 seconds), besting the mark set by Shannon Degnan (9.1) in 2006.

Romano also set the 100 hurdles record (15.41), again topping the feat set by Degnan (16.0) in 2006. Romano has the MacArthur 400 hurdles mark (68.1) - the previous record was set by Chrissy Fama - and the pole vault record of 10 feet. Maryanne Gonong set the mark of 9-3 in 2006.

Last but not least, she was part of MacArthur's record-setting pole vault relay and shuttle hurdle relay teams.

"I have been coaching nine seasons and never had someone break six records in one year," MacArthur coach Jamie San Filippo said. "Kristina is a great athlete that has been getting looked at by Division I coaches."

Gulija's inspiration

After her mother passed away from breast cancer Dec. 11, 2010, Southampton freshman Erika Gulija found it hard to focus on her indoor distance events.

Hoping for a fresh start, Gulija, with some prodding from Southampton coach Eddie Arnold, began competing in the pentathlon in the spring. Gulija's renewed focus helped guide her to the Suffolk Division III pentathlon championship Thursday. Gulija won the event with 2,053 points, ahead of Mount Sinai's Elyssa Greer.

"I know she would've wanted me to succeed," Gulija said of her mother, Andi. "And if this is my way to get there, she would've been happy with that."