WM's Anselmini breezes in SA Invitational
Mary Kate Anselmini of Ward Melville wins the Girl 2.5 Mile Varsity (A-1) Cross Country race at Sunken Meadow State Park. Mary Kate finished the race in 14 minutes 53 seconds. (Oct. 2, 2010) Credit: Liz Malone
Ward Melville senior Mary Kate Anselmini is used to this sort of thing. A large lead, the finish line in sight, and no one within striking distance.
After all, she won the state and outdoor national title in the 2,000-meter steeplechase. This is a different year and different season, although Anselmini appears to be maintaining her stranglehold on the Long Island distance scene.
She cruised through the finish line in a time of 14 minutes, 53.16 seconds to win Saturday's varsity A-1 race at the St. Anthony's Cross Country Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park. Her time was more than 26 seconds ahead of runner-up Ali Foote (15:19.47) of West Islip.
Anselmini enjoyed those final strides when victory was all but assured.
"It takes a lot of pressure off you, so you can be nice and relaxed and finish strong," Anselmini said.
She built her lead after climbing the daunting hills. "I took advantage of the downhills, which I learned is very important," Anselmini said.
After wins Saturday and at the early-season Bob Pratt and Green Mountain Lake Invitationals, Anselmini is rounding into her spring form.
"Mary Kate is feeding off that national title from the spring," Ward Melville coach Tom Youngs said. "She has a lot of confidence. She's in great shape and keeps moving ahead each week."
Ward Melville lost the team title by a single point to St. Anthony's, which was led by junior Lauren Lavoro (fourth, 15:22.35) and sophomore Gabriella Vezza (fifth, 15:25.04).
In the varsity A-2 race, Northport freshman Brigid Brennan (15:18.91) outsprinted Sacred Heart senior Ashley Murphy (15:21.02) down the final straightaway.
After having a breakout eighth-grade season, the 14-year-old is just learning to overcome the mental hurdles of a distance race. After being passed early in Saturday's race, she focused on the power of positive thinking.
"Yeah, I heard them behind me," Brennan said. "And then when they passed me, I kind of got down, but then I realized I had a lot left."
She fought her way back and took the lead for good about a half-mile from the finish. Once she took the lead, she never wavered. "[Coach Eric Visconti] told me to stay with the best runners and take it from there."
Northport, led by Brennan and junior Anna Corrigan (fifth, 15:56.86) won the A-2 team crown with 43 points, 43 points ahead of runner-up St. John the Baptist. Northport eighth-grader Victoria D'Amato finished seventh in 16:21.57.
Brennan won last year's Class AA cross country title as an eighth-grader.
Mary Welsh of Manhasset was the top Long Island finisher in the small school race, finishing fifth in 16:26.19.
