Ward Melville Boys Capture Third Straight County Championship

The Ward Melville Patriots boys cross country team continued its impressive run of success, capturing its third consecutive Suffolk County Championship and earning another trip to the state championships.

Leading the way was Andrew Senf, who claimed the individual county title with an outstanding first-place finish. Matteo Ritieni also had a terrific race, crossing the finish line in third place, while Willem Van Der Velden secured a top-10 finish by placing 10th. Their performances helped the Patriots bring home another county crown and extend their championship streak to three straight years.

The boys will now turn their attention to the state championships, where they will have an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best runners in New York.

The Ward Melville girls also had plenty to celebrate after delivering strong performances at the Suffolk County Championships. Isabella Horn finished seventh overall, while Lauren Casey crossed the line in eighth place. Both runners earned qualifying spots at the state championships, giving the Patriots two more representatives on the big stage.

It was an outstanding day for Ward Melville cross country, with the boys continuing their championship tradition and the girls earning two individual state qualifiers.

With three consecutive county titles under their belts, the Patriots boys have established themselves as one of Suffolk County's premier cross country programs. Now, both teams will look to carry that momentum into the state competition.