Undefeated Seasons for Garden City's Cross-Country Teams

Coach Charley Cuzzo’s girls squad produced their first undefeated season since 1997. For the boys, it was coach Bob Busch’s first perfect record since 1983. 

Achieving both in the same season has never happened before for Garden City High School.

The girls had breakout performances, and seasons, from each of their top six scorers. But no one has done more to help elevate the team than eighth grader Stephanie Gerland. This season she has the top mark in Section VIII for the 4K, and has been the top point scorer for each of the league meets.

On the boys side it was Busch’s mantra to improve race over race that has helped propel the team to its perfect season. Leading the way for the boys has been junior Andrew Morra, the first Garden City cross-country runner to break the 17-minute mark for the 5K since distance runner extraordinaire Charles White did it in 2006.

In order to produce winning results, a cross-country team needs to have all five of its runners putting their best foot forward and finishing close to the front of the pack.

Along with Stephanie, Jennifer Gerland, Emma Gallagher, Katie O’Neil, Sarah Rubino and Laurel Fisher have all produced personal best times in both the 4K and 5K races, regularly all finishing in the top 10 times in each of their conference meets. The Gerland sisters have finished one-two in each of the conference meets during the regular season.

Producing strong times, the boys, teaming up with Morra, and posting season bests have been Dan Finnegan, Mark DeSantis, Neil Quigley, Tim Feyrer and Steven Bradley. The trio of Morra, Finnegan and DeSantis have finished in the top five of each of the regular season meets to help the team to their undefeated season.

Both teams head to the conference championship meet Saturday and the state qualifier Nov. 5. Both races will be run at Bethpage State Park.