The Mineola High School varsity track and field team continued its strong showing in the Conference Championships this month. The girls' winter team won its third overall team Conference Championship in four years. Mineola had previously taken the Conference Crown in 2003 and 2005. Coach Kristin Frazer says, "This championship was especially sweet because we were able to defeat Manhasset, who won the Conference Title in 2004, beating us by two points. We won this year 106 to 87. This was a true team championship. The girls scored points in every single event." The athletes who scored points included:

Kristin Mobyed and Chelsea Rosner in the 3,000 meters; Lauren Mobyed in the 1,000 meters; Kasey Hughes in the 55 meters; Kirstin Mobyed and Julia Yan in the 600 meters; Allie Kain and Isabel Reis in the 55 meter hurdles; Lauren Mobyed and Chelsea Rosner in the 1,500 meters; Kasey Hughes and Katie Carter in the 300 meters; Lauren Massa and Lauren O'Neill in 1,500 race walk; Julian Yan in the high jump; and Meredith Minsky in the shotput.

Thirteen different Mineola girls earned All-Conference honors. An athlete has to finish in the top three in an event to be so designated as All-Conference. They are: Kristin Mobyed in the 300, 600 and 4-by-800 relay; Lauren Mobyed in the 1,000, 1,500 and 4-by-400 relay; Julian Yan in the high jump, 600 and 4-by-200 relay; Lauren Massa in the 1,500 meter race walk; Jenn Port, Julie Novak and Jenn pawlowski in the 4-by-8-relay; Alia Fater, Melissa Pastoressa and Allie Kain in the 4-by-400 relay; Josephine Manzella, Katie Carter and Kasey Hughes in the 4-by-200 relay.

Coaches Kristin Frazer, Mike Santa Maria and DonnaJean Welch were ecstatic with the girls' performances. Coach Frazer concluded by saying, "I am always amazed at the performances these girls have on the night of Conference Championships. Their heart and soul are poured out around each lap of the track, and they want so badly to do well for their teammates. Their support of theit teammates is admirable. The girls had a rough start to the season, being in the spotlight with some articles and having a lot of expectations placed on them. The team handled it in a mature way and decided to work together to set and achieve their girls. I am very proud of them for all they have accomplished this season both on and off the track." The next stop for the Mineola girls squad is the County Championships. That meet is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, at Suffolk Community College.

The Mustang boys' track and field team finished third in the Conference Championships at SUNY Farmingdale. The team score of 54 points was a drastic improvement over the 14 points the squad scored last year. Coach Mike Santa Maria says, "The highlight of the meet was the first place performance by the 3,200 meter relay team. Tijo Thomas, Rob Maloney, Dan Sanches and Claudio DeMatos cruised to victory with a time of 9:16.2. That's the fastest time the school has seen in nearly 30 years." In other highlights, Rob Olszweski defnded his Conference Championship in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 4-and-a-half inches. Others earning All-Conference honors were Claudio DeMatos, John Valente and Matt Siwinski. Dematos finished third in the 1,600 meters. Valente was third in the 600 meters and Siwinski was third in the 55 meters. Coach Santa Maria concluded by saying, "The boys' team returns all but two of this year's athletes next year and we ho pe to capture the Conference Championship in 2007."