Douglas Antaky, Zariel Macchia are winners at Suffolk division cross country championships

Two of the top runners in Suffolk cross country cleared another field of elite competitors at Sunken Meadow on Tuesday.

Smithtown’s Douglas Antaky won the boys championship 5K race in 16:08.7, and Floyd’s Zariel Macchia won the girls race in 18:19 at the Suffolk cross country division championships.

“There’s more pressure to do well because you’re going against all of Section XI,” Antaky said.

Antaky led alongside Mt. Sinai’s Jess Joe Augustine leading up to Sunken Meadow’s daunting Cardiac Hill. Antaky, who said he and Augustine were even at the top of the hill, built a comfortable lead as the two runners came down the other side.

The Smithtown senior set a personal best by 4.3 seconds in his first race back at Sunken Meadow since the Bob Pratt Invitational, which he won on Sept. 15.

“When we came down [Cardiac Hill] I knew that the back of the hill, that’s where it was going to be decided,” Antaky said. “I just gunned it down from the back of Cardiac. It was a really good, tactical race.”

Augustine finished second in 16:26.5, and Lindenhurst's Jake Albert finished third in 16:33.4.

Antaky’s personal-best time sets him up for the Suffolk state qualifier at Sunken Meadow on Nov. 3. He said his goal was to run as fast as possible on Tuesday. His goal next week is simply to win.

Commack won the boys team title with 121 points. Alex Walsh finished first for the Cougars in 17:09.80 and placed 11th.

Macchia, the defending Class A state champion, trailed Bayport-Blue Point’s Sophia McInnes for most of the girls championship race before passing her along the moat and cruising to the finish line.

The Floyd junior’s latest win clocked 19.3 seconds faster than her best time at Sunken Meadow last fall.

Macchia said she planned to start the race conservatively, then work on catching an elite runner like McInnes to prepare for bigger races this postseason.

“Because in races like states and nationals, that very likely could be the case,” Macchia said. “Having Sophia to race, I’m really thankful that we have someone so good in the county that we can run together.”

McInnes finished second in 18:30.7, and Mt. Sinai’s Cali Gabrielson finished third in 18:52.6.

Northport won the girls team title (116 points). Defending Class B state champion Sayville (135) was second. Mia Wickard finished first for Northport, placing 14th in 20:23.3.

“Divisions is always such a fun race because everyone gets to run together," Macchia said. "I’ve always loved that."