Suffolk Reporter

William Floyd High School senior Zariel Macchia has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade New York Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. This marks her third consecutive win for cross country and her fourth overall, including a previous victory in track & field. Macchia is the first athlete from Long Island to achieve this distinction three times.

Throughout the season, Macchia claimed several titles: the Suffolk County Class A Title, the NYSPHSAA Class A State Title, and the NY State Federation Title. She also won the U20 USATF Cross Country Championships and finished in the top three at the Foot Locker National Championships. Her achievements earned her Third Team All-America honors (19th place at Nike Cross Nationals Final), as well as All-State, All-Long Island, All-County, and All-League recognition. Additionally, she was named Newsday Runner of the Year.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding high school athletes who excel not only on the field but also academically and within their communities. The accolade places Macchia among an elite group of former winners who have gone on to become CEOs, coaches, and star athletes.

Macchia has been part of William Floyd schools since kindergarten, attending John S. Hobart Elementary School and William Floyd Middle School.