Georgian Court harriers look to keep improving


FARRAH MAFFAI Manalapan’s Michelle Flannery keeps Howell’s Meghan Hulley from the ball during a game at the Marlboro Labor Day Tournament on Saturday.FARRAH MAFFAI Manalapan’s Michelle Flannery keeps Howell’s Meghan Hulley from the ball during a game at the Marlboro Labor Day Tournament on Saturday.

With everyone returning from the team that won the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference Championship and finished 25th at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships in Kenosha, Wisc., the Georgian Court College women’s cross country team has a lot to look forward to this year.

Head coach Kerwin Lanz pointed out that staying humble and hungry will be important to the Lions as they look to make a return trip to the nationals and continue the college’s remarkable growth as a budding power.

The program is just beginning its fourth year and has already won a conference title and qualified for the NAIA championships.

Once again, the team’s strong point is its overall depth. The Lions may not have an individual contender or high placer for invitational and championship meets, but what they lack up front, they make up for with a group of harriers who run well together and are close in time differential.

The time gap between the first and fifth runners is critical in cross country; teams that have the tightest pack of runners are the most successful. That has been Georgian Court College’s greatest asset.

Monmouth Regional’s Camille Barone and Manchester’s Nicole Oppenheimer, both seniors, are the team’s co-captains. In addition to being among the squad’s top harriers, they are proven leaders who can inspire their teammates.

Brick grad Danielle Curivan is the only other senior on the Lions. Her ex-Green Dragon teammate, junior Jennifer Ruggiero, is one of the team’s core runners.

A solid sophomore class that made an impact last year makes up the bulk of the squad and includes Toms River South’s Shelby Hand, Monroe’s Mary Mancini, Williamstown’s Claire Oswald and Brick Memorial’s Yanci Pereira. This group showed potential last fall and their continued improvement will be a key for Lanz’ harriers.

Two newcomers are sophomore Maria Iniguez, an Asbury Park grad, and freshman Danielle Viviano from Pinelands Regional. Both are strong additions to the team, according to Lanz.

— Tim Morris