Changing scenarios for Viking cross country teams

By: Redd E. Patrick
   For the South Brunswick High School girls cross country program, the 2001 season will represent a new beginning. For the boys, it will mark the end of an era.
   The girls team lost Anne O’Rane to graduation as well as Kristyn McGrath. These girls took part on three Greater Middlesex Conference championship teams and were key figures in the team’s huge success the past four years, especially O’Rane, a top gun in the area for all four seasons.
   Last year, O’Rane and McGrath finished third and sixth at the GMC meet. But life goes on. Veteran coach Brian Jost has established a top-notch program, so the girls team is still expected to be one of the best in the area. This season, however, there are several up-and-coming programs such as Metuchen, Bishop Ahr, Edison and Piscataway who will challenge South Brunswick and Old Bridge for Middlesex County supremacy.
   The Vikings do not have one standout runner the way they’ve had the past six seasons or so with O’Rane and Jill Stein. Jost is pretty set on a top six, however. They will be senior captains Sejal Patel and Navi Deol, freshmen Lauren White and Amy Rhein and sophomores Sari Kaufman and Alison Rossi.
   Junior Natalya Johnson, a standout in track, is out for cross country for the first time and has been developing, according to Jost. Fellow sprinters from the track team, junior Lauren Broadnax and senior Engedaye Polk, will be giving the sport a shot as well. Senior Kaitlin Matolka, sophomore Morghan Transue and freshmen Iny Ghun and Amanda Gogolin round out the 13-member squad.
   "We have a solid six and possibly seven,” said Jost. "After that, there’s a little bit of a drop-off. So if we stay healthy and the young kids come around, we should be up there again.”
   As for the boys, captains Matt Randal and Dan McDonald as well as Scott Yeager and Tom Poorten teamed up with Drew Biri four years ago to form one of the top freshman teams in the state. They continued that trend as sophomores, but were disappointed as a group a year ago despite finishing second at the GMC championship, fourth in Central Jersey Group IV and 10th in Group IV. This year, they’re hoping to regain the form that had them recognized on a state level. They will have to do it without Biri, however, who recently had foot surgery.
   "Last year, that group was a little disappointed,” admitted Jost. "But they had a real good summer, they got in real good shape and their workouts right now are faster than last year. They’re nervous, but excited.” Raphael Chejade Bloom, who came on last season, is another senior looking for a big season. Junior Ankush Patel and sophomore Ryan O’Laughlin are also back, along with senior Dan Klag. South Brunswick will also be bolstered by a solid freshmen group which includes Dustin Biri, Chris Kubick, Peter Saragnese and Greg Spinner.
   "We have a good group of freshmen,” said Jost, who has 30 boys in the program. "They’ve been running with the varsity and looking good.”
   The Vikings have the unfortunate task of opening up their season on Tuesday at Thompson Park against Old Bridge, a team ranked 24th in the country by Harrier Magazine and No. 1 in the by a statewide paper.
   "Whatever happens on Tuesday happens, but we usually rise to the occasion against Old Bridge,” Jost said.