Old Bridge cross country came up a double winner Saturday at the Central Jersey Group IV Championships at Holmdel Park.
The Knights boys, the defending champions and ranked No. 2 in the state, won as expected, putting their first five runners in the top 10 and scoring 33 points.
The girls, overshadowed by what the boys have done all fall, made their case as one of the state’s best teams by edging Hunterdon Central, 40-52, for the sectional title. The Knights even had the individual champion in freshman Mara McInerney (19:53.5).
The Old Bridge boys were closer than ever as a group, with only 17 seconds separating their first runners from their fifth. Senior Dan Harding paced the sectional champions with his second place behind Hunterdon Central’s Jonathan Fox, 16:31-16:38. His time was the sixth best of the day among all the groups. This is the second straight year that Harding has been the sectional runner-up.
But it hardly mattered for Harding, who led an impressive parade of harriers behind him. Junior Ryan Bennett was No. 2 for the Knights, posting a 16:40, taking fourth place. Tim Paul (16:49.2), Rich Lafergola (16:53.7) and Eddie Jimenez (15:55.5) finished in eighth through 10th place to wrap up the 33-61 win over Hunterdon Central. This was the first time this year that Old Bridge put five runners under 17:00 at Holmdel Park.
The top 10 individuals and five teams at the sectional meet advance to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association group championships also at Holmdel Park on Nov. 10. Alex Shatskov of East Brunswick was 13th (17:05.3).
One week after winning the Greater Middlesex Conference title (as the boys did), the Old Bridge girls added the Central Jersey title to their 2001 wins. They upended state power Hunterdon Central. The Knights forged their win by putting their first four runners across the finish line before the Red Devils’ third runner completed the race.
McInerney led the way by getting the individual win. It was her first trip around the Holmdel Park course under 20:00 and it establishes her as a future force in the sport. Her time was the sixth best of the day.
Stephanie Zottoli (20:29.2) and Shannon Robinson (20:40.6) gave Old Bridge a big edge with their fifth- and sixth-place finishes. Danielle Haggiag ran 11th (21:00.9) and Megan Kinsman, 17th (21:24.5) to complete the Knights’ scoring. East Brunswick was sixth (201) with Erinn Goldenberg pacing the Bears in 23rd (21:46.3).
In Group I, Spotswood’s boys and girls both qualified for the Group state championships. The boys were fourth (109). The Chargers were led by four sophomores who topped by Kevin Thorpe (15:55.2), who finished seventh, and Mike Moriarity, who was 18th (18:28.7). Ricky Pace (18:34.1) and Ed Galindez (18:34.3) were 21st and 22nd.
Spotswood’s girls claimed the fifth and last qualifying position (108). They were paced by junior Christina Evans (22:26.8), who placed eighth. Chelsea Stratowski (23:24.9), also a junior, was 12th, and freshman Theresa Leichtman (25:19.5) was 24th.
— Tim Morris