Hornets’ Segal is eighth at cross country MOCBy tim morris
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI Holmdel’s Craig Segal pushes hard at the end as he takes eighth place at Saturday’s Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park. Segal’s time of 16:09.9 was his personal best at Holmdel.
Craig Segal ran his personal best for a second straight week. Only this time, the Holmdel cross country runner wasn’t in contention for the win.
Saturday’s NJSIAA All-Groups Meet of Champions turned into the fastest pack finish in meet history, as Cherokee’s Marc Pelerin pulled six runners under 16:00 at Holmdel Park. Pelerin won the 2001 state championship in 15:43.7, a time that ranks him seventh all-time at Holmdel Park.
For the first two miles of the race, Segal was among the front runners, pushing the pace with Pelerin, Haddonfield’s duo of Chris Platt (second in 15:48.4) and Skip Stiles (fifth in 15:54.8), and Eastern’s Dan Deichert (seventh in 16:04.4). But the Hornet paid the price for that early effort, slipping to eighth place; however, his 16:09.9 was still a personal best on his home course and solidified his all-state status.
It’s been quite a year for Segal who won races at venerable courses like Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx, N.Y.) and Warinanco Park (Elizabeth), and went undefeated until the Group II state championships. He was the Monmouth County, Shore Conference and Central Jersey Group II champion.
The Hornets, who were upset Group II state champions over Haddonfield Nov. 10, finished their season to remember in ninth place (229). Paul Merces was second for the Hornets in 51st place (16:57.5). Holmdel’s five-runner average of 17:13.3 was the seventh best of the meet.
Segal, Merces, Leonardo Vignone, Edward Li, Quriash Ghadiali, Steve Chen and David Grabosky will always have the memories of winning a state championship when they look back at 2001.
Haddonfield, felled by Stiles’ illness at the Group II championships, was in top form Saturday, easily beating Group IV champion Old Bridge (87-124) for the MOC title. Haddonfield had three runners in the top six, with Breton Bonnette (15:55.7) finishing sixth, giving the Bulldawgs three runners under 16:00 — an amazing accomplishment. Their five-runner average of 16:21.5 is fifth best ever, and 23 seconds better than they ran in October at the Shore Coaches Invitational.
For Christian Brothers Academy, the defending champion and winner of 11 of the last 14 MOCs, including the last six-in-a-row, it’s wait until next year. The Colts were eighth Saturday (220) and were led by their future champion. Sophomore Will Melofchik was the first across the line in 29th (16:40.8). Patrick Ryan, another of CBA’s up-and-coming sophomores on the underclass-dominated Colts, was next in 50th (16:57.3). Freshman Connor Campanella ran a 17:23.7 which put him in 86th place overall, but fourth among the Colts.
The performances of the young Colts this fall were solid enough to hold out the promise that CBA will be right back contending for the MOC title next year. The Colts did hold on to their Parochial A state championship this fall.
Dan Ciambrone of Middletown South, who qualified individually for the MOC, made the most of it as he finished 20th in the fast-paced race in 16:38.2.
Middletown South’s girls finished the 2001 season in 10th place. The Eagles were first among Monmouth County teams (238) and were led by the county champion, Nicole Lombardy, who was 20th (19:52.7). Tina Morrison was 39th for South (20:08.9).
Lindsay Van Alstine of Hawthorne Christian was the upset winner of the MOC, posting an 18:43 over pre-race favorite Jesse Mizzone of Passaic Valley (18:53.1).
Moorestown, the Group II state champion, outran Group IV winner Old Bridge, 88-118 for the MOC crown.