RFH’s Planer fourth at All-Groups MOC race
Senior runs new pb
at Holmdel Park
Rumson-Fair Haven’s Christy Planer
Christy Planer threw the game plan out the window. There was only one way to approach Saturday’s All-Groups Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park, flat out.
"Today I was going to go out there and run with the leaders," said Planer. "I wanted to keep (Passaic Valley’s Jesse) Mizzone in my sights as long as I could."
Following Mizzone, the pre-race favorite, kept the Rumson-Fair Haven senior in the middle of the run for the state championship, and on track for a fast time.
Unlike previous races where Planer was running by herself, or was out front being chased, she was part of a group of five runners, including Mizzone, who were feeding off each other and trying to run down Hawthorne Christian’s Lindsay Van Alstine, who surprised everyone by bolting to the lead from the start.
"It was exciting for all of us; we were all pushing each other," she pointed out. "Once Mizzone made her move, I tried to inch my way up."
Mizzone left her move too late as Van Alstine completed her upset, clocking her fastest time ever at Holmdel, 18:43, to Mizzone’s 18:53.1 (she has run 18:28.1 this year).
Third through fifth places were decided by a frantic sprint, with Columbia’s Courtney Epps just edging Planer, 19:13.1-19:13.5 for third with Glen Rock’s Erin Henry getting fifth (19:14.4).
"I knew the last straight was going to be tough, and I would have liked to win the sprint," Planer pointed out. "This was a great race for me. It was a good way to finish it (her career) off."
Planer not only had her best MOC finish (she was eighth last year), but also set a new personal best and school record along the way, topping the 19:31 she had run last month at the state sectional. The fourth place finish secured another all-state selection for the Bulldog.
It was a season that had its ups and down for the Planer, but it concluded with her running her fastest time ever at Holmdel in her last race. Planer can look back on a season in which she won at the venerable Warninanco Park (Elizabeth) course for a second time, captured the biggest win of her career, Shore Conference, and was first in Central Jersey Group II for a second time.
Caitlin Moscatello qualified with her teammate Planer as an individual entry to the MOC and finished 51st (20:22.4).
"It was a lot of fun," said the Bulldog senior. "I got caught in traffic at the start, and that slowed me down."
The MOC drew the curtain on what has been a remarkable cross country season locally.
Red Bank Regional made the big headlines when the Bucs snapped Christian Brothers Academy’s 19-year reign at the Monmouth County Championships. Todd Engle’s Bucs went on to add the Central Jersey Group III title to her haul. RBR concluded its season with a 12th place at the MOC (top-ranked Haddonfield won with 87). Sophomore Robbie Dennis was first for the Bucs in 30th place (16:16:41.4). Jovannie Cortez (17:09.9) and Steve Waite (17:10.8), also underclassmen, were 67th and 70th. The future is bright for the Bucs.
Speaking of bright futures, Shore Regional made history with both its boys and girls winning the school’s first-ever Central Jersey Group I and Group I state championships in cross country. And the Blue Devils did it with squads made up of mostly underclassmen. Teams in the area had better get used to Mel Ullmeyer’s charges being the new standard to follow.
Marc Altenau, the individual Group I champion, was the top Blue Devil on Saturday running a 16:54.7 that brought him home in 45th place. Shore was 18th (473). Joseph Ruane, Paul Murphy, Thomas Dunphy and Pablo Marin, Shore’s top five at the MOC will all be back next year.
The Blue Devil girls ran without their top runner, Julie Ullmeyer (resting her sore hip), and finished 17th (394). Senior Ali Major led the way with her 88th place (20:53.5).
Nicole Ullmeyer, Laura Hayden, Heather Gates and Julie Ullmeyer are all freshmen and sophomores. The Blue Devils could be building a dynasty here.
Mary Banks’ Red Bank Catholic Caseys were again among the state’s powers. They repeated as Monmouth County and Parochial A state champions. The latter victory put the Caseys in the record books as the most successful program in state championship history as they won their record 12th state crown, breaking the tie they had with Bernards.
Saturday, the Caseys were 12th (256) in the race won by Moorestown (88). Julia Barker led the RBC girls in 64th place (20:35.6). Barker, Kelly Byrnes and Mary McCudden were the trio of seniors who left their impact as leaders as well as talented runners. Sophomores Shannon Gillespie and Annie Barker represent RBC’s future
Monmouth Regional senior Erik Brown, who had a solid season all year long placing high at all the major championships including a third place in Group III, ended his season clocking a 16:58 that brought him home in 52nd place.