A group of senior veterans leads the St. John Vianney High School cross country team into next week’s Monmouth County championships, where the Lancers are looking to finish in the top 15 in order to qualify for the Shore Conference championship.
Coach Tom McLoughlin’s runners are just 1-2 in dual meets, having downed Manasquan, while losing to Red Bank Catholic and Matawan, but the Lancers’ times are improving steadily and the coach is optimistic.
“We’ve got a good mix of kids, including six freshmen,” he said. “The guys are pushing each other and they’re looking forward to the big meets.”
Jared Mazur is the Lancers’ top runner. Now in his fourth varsity campaign, Mazur is consistently well below the 18-minute mark. Kyle Braun, another four-year veteran, usually runs in the low-18s.
Seniors Matt Ferreira, Steve Gerrity, Eric Mikos and Mike Serpico generally cross the finish line in the mid to low 18-minute range, while promising sophomore Matt Wiley is in the low 19s.
Freshman Dan Agnello is also in the low 19s, and McLoughlin noted that his younger competitors continue to shave seconds off their times.
“We have 20 runners this season, so we’re excited not only about this season, but about the future,” McLoughlin said. “As a cross country coach, I’m constantly recruiting, but it really is a fantastic experience for the kids. This is a sport where you see the results on your hard work on the clock.”
— Warren Rappleyea