BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Shore Regional’s Martine McGrath (above) was the first Shore Regional girl to cross the finish line on Oct. 19 at the Shore Conference Championships, but several local harriers ran fast times at the meet, which was won by Shore’s girls and CBA’s boys. In a sport becoming increasingly dominated by underclassmen, Shore Regional girls showed that there is still room for seniors in cross country.
With the memory of last year’s failure seared in their minds, the Blue Devils, with six of their seven runners seniors, captured the Monmouth County Championship at Holmdel Park on Oct. 19.
The Blue Devils won with 122 points, 16 points ahead of Colts Neck (138) and 17 in front of defending champion Howell (139).
A year ago, coming in as the favorites, the Blue Devils were surprised by Howell and lost by 10 points.
“After last year’s heartbreak, their goal was to win it this year,” said coach Mel Ullmeyer. “A lot of people didn’t think we’d be in it after losing our No. 1 [Julie Ullmeyer to graduation].
“They worked hard,” he added. “We did a lot more distance this year because they are seniors and can handle it. We were in a little better shape this year. This was a big one for them.”
The Blue Devils demonstrated that cross country is a team sport, winning the championship despite not having a runner in the top 10. Runner-up Colts Neck had three runners in the chute before Shore’s No. 1, Martine McGrath in 11th.
Howell had three runners in before Shore’s No. 2.
But neither challenger could match the way that Shore squeezed its runners together.
“They all key off each other and keep everyone in sight,” said Ullmeyer.
McGrath was the lone Blue Devil to strike out on her own, establishing herself as one of the county’s top runners with her 11th place (20:27).
Following McGrath, the next four Blue Devils were within 19 seconds of one another.
Laura Embrey, the only junior on the team, was 22nd in 20:55. Nicole Ullmeyer (21:01) and Lauren Ostrowsky (21:02) were close by in 28th and 29th. Justine Carnevale polished off the victory in 32nd place (21:14).
“These girls have been together for years,” Ullmeyer remarked. “It’s like family. This was a big thing for them to do.”
While experience ruled the day in the team race, it was a cross country newcomer, Red Bank Regional’s Christina Nelson, a junior, who won the individual championship.
Nelson, running Holmdel Park for just the second time, had a pretty good racing pedigree going into her first cross country season. The junior was part of the RBR distance medley relay team that set the national record and won the Penn Relays and the national championship two years ago. This year, she won Monmouth County championships in indoor and outdoor track and completed her three-season hat trick by adding the county cross country title to her résumé.
The Buc harrier surprised pre-race favorite Ashley Higginson of Colts Neck, who entered the race as the fastest county runner over Holmdel Park this year with her early season 19:09.
Nelson, who had played soccer in the fall prior to this year, took charge of the race just after the mile mark and steadily stretched her margin to 19 seconds at the line. She clocked 19:32 to Higginson’s 19:51 over the 5K course.
“For the first mile we traded the lead on and off,” said Nelson. “We were pushing each other. The first mile felt good and I felt I could pick it up. I put on a little spurt after the mile and opened a little bit of space.”
Through the famed bowl section, Nelson held onto and expanded her lead, but she never felt secure.
“I turned around a couple of times to see where she was,” noted Nelson. “I expected her to come back.”
Instead, Nelson got to run the final two minutes without threat and soak up the adulation of the crowd greeting her at the finish line.
“It was quite a rush,” recalled Nelson. “It was exciting to have people cheering me.”
Nelson, who said she still misses soccer, switched to cross country this year to build a training base for the indoor and outdoor track season where she excels in the 800 and 1,600 meters.
“Cross country is still new, but I definitely like it,” she pointed out. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Especially when you win championships.
Rumson-Fair Haven (150) finished fourth, Red Bank Catholic, seventh (198), and Ocean, ninth (270).
Sara Robinson (20:32) and Samantha Marinko (20:35) led RFH’s effort, finishing 12th and 13th.
Meghan McGrath (21:22) led the Caseys in 35th place. RBC placed its five runners within nine places of one another.
Ocean Township was led by Kristin Enderly in 17th (20:46) and Lauren Ayars, 21st (20:50).
Tomorrow, Shore Regional will reverse roles at the Central Jersey Group II championships.
“Everyone will be chasing us,” Ullmeyer pointed out.
The Blue Devils are the defending sectional as well as Group champion, and they head into tomorrow’s sectional as the team to beat. Rumson is the Shore area team that can give the champions a problem, and Delaware Valley is the outside threat.
The top five teams and top 10 individuals from the sectional meets this weekend will advance to the NJSIAA Groups Championships on Nov. 13 at Holmdel Park.
Nelson will again hook up with Higginson tomorrow as they duel for the CJ Group III individual championship. This will be the second of five possible showdowns between them leading up to the Nov. 20 Meet of Champions.
On the boys side of the ledger at the county championships, Colts Neck’s Craig Forys romped to the individual victory in 16:05 and Christian Brothers Academy repeated as the team champions with a team score of 50.
Locally, Ocean Township public schools A North Division champion Spartans were fourth (162) led by Brian Washakowski. The senior posted a 16:52 in finishing sixth. Teammate Greg Kremiers was 22nd (17:19).
Red Bank Catholic (233), Shore Regional (276) and Rumson-Fair Haven (302) finished seventh through ninth.
Other high-placing area runners were: Andrew Fouratt, RBR, 19th (17:16); Andy Sharkey, RFH, 21st (17:17); Peter Forgach, RBC, 24th (17:22); Joe Ruane, Shore, 27th (17:26); and Tom Friscia, RBR, 29th (17:37).