Cranbury connection leads girls cross country
By: Justin Feil
There’s been no sophomore jinx for Susanne Hansen.
Almost out of necessity, the Princeton High sophomore out of Cranbury has risen from a strong freshman year to take the lead for the girls’ cross country team and be an even stronger runner in her second year of varsity.
"The two frontrunners from last year are not there anymore," said PHS head coach John Woodside of graduate Meaghan Lynch and transferred Eleonora Spinazzi. "It left Susanne and Caroline (Sholl, also of Cranbury) as the top two girls. Susanne took the role of leading the race from the start. It’s been one of those things where at first she was a little tentative. But as she’s gotten more confidence, she’s run better. She’s developed a little of that killer instinct."
Hansen led the Little Tigers to a 7-3 dual meet season in the Colonial Valley Conference to enable them to win the Valley Division. PHS now shifts its focus to the state level, and they’ll race in the Central Jersey Group III meet at Holmdel Park on Saturday. PHS is the defending sectional champion.
"It’s definitely a new year," said Hansen, who was the third finisher last year for the Little Tigers in the CJ III meet. "We have a completely new team. I think we still have a chance to perform well."
PHS will be up against some familiar competitors including pre-race favorite Hopewell Valley as well as West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
"We don’t get too caught up in being defending champions," Woodside agreed. "It’s more what do you have this year and how are you running. It’s clear we’re not the favorite. Hopewell is the favorite. Colts Neck is a good team. We’re playing darkhorse team. We have two frontrunners who have been out there all season and done a terrific job. What’s going to make the difference is how the next four girls do."
Last year, Hansen did a phenomenal job as part of the support cast. Now, she’s leading the way.
"It’s scary," Hansen said. "It’s a big change from having these two leaders being at the front to having it be you in your second year of running.
"I don’t really feel pressure," she added. "If anybody puts pressure on myself, it’s me."
Over the last week and a half, Hansen has battled sickness and some tendonitis in her hip, but she expects to be ready for Saturday.
"I think I can definitely run through it," she said. "It’ll tough it out."
PHS needs her to run her usual race. She covered the Holmdel course in 21 minutes, 11 seconds, just off her best of 20:53 she ran last year. She’d like to break her personal record Saturday and help the Little Tigers to a Group III state meet.
"I really like the course a lot," Hansen said. "People are intimidated by it, but I really enjoy it. It’s challenging. There aren’t many courses that we run on normally that are that challenging."
Hansen has been up to every challenge she’s come across in her young high school career. Adjusting to being at the forefront this year is just the latest.
"I didn’t know if I’d be the top runner," Hansen said. "I knew Caroline, Sara (Hastings) and I would be at the top of the team. It was a little bit of a transition."
Hansen teams with Sholl to give the Little Tigers a strong starting point for every race. But part of the reason they don’t feel overwhelming pressure to perform is that the supporting cast has developed quickly.
"The front is like our rock," Woodside said. "Susanne and Caroline are there for us and they come through for us. Cross country is a team sport and you need to have five strong runners. The other four are coming along and that’s going to help us."
Hastings, Eli Ritz, Sheena Pradhan and Lena Frey are a big part of what has enabled the Little Tigers to stay at a high level in the CVC and remain a sectional contender.
"Those four girls have stepped it up and pushed each other and helped each other to push the pack," Woodside said. "They’ve moved to within one minute from two minutes of the leaders. If they can stay within a minute, or 1:20 of Caroline and Susanne, we’re going to have a good day on Saturday. The key is how the pack has developed."
Someone also has had to take the lead. Keeping pace with Hansen is no small task. From the outset of the season, she’s been out in front for the Little Tigers. It’s a position she’s growing more comfortable with and one that’s helped keep the PHS girls’ cross country team at the forefront as well.
"Susanne was on her own when we did the hard workouts," Woodside said. "That helped make her transition from fourth, to third to second to first girl. She’s done a terrific job. She’s a great person and the kind of dedicated runner you want to have."
Susanne Hansen continues to improve with every year of running and this year it’s meant adding the leadership role for the Little Tigers.