BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
A single point is all that separated the Rumson-Fair Haven (RFH) and Shore Regional girls at Saturday’s NJSIAA state sectional cross-country championships.
That point, however, was good enough to bring the Central Jersey Group II championship back to Rumson for the first time since 1999.
The Bulldogs dethroned the three-time defending champion Blue Devils at Holmdel Park with their fourth and fifth runners. They made up the difference the Blue Devils had gained up front and led to Rumson’s 51-52 win.
Shore Regional, fresh off its triumph at the Monmouth County Championships, was running without its injured No. 2 runner Laura Embrey, yet, appeared to be headed for a repeat when Martine McGrath finished second to Cranford’s Laura Gallo, 19:59-20:45, and teammate Nicole Ullmeyer was sixth (20:59). With Justine Carnevale 10th (21:17), the Blue Devils led the Bulldogs 18-22 after each had three runners across the line.
But Ashley Hopkins (21:32) and Bridget Dowd (21:41) finished 14th and 15th for RFH, and more importantly, got themselves in the chute ahead of Shore’s fourth and fifth runners to make the difference in the team’s head-to-head duel.
Up front, Samantha Marinko led the Rumson effort with a third place (20:49) behind Gallo and McGrath. Sara Robinson was seventh (21:07) and Kelly Wojciehowski, 12th (21:25).
When Rumson last won the sectional title, they were led by future Shore Conference champion Christy Planer, who is now running for Cornell University.
Shore Regional put up a spirited defense of its championship, despite the loss of Embrey. Had the two teams finished in a tie, Shore would have won on the sixth runner tie-breaker. That’s how close both teams were Saturday.
Shore’s fourth and fifth scorers were Lauren Ostrowski, 16th (21:45) and Heather Gates, 18th (21:54).
Rumson and Shore will be back at it on Nov. 13 at the State Group II championship on Nov. 13 at Holmdel Park. Both teams are serious contenders for the state title and once again, the Blue Devils are the defending champions.
The top 10 individuals and top five teams from the state sectional advanced to the Group championships.
Shore’s and RFH’s boys also qualified for the Groups, finishing third and fourth. The Blue Devils, led by the Joe Ruane’s 11th place (17:38) scored 106, while the Bulldogs rode Andy Sharkey (17:28) and John Troynowski (17:33), who were ninth and 10th to a fourth place with 123.
Scott Britton (17:55) and Pablo Marin (17:57) were 18th and 19th for Shore Regional.
In Group III, Ocean’s boys and girls both finished third to advance.
The Spartan boys scored 87 points, 25 behind champion Colts Neck (62). Greg Kremier was the first Spartan in the chute in seventh (17:08) with Brian Washakowski, 11th (17:17) and Mike Harvey, 15th (17:28).
Kayla Hanke led the Spartan girls with her ninth place (20:34). Lauren Ayara was 12th (21:00), Nicole Dobrowski, 22nd (22:03) and Kristin Enderly, 23rd (22:05).
The Spartans, who scored 83 points, bear watching. All of their top four runners at Holmdel Park Saturday are underclassmen.
Red Bank Regional, despite its location, was assigned to North Jersey Section II this fall and ran at Warinanco Park, Elizabeth.
RBR’s boys qualified for the Groups by placing fifth (145) in NJ II Group III. Senior Andrew Fouratt paced the Bucs with his fourth place (17:20). Tom Friscia came through with a top 10 run in eighth place (17:31).
Dennis Waite was 27th (18:09) for the Bucs.
Fresh off her Monmouth County championship, the Bucs’ Christina Nelson made her debut at Warinanco a good one finishing sixth (19:57) and qualifying individually for the Group championships.
Teammate Sarah Mazza ran well herself finishing 19th (20:42) as RBR girls were ninth (202).
Tomorrow, area harriers will be competing at the Shore Conference Cross Country Championships at Ocean County Park, Lakewood.