BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Try as you may, you can’t control the weather.Christian Brothers Academy’s cross country team had pointed all year to the Nike Team National in Portland, Ore. They withstood the crucible of the yearlong test, finishing the season with their team average state record at the Meet of Champions. That victory clinched an automatic berth to Saturday’s NTN that brought together the top 20 teams in the country.
As evidenced by their record-setting performance at the MOC, the Colts were peaking at the right time and ready to make an impression at the NTN. But, then came race day and conditions no runner can prepare for. Rain reduced the Portland Meadows 5,000-meter course to a muddy mess and made footing treacherous at best. Staying upright was a challenge in itself. The only relief from sinking into the mud was the one climb on the course, and what kind of relief is that?
In was nothing for runners to post times from 1:00 to 2:00 off their normal 5K time.
Despite the less-than-optimum conditions, the Colts, who ran as the Brothers Cross Country Club, were able to prove what New Jersey already knew, that they are one of the best teams in the country. The Colts finished eighth in Portland with a team score of 204. The champion was New York’s Saratoga Cross Country Club, which came from the same Northeast Region as CBA. Saratoga knocked off defending champion Elmhurst (Ill.), 111-134. Morris Hills, CBA’s rival during the high school season, running as Hills Cross Country Club, was 13th (323)
The best of the Colts’ mudders Saturday was Kevin Rogers, who slogged his way to a 10th place (16:57.5) and was the only CBA harrier under 17:00. In fact, just 10 runners cracked 17:00. Last year’s winning time was 15:43.9.
Chris Lombardi was 24th (17:15.9) and Chris Horel was 33rd (17:22.1) for the Colts.
Rounding out the CBA scorers were Justin Wheat, 44th (17:31.3), and Greg Leach, 97th (18:12.2).
CBA’s team average was 17:27.38.
The individual winner of the race was Kenny Klotz of Central Catholic, in 16:25.8.
This is the second year for the NTN. The Colts qualified last year and finished 11th.
Over in the girls championship, the conditions produced an upset winner as well and a clean sweep for New York state. Hilton upended defending champion Saratoga Streaks, also from N.Y., 85-112. The individual winner was Besty Bies from Yankton (South Dakota), who slip-slided her way to the win in 19:23.47. Only four girls ran the course under 20:00. Last year, the individual winner ran 18:05.37, which says a whole lot about this year’s course condition.
New Jersey state champion Roxbury, running as Succasunna was ninth (225).

